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

Thursday, 24 April 2025

BBC News

• Talks held on vehicle access for Bicester crossingThe feasibility of having "some form" of vehicle access at a town's level crossing has been discussed by rail and council bosses.
• Rail disruption now set to last more than a weekBus replacements or diverted lines will be in place until Monday for some services.
• Glasgow Airport fightback begins with £350m investmentNew owner AviAlliance aims to add more than a million passengers per year by 2030.
• 10,000 extra driving tests a month to clear backlogTransport secretary Heidi Alexander said the government would provide at least 10,000 extra driving tests a month.
• Mayor sought legal advice after Reeves backed Heathrow expansionThe move puts the London mayor on a potential collision course with ministers, after the chancellor backed plans for the expansion of the airport.
• Call to fine 'headphone dodgers' who play music on busesLib Dems say fines of up to £1,000 would tackle the "blight" of anti-social behaviour on public transport.
• Stagecoach bus drivers set to strike in pay disputeDrivers across southern and western Scotland will take industrial action on a series of dates in May.
• China sends Boeing planes back to US over tariffsBoeing's boss says it's looking to sell 50 more planes China has on order to other countries.
• UK could lower US car tariffs in push for trade dealUK negotiators are working "flat out" to get a trade deal with the US, Chancellor Rachel Reeves says.

Department for Transport

• CMA response to 'A railway fit for Britain's future' consultationThe Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published its response to the Department for Transport's consultation on rail reform.
• Transport Secretary acts to make thousands of extra driving tests available each monthFurther action to reduce waiting times will see thousands of additional tests made available every month.

The Guardian

• Boeing hopes to find new buyers for up to 50 planes returned by ChinaAirplane manufacturer says it is lobbying Donald Trump over ‘unfortunate’ decision to impose tariffs. Boeing will try to divert as many as 50 planes ordered by Chinese airlines to customers elsewhere after steep tariffs prompted by Donald Trump’s trade war.The US manufacturer said it was confident it could find other buyers for the planes, but said it was lobbying Trump personally to resolve an “unfortunate situation”.
• Lib Dems back ban on playing music and videos on public transport in EnglandUnder the plan, those who flout the prohibition could face a maximum fine of £1,000.

The Independent

• Heathrow shutdown dents passenger numbers at the UK's biggest airportThe power cut to Heathrow on 21 March and decision to shut down almost all operations at the airport caused passenger numbers to fall in the first quarter of 2025.

City AM

• Boeing losses narrow as boss says recovery is working Boeing's net losses narrowed in the first quarter of the year in an early sign the US planemaker may turn a corner this year. The firm reported a net loss of $31m (£23.3m) in the three months ended March, down from $355m the year prior.
• Black cabs stand ready to compete with Uber, but not in a race to the bottom The London tax trade is a rigged market where app-based operators have enjoyed years of political indulgence while black cabs are subjected to an ever-tougher regulatory environment, says Mark White

Daily Record

• Stagecoach drivers in Scotland vote to strike with major disruption expectedUnite the Union says members have rejected a four per cent pay offer.

Local Government

• Monmouthshire County Council Transport Grants Award 25/26Monmouthshire County Council is pleased to announce that it has been awarded up to £8.2 million in transport funding across the county to deliver a variety of projects.

Network Rail

• A lick of paint goes a long way: Network Rail Southern region prepares the railway for hot weatherHundreds of Network Rail workers armed with brushes, rollers and approximately 1,500 litres of white paint are taking to the tracks to prepare the railway for the hot months ahead helping to keep passengers and freight on the move.
• Increasing the resilience of our railwayWe're increasing the resilience of our railway to better manage the impacts of climate change. It's an essential part of our work to keep the railway running reliably for years and generations to come.

Birmingham Post

• Nissan boss says 'UK is not a competitive place to be building cars'Alan Johnson told the House of Commons' Business and Trade Committee that the Government must support the automotive sector
• Elon Musk takes step back from politics as Tesla profits crash amid backlashTesla's net income plunged 71 per cent to $409m in the first quarter, missing Wall Street estimates, with the firm's operating income dropping 66 per cent to $0.4bn

Bolton News

• £4 million upgrade is just the ticket to ride for local residentA Westhoughton train station unveiled its major upgrade as part of a £4million investment from the Department of Transport.

Bristol Live

• West of England refuses to reveal number of complaints about e-scooters and ridershipSince the contract to run the scooters switched, riders have often complained

Manchester Evening News

• Politicians call for loud music on public transport to be made illegal with £1,000 fineThe Lib Dems have called for loud music on public transport to be banned and have said that fines should be imposed on those who do not follow the rules

Other Regional Press

• MP's campaign to dual rail track between Knaresborough and York wins new supportHarrogate MP Tom Gordon's campaign to dual the track between Knaresborough and York and improve rail services for Harrogate passengers has received major backing.
• Is East West Rail still on the right track after Universal's announcement?With Universal Studios confirming plans for a multi-billion-pound theme park in Bedford Borough, attention is now turning to how this transformational development could or should impact one of the region's most contentious infrastructure projects, East West Rail (EWR).
• Major milestone as MP secures rethink of contentious plans for town's level crossingA major milestone has been reached as an MP has secured the rethink of contentious plans to close Bicester's busy level crossing to vehicles.
• M42 closure warning near Birmingham Airport with driver told 'use new road'National Highways has issued a warning to drivers in the Midlands as slip road closures will be in place on the M42

New Civil Engineer

• Three in bid for £80M Lower Thames Crossing hydrogen supply after re-run tenderNational Highways has named three shortlisted bidders for supplying hydrogen to the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) project.

Rail Magazine

• New station on Midland Main Line set to be expanded after Universal park approvalUniversal's new UK theme park is set to lead to the expansion of a station being built on the Midland Main Line.

Rail UK

• Transport Secretary faces MPs on rail reform, decarbonisation and airport expansionTransport Secretary Heidi Alexander MP will face the Transport Committee for the first time since taking up the post.

Railnews

• Green light for new Liverpool station Planning permssion has been granted for a new 100 million-pound station in Liverpool which is expected to stimulate further development in the growing Baltic Triangle district.

Railway Gazette

• Condition of German rail network improvesGERMANY: Over half of all Deutsche Bahn signal boxes need replacement, according to a report into the state of the more-than-34 000 km national network.

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow on target for good 2025 despite Q1 traffic dipLondon's Heathrow Airport today insisted that it has enjoyed a 'strong start to 2025' despite its Q1 passenger numbers falling by 300,000 on the corresponding period a year ago.

Other News Sources

• Servo appoints new MD to boost Rail and Infrastructure divisionNational multi-service provider, Servo Group, has appointed Tony Briffa to the role of Managing Director (Rail and Infrastructure) to drive forward its 'thriving pipeline' within these sectors.
• Encompass Engineering tackles rail noise pollutionWith the rail industry under growing pressure to reduce environmental impact and strengthen community relations, noise pollution has become a challenge. As a specialist consultancy, Encompass Engineering is helping lead the way bringing deep industry insight and innovative thinking to support clients in tackling railway noise and creating quieter, more sustainable environments across the UK.
• MP Bradley Thomas urges Government to back Midlands Rail HubTHE MP for Bromsgrove and the Villages has urged the Government to continue backing the Midlands Rail Hub.
• Transport schemes in Swansea given a boostSwansea Council has secured more than £3million for transport related improvements in the city.
• Zemo forum identifies 'missing policies' for UK transport decarbonisationZemo Partnership has held a forum for members to identify gaps in the policy framework for decarbonising UK road transport and propose actionable solutions.
• NISTA appoints first chief executiveThe National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) has appointed Becky Wood as its first chief executive officer.
• Can Britain end its addiction to consultation?Britain used to be good at building nuclear power stations. Really good. We built the world's first and then another ten within a decade for good measure. As late as 1965, Britain had more nuclear power stations than the rest of the world combined.
• Southampton Airport to get major £350m funding boostSouthampton Airport is set to receive a share of £350 million investment over the next five years.