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

Tuesday, 29 April 2025

BBC News

• New Edinburgh airport scanners allow liquids to remain in bagsA £24m investment in scanners is designed to speed-up security gate times and cut use of plastic bags.
• Work on £90m harbour project to commence this weekThe development will improve the port's facilities for cruise ships and the wind energy industry.
• Aerospace jobs at Prestwick saved in short-termFifty jobs at Spirit AeroSpace secured while its new owner Airbus looks for a longer-term solution.
• Stagecoach cancels driver holidays in union disputeUnite has threatened legal action after the firm cancelled driver's annual leave on strike dates.
• Airbus confirms deal for Spirit operations in BelfastThe deal was first announced in July last year as part of a wider break up of the Spirit business.
• Flights cancelled in Portugal and Spain due to power cut Some 96 departing flights from Portuguese airports have been grounded so far, while 45 have been called off from Spain.
• Trump set to ease tariff impact on US car makersTrump is due to hold a rally in Michigan, which is home to Ford, General Motors and Stellantis.

Financial Times

• Demand slump fuelled by Trump tariffs hits US ports and air freight Bookings plunge as importers hold off on shipping goods to America in hope of Beijing-Washington deal

The Telegraph

• The £1bn train fleet still stuck in the sidings after almost a decade [subscription]They were meant to revolutionise journeys. But a comedy of errors has plagued the rollout of South Western Railway's new trains
• Virgin Atlantic boss attacks Heathrow chief for sleeping through fire [subscription]Virgin Atlantic has attacked Heathrow's boss for choosing to go to sleep as a substation fire caused the airport to shut down.

Times Online

• Trains halted and taps run dry as power outage hits Iberia [subscription]In Spain and Portugal tens of millions were affected by the blackout, and the Spanish government declared a state of emergency

City AM

• Eurostar tells rivals to put their money where their mouths are Eurostar has called on its rivals to invest in the UK's capacity for international rail as it insisted it welcomed increased competition. The Temple Mills depot in East London is currently the only place in the UK that can host high-speed, cross-channel trains to and from Europe.

Network Rail

• Network Rail engineers gear up for £133m investment in Britain's railway this MayNetwork Rail is set to undertake more than 630* projects across Britain's railway during the early and late May Bank holidays. These projects are designed to keep the majority of the network open for travel as usual while making significant improvements to the railway infrastructure.

Birmingham Post

• Nissan appoints new UK boss as it aims to bounce back in 'dynamic times'The automotive giant has appointed former Vauxhall executive James Taylor to lead its UK operations
• New details emerge on potential ferry from Swansea to the South West of EnglandOcean Prime says it wants Bristol Channel fast ferry service to be in operation in around three years' time

Bristol Live

• Bristol bus gate fines have people saying 'what's so hard to understand'Drivers have been hit with a total of £2.5 million in penalties

London Evening Standard

• Plans for new north-east London tram route have stalled due to lack of cashCouncil insists it has 'not been idle' in pushing for improved public transport links despite constrained financial position

Other Regional Press

• New London Underground station entrance opens up areas shut for 100 years with major upgradeThe station has had portions of it closed off since the early 20th century
• Eurostar voices concerns as it calls on rivals to invest in depot facilitiesEurostar is calling on rivals to invest in new depot facilities should they wish to halt the operator’s monopoly on cross-Channel rail services.

New Civil Engineer

• Lower Thames Crossing enabling works to start in late 2025 as ground challenges become clearEnabling works on the Lower Thames Crossing scheme could begin in autumn of this year, delegates heard at the Ground Engineering Piling and Foundations conference.

Rail Magazine

• Grand Central Cleethorpes-King's Cross service "would not affect ECML capacity"Further details have been released regarding the planned Cleethorpes-London King's Cross service proposed by Grand Central (GC).

Rail UK

• British Sign Language totems to make Scotland's Railway more accessibleScotland's Railway has taken another step forward in its commitment to making rail services accessible for all, with the installation of new British Sign Language (BSL) totems at four major stations across the country.

Railnews

• Eurostar calls for depot plans to consider growth Eurostar has called for investment to fuel international rail growth, as the debate over capacity at Temple Mills depot continues. Eurostar said a new ORR report ignored its own growth ambitions, and that although there is some space at Temple Mills it would not be enough for new operators as well as an enlarged Eurostar fleet.

Railtech

• Slow start for direct Cardiff-Edinburgh rail serviceIt's now almost six months old. Ministers in Wales and Scotland have lauded the new daily Cardiff and Edinburgh direct service. However, the development of the route leaves more to be desired.

Railway Gazette

• Caledonian Sleeper launches branded merchandise rangeUK: London to Scotland night train operator Caledonian Sleeper has launched an online souvenir shop in partnership with branded merchandise agency ORB Group.

Sustainable Bus

• Volvo Buses' transition journey in Europe: strategy, economics and next steps in EU's head Thomas Nylund's wordsVolvo Buses is in the midst of a significant transition. Two years after announcing a major shift in its European business model, the company is now moving into series production with a new partner, reshaping its manufacturing footprint, and adjusting its market focus to secure long-term profitability

Other News Sources

• Marc Hurn appointed managing director of VTG Rail UKVTG Rail UK has appointed Marc Hurn as its managing director. Marc has been promoted into the role from his previous position as the sales and marketing director of the company, which he had held since 2023.
• Jake Kelly returns to Network Rail to head up NW&CJake Kelly has returned to Network Rail's North West & Central Region (NW&C) as its new regional management director.
• Overcoming cross‑border rail challenges with managed transportationNick Fryer, Vice President of Marketing at Sheer Logistics, discusses the complexities/challenges facing cross-border rail today and how leveraging technologies through a managed transportation approach can mitigate these risks.