Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Monday, 24 March 2025

BBC News

• Traffic lights to change for buses in town centreA smart traffic system which prioritises buses at traffic lights is being introduced in a town to encourage more people to use public transport.
• Changes to airport drop-off zone payment rulesThe airport says the camera-based scheme will be in place at pick-up and drop-off areas.
• Sort 'pothole plague' or lose cash, councils warnedCouncils in England will be asked to publish reports on their repairs or miss out on funding, but critics say long-term thinking is needed.
• National Grid confirms Heathrow never lost access to power Heathrow's boss previously said the shutdown was not for lack of power but to reboot complex systems.

Department for Transport

• PM tells councils to prove action on pothole plague to unlock extra cash and reveals ?4.8 billion for major roadsThe Plan for Change is tackling the pothole plague, building vital roads and ensuring every penny is delivering results for the taxpayer.

Financial Times

• National Grid chief says Heathrow had ‘enough power’ despite fire shutdownAirlines raise questions about scale of flight disruption after substation blaze

The Guardian

• National Grid boss says Heathrow could have stayed open despite substation fireTwo other substations available to supply airport with electricity, according to chief executive John Pettigrew. There was enough power for Heathrow to remain open during the entire period it was shut down on Friday, the head of National Grid has said.Speaking for the first time since a fire forced North Hyde substation to close, the National Grid chief executive, John Pettigrew, said two other substations that serve Heathrow were working and could have supplied the airport with all the power it needed to remain open.
• Ministers may siphon off stalled £950m fund for motorway chargersTalks to take place with operators about the scheme, announced in 2020, which has failed to make any grants. Ministers are considering diverting money from a £950m scheme to install rapid chargers for electric cars on the UK’s motorways, announced five years ago, after it failed to make a single grant. Much of the cash allocated to the rapid charging fund (RCF) could be redirected to investments in other charging schemes, or to support the transition to electric vehicles more broadly, although decisions have yet to be made, according to a person close to discussions in government.

The Herald

• The £200m that's being wasted on the wrong train lineYou may have heard Chancellor Rachel Reeves saying the other day that the world has changed and more cuts are coming on top of the cuts she's announced already. But if only the world had changed a little bit more than it has. If only we lived in a world where we weren't still spending millions of pounds on the wrong things.

Times Online

• Thousands of jobs to be axed in great rail shake-up [subscription]Most of the cuts are expected to be in back-office roles where staff are not members of the most active transport trade unions
• There was power available to keep Heathrow running, says National Grid [subscription]Two substations were always available despite the fire, each one sufficient to meet the airport's needs, insists chief executive

Daily Express

• Heathrow slams National Grid boss who claims airport had 'enough power' despite shutdownJohn Pettigrew, the chief executive of National Grid, claimed that Heathrow Airport had enough power from other substations despite Friday's shutdown

The Mirror

• Heathrow Airport slams National Grid boss who claims it had 'enough power' despite shutdownThe National Grid CEO John Pettigrew said Heathrow Airport had enough power to avoid Friday's shutdown, but the airport has hit back saying it was an 'unprecedented incident'

Local Government

• Mayor's Birthday Buses pass 100,000 passengersOver 100,000 people in the West of England have taken up the offer of a month's free travel throughout their Birthday month.

Sky News

• Prove how many potholes you've fixed or lose cash, councils toldThe government is telling local councils they must publish data on how many potholes they have fixed or risk losing their share of an extra £500m set aside for fixing roads.
• National Grid boss claims Heathrow had 'enough power' despite shutdownThe chief executive of National Grid has claimed that Heathrow Airport had enough power from other substations despite Friday's shutdown.

Sheffield Star

• Supertram: Work to start on new Magna station and Sheffield faces track replacementWork on a new supertram station is set to start next week - along with major track works.

Yorkshire Post

• Haxby Railway Station: Call to secure Haxby Station funding after mayor says public transport is priority over A64North Yorkshire's mayor should secure funding for a planned rail station at Haxby after saying he is prioritising public transport over dualling the A64

Bucks Free Press

• Council highlights crucial issues with next phase of East West Rail projectBuckinghamshire Council has pinpointed crucial local issues for consideration in the next phases of the East West Rail (EWR) infrastructure project

South Wales Argus

• Rhymney valley railway line set for major improvementsA South Wales railway line is set to experience 'major infrastructure improvements' by the end of this month.

Other Regional Press

• Work starting soon on Blackheath Bus InterchangeWork is set to start on the Blackheath Bus Interchange Project, marking a major milestone in the regeneration of the town.
• Swindon bus boulevard project 'on track' for summer openingProgress continues on a multi-million-pound construction project in Swindon's town centre.
• MP calls for urgent action on transport connectivity in North WestWARRINGTON South MP Sarah Hall has called for greater investment in transport infrastructure in the North West, warning that towns like Warrington risk being left behind due to years of underfunding and delayed projects.
• Plans for increased rail services through Spalding could be implemented later this yearPlans for increased rail services through Spalding are on track. Proposals to run an additional four trains every Saturday and an extra one each weekday are currently on the table, it can be revealed.
• New rail service could bring trains to the WatersideA new rail service could soon link Marchwood directly with Southampton and London Waterloo.
• Plans approved to unlock Wellington railway station site as town awaits government rulingPlans to unlock the planned site of Somerset's newest railway station have been approved by local councillors ahead of a final decision by central government. Cherwyn Developments secured planning permission in May 2024 to deliver 200 homes on Nynehead Road in Wellington, with the development providing access to the planned site of a £15m railway station to serve the town.
• Hundreds of angry residents march to protest controversial bus gateHundreds of angry residents marched down Portswood high street to protest against a controversial bus gate scheme

Rail Magazine

• Funding refusal frustrates volunteers after years of campaigning to Northern and Network RailVolunteers have been left in limbo after funding for refurbishment of a former station building was pulled at the last minute.
• Thameslink apologises after MPs raise concerns about Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has apologised after MPs heard how it was 'underperforming' on two key routes.

Railway Gazette

• Private train operators' advocacy body Rail Partners closesUK: The Rail Partners association of train operators' parent companies closed on March 21, having decided to wind up after being unsuccessful in persuading the government to retain a role for the private sector in the operation of Department for Transport controlled passenger services.

Other News Sources

• Wrightbus hydrogen bus trial could lead to zero emissions travel for Sizewell C workersSizewell C workers could be taken to work by Wrightbus hydrogen buses for the entirety of the nuclear power station's construction, if a new trial launched this week is successful.
• Planning permission granted for new Huddersfield Bus Station as cost rises to £28.7 millionThe cost of the new Huddersfield Bus Station has risen again to £28.7 million. The new cost for the much-delayed bus station has emerged as Kirklees Council has granted planning permission.
• £9 MILLION BOOSTS BUS NETWORK IN WEST SUSSEX£9 million has been given to West Sussex County Council to enhance the bus network. The Department of Transport has provided the grant.
• Regent Centre leads £208 million transport planA major investment in North East transport will see Regent Centre Metro station, in Gosforth, become the first in a decade to get new ticket gates, improving security and reducing ticket fraud.
• Grand Central begins application process for new rail serviceGrand Central has launched the application process to run direct rail services between Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Habrough, Scunthorpe and London.