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

Wednesday, 30 April 2025

BBC News

• New train station sees cycleways introducedThe project will see a segregated cycleway and walking path linking part of Willenhall.
• Passengers face disruption as power loss hits tramsDamage to overhead power lines causes chaos on tram services across Manchester city centre.
• Book swap to return to some Tube stationsThe scheme was suspended in March following fire safety concerns raised by the London Fire Brigade.
• TfL launches latest fare dodger crackdownTfL says it is employing a team of investigators to target the 3.4% of customers who do not pay.
• Trump eases car tariffs after firms raised concernsThe president said the move would give companies relief while they adjust their supply chains.

Financial Times

• Trump softens car tariffs as he visits industrial heartland in MichiganExecutive order comes after industry voiced concerns that US trade war would raise costs

The Herald

• Glasgow Airport increased pick-up and drop-off chargesGlasgow Airport has increased the cost to use its pick-up and drop-off points ahead of summer.

The Scotsman

• Exclusive:Scotland's newest bridge will close for 3 hours for large ships to passThe Renfrew crossing will be the first opening road bridge on the Clyde.

Times Online

• National Express owner's boss departs after £793m loss and dividend cut [subscription]The departure of Ignacio Garat after five years leaves a leadership void and raises questions about the future direction of the coach, bus and train company
• Alcohol ban on trains unworkable, says ScotRail chief [subscription]The head of Scotland's national rail operator tells MSPs that the Covid-era rule has shown no impact on antisocial behaviour

London Evening Standard

• New 'vibrant' train design celebrates ethnicity of workforceDigital artist Baraka Carberry created the work for Avanti West Coast.

Wales Online

• Bristol Airport issues stinging response to plans to give Cardiff Airport £205mThe boss of Bristol Airport has written an open letter to Economy Secretary Rebecca Evans outlining his concerns

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Avanti West Coast reveals its new amazing multi-coloured train for services through the West MidlandsAn Avanti West Coast train has been wrapped in bold artwork celebrating the ethnicity of its operator's workforce and the communities it serves.

Doncaster Free Press

• Plans unveiled for direct train services from Doncaster to Brighton and Gatwick AirportDoncaster rail passengers could soon be having a day out on the south coast with plans unveiled to introduce direct trains to Brighton which would also call at Gatwick Airport.

Other Regional Press

• Pembrokeshire community transport service in funding boostFunding of more than £213,000 for a Pembrokeshire community transport charity group, which supports some of the county's most vulnerable residents, has been backed by senior councillors.
• Birmingham's reactions to HS2 delays: Will the Birmingham-London link ever happen?With billions already spent and more delays looming, many are questioning whether the project will ever deliver on its promises. Watch the video for the full report.
• Thales to stay at Teesside Airport after signing new dealThe company provides services from the Ministry of Defence and civil aircrafts
• Stoneleigh station: New accessible footbridge unveiledA new covered footbridge has been built at a railway station as part of a £9.1 million project.

Business Live

• Mobico CEO to step down as National Express owner struggles with financial woesMobico chief executive Ignacio Garat is to stand down at the end of April as the owner of National Express continues to grapple with a series of financial issues
• Port operator PD Ports plans £200m renewable energy development for TeessideThe plans will involve the construction of a kilometre-long deepwater riverside quay to help accommodate some of the massive vessels involved in offshore energy
• Bristol Airport criticise £205m Welsh Government subsidy plans for rival Cardiff AirportChief executive of Bristol Airport Dave Lees said the planned subsidy would hand Cardiff an unfair competitive advantage

Calling All Stations - The Transport Podcast

• Commitment and determination: creating the South Wales Metro, E3 Ep13 One of the most exciting transport projects anywhere in the UK is the South Wales Metro which is now fully taking shape and promises to transform travel in and around the Cardiff Capital Region. In an extended interview, Christian hears from the person widely acknowledged as the visionary behind this metamorphosis - Mark Barry, Professor of Practice in Connectivity at Cardiff University - about the commitment and determination needed from him and many others to reach this point as well as lessons which can be applied elsewhere in Wales and the wider UK [1:40]. In his final thought from the departure lounge, Christian questions whether tougher punishments for reckless cyclists really should be a priority for legislation [31:30].

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Transport Secretary updates SAF plans as report shows Europe’s aviation emissions rise to near pre-Covid highsThe Department for Transport (DfT) has announced progress on the UK's Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) sector through a parliamentary statement delivered by Transport Minister Heidi Alexander on 28 April 2025. The statement outlines how SAF is crucial to achieving net zero aviation by 2050, noting that these fuels reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% compared to conventional kerosene when measured across their full lifecycle.  The upadte comes at a time where emissions from European aviation have almost bounced back to 2019 levels according to a recent report publi...

Construction Index

• Boot to build Barnetby train depotThe new depot, or sustainable maintenance delivery unit as Network Rail calls it, will be a two-storey 9,500 sq ft timber building with welfare facilities, an office, and a stores. There will be a service yard, additional storage facilities and car parking.

Highways News

• Roads Minister faces Transport Committee on reforming street worksThe House of Commons Transport Select Committee is holding an Evidence session, Managing the impact of street works on Wednesday 30 April at 09:15 at Grimond Room, Portcullis House in Westminster. The session can also be viewed on ParliamentTV.  

Rail Advent

• Network Rail signs £850m autumn and winter train contractNetwork Rail has signed a 5-year deal with GB Railfreight to run Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPVs). These autumn and winter treatment trains help keep tracks clear and ensure detritus doesn't delay services.

Rail Magazine

• More than 1,500 level crossing near-misses in four years as Network Rail launches new campaignThere have been 1,574 recorded near-miss incidents at level crossings in the past four years, according to Network Rail.

Railnews

• Network Rail to spend millions on those leaves Network Rail has announced a new series of contracts with several freight operators to clear leaves from the railway and deal with icy winter weather. The new contracts, which start in August and run until 2030 at least, will be worth around 850 million pounds altogether. They will also cover weed killing as well as leaf-blasting, ice removal and snow plough trains.

Transportxtra

• Cambs and Peterborough mayoral candidates back transport manifestoAll five mayoral candidates for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have signed up to a campaign group's manifesto for life-changing transport

Aviation Industry

• London Gatwick Airport's innovation journey: autonomous tech, robotics and smart airport solutionsAirports around the world are actively exploring autonomous technology and its various uses in and around the airport terminal and London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is no exception. The airport is proactively integrating robotics and automation to drive operational efficiency, enhance workforce skills and elevate customer experience.

Other News Sources

• London St. Pancras Highspeed unveils £300 million renewal plan to boost high-speed rail reliabilityA £300 million investment will renew key high-speed rail assets and trial innovative monitoring technologies over the next five years.
• APPG for Transport Safety Holds First Meeting Since Re-FormationLast Thursday marked the inaugural meeting of the newly re-formed All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Transport Safety, bringing together MPs, Peers, and stakeholders committed to driving forward progress on safety across all transport modes. The number of Parliamentarians registered as members of the APPG has almost doubled to over 40 members spread across both houses since the last meeting.