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

Saturday, 05 April 2025

BBC News

• Bus firm to give away thousands of free ridesA bus operator is offering 5,000 free rides on its network in Kent and East Sussex to encourage the public to use its services.
• Travel by rail to save on days out, families urgedGetting a discount just by catching the train is an easy way to save money, a rail firm says.
• Pedestrianisation plans delayed by 'austerity' would cost £5kA proposal to ban cars from a city-centre street have faced years of delays.

The Guardian

• Is the Silvertown tunnel a bridge to the future or a step backwards?As the £2.2bn tunnel prepares to open, opinions are divided: will it reduce congestion, or is it a relic of transport planning that worsens pollution?

Senedd Cymru

• £800m delivers all journeys on new trains on Wrexham Bidston lineCabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates was keen to hear what passengers had to say about the improvements that have been made on one of the key rail routes connecting Wales and England, when he jumped on board earlier this week.

Mail Online

• Fury at plans for 'simply absurd' new cycle lane cutting through one of London's busiest roundabouts in Sadiq Khan's latest attack on motoristsTransport for London (TfL) wants to alter the Holland Park Roundabout next to Westfield shopping centre between Shepherd's Bush and Notting Hill to bring in adapted cycle routes, signals and crossings.
• Lifeline for car makers as Starmer prepares to water down EV sales mandatesAlthough the deadline for shifting to electric vehicles will stay in place, ministers are expected to soften fines and are considering easing the interim targets along the way.

Birmingham Post

• Newcastle Airport generates £1bn each year for North East economy, study findsThe airport is hoping to double its impact on the economy and jobs over the next 15 years
• Oil prices plummet to lowest since 2021 after OPEC+ alliance announces production increaseOPEC+ nations including Saudi Arabia and Russia have announced that they will increase oil production by three times the planned amount in May, leading to plummeting global prices
• Nissan boosts number of cars produced at Sunderland but UK company makes a lossThe factory was part of a recent shake-up in the way Nissan is structured which has seen it shoulder more costs

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Over £23m to tackle the 'blight of potholes' in BradfordBradford will get over £23 million in funding over the next two years to improve local roads and tackle the “blight of potholes.”

The York Press

• Students and MP raise concerns about ‘intimidating’ behaviour on evening trainsConcerns have been raised about the safety of passengers on evening trains between York and Scarborough.

Calling All Stations - The Transport Podcast

• China's high speed rail achievements and Heathrow's shutdown, S3 Ep12Christian reports back to listeners on the latest leg of his worldwide exploration of high speed rail networks, this time with the extraordinary progress made in the People's Republic of China [1:22]. Mark Walker and Christian discuss the impact of and explanations for the recent total shutdown of London's Heathrow Airport as a result of a fire in the electricity distribution network [22:41]. In his final thought from the departure lounge, Christian looks forward to the possibility of competition on rail services between the UK and continental Europe [29:52].

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• TfL's emission reduction targets validated by science based targets initiativeTransport for London (TfL) has had its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aligning with the Paris Agreement's goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This marks the first time TfL has established both near and long-term emission reduction targets across all areas of its operations, including its vehicle fleet, buildings, contracted services, construction projects, and supply chain.

Construction News

• Private finance models to be set out in 10-year infrastructure strategyThe government is set to outline its approach to private investment in major construction projects in its upcoming 10-year infrastructure strategy, a senior cabinet minister has said.

New Civil Engineer

• Global transport infrastructure investment still facing procurement hurdlesA new report on global transport infrastructure investment has highlighted major challenges to meeting global needs, and those needs are huge.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Traveline appoints Passenger to revamp digital servicesTraveline has appointed Passenger to produce its next generation of digital services, including its journey-planning app and website.
• CMAC Group names Matthew Ratcliffe as COOCMAC Group has appointed Matthew Ratcliffe as its Chief Operating Officer. Mr Ratcliffe, who has nearly two decades experience across the mobility and transportation sectors, will work under CEO Peter Slater in leading the operational capabilities of the ground transport and accommodation specialist business.
• Coach industry opportunities will require leverage from the sectorThe Big Coach Conversation hears that coach opportunities are many - but so too are challenges

Other News Sources

• Funding boost for Sheffield transport improvementsPlans to transform how people get to and from the city centre from Attercliffe and Darnall have been boosted by the award of £23.68m from South Yorkshire's mayor.
• Why the Lower Thames Crossing signals a new chapter of growth for Essex and KentAs the first new road over the Thames in more than 30 years, the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) promises to transform connectivity between Essex and Kent easing pressure on the Dartford Crossing and creating fresh opportunities for growth on both sides of the river.

News from Europe

• Europe's green transport transition: ensuring transport operators are not left behindEurope's transport operators are not resisting the green transition, they are enabling it. But to succeed at scale, it must be supported by realistic, well-coordinated policies