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

Friday, 02 May 2025

BBC News

• Gatwick Airport drop-off charge rises to £7Gatwick Airport is increasing the price of its drop-off zones by £1, bringing the minimum charge to 37.
• Funding boost expected for delayed railway stationExtra funds are expected to be ploughed into the construction of a delayed railway station project, meaning it could finally be completed almost three years later than planned.
• Will railway work affect my bank holiday journey?Travellers planning a train journey this bank holiday weekend are being warned of disruption during major upgrade work across north-west England and further afield.
• Passengers told to allow more time for station worksA train operator has warned passengers who are travelling to a town's railway station by road to allow more time for their journeys.
• 'Cut-off for 58 years' town to get train stationThe town of Golborne near Wigan will be connected to the rail network for the first time since 1967.
• Glasgow Airport increases drop-off charge to £6The pick-up/drop off zone allows cars to stay a maximum of 15 minutes.
• Tesla denies contacting headhunters to replace MuskThe electric car firm says a report that it is hunting for a successor is "absolutely false".

The Telegraph

• Airport 'exploiting' motorists with rise in drop-off fees [subscription]Owners of Glasgow site increase 'kiss and fly' charges by nearly 10pc despite raking in a £40m profit

Times Online

• We'll strip free bus passes from antisocial young people, says SwinneyFirst minister says a system to punish repeated bad behaviour is being developed after reports of 'horrendous' experiences for passengers and drivers

Local Government

• Three-quarters of people back plan for public control of bus networkThe proposal by Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands to take back control of the region's bus network has been overwhelmingly backed in a a wide-ranging consultation.

Network Rail

• Nearly £1 million investment to modernise vital Lincolnshire level crossingsCrucial renewal work planned to take place at four key level crossings in Lincolnshire, investing nearly £1 million to improve safety and reliability for road and rail users.
• COMPLETED: Full Island Line services resume EARLY following critical repairs to historic Ryde PierThis morning (Friday 2 May) marks the resumption of Island Line services from Ryde Pier to Shanklin, following a complex programme to repair and refurbish the historic structure.
• A freight hub at London Waterloo stationWe've teamed up with industry partners to trial a sustainable freight hub at London Waterloo. The one-of-a-kind hub uses spare, empty space at the station to sort and deliver parcels using greener cargo bikes instead of vans.

Birmingham Mail

• Major plan to bring West Midlands bus network under public control backedBosses have announced people have overwhelmingly backed plans to transform the West Midlands bus network and bring it back into public control.
• £1 bn tram plan for Blues, NEC, HS2 and Birmingham Airport unveiled that will 'change lives'Exclusive - East Birmingham and North Solihull tramline 'needs to happen' finally say local leaders

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• New rail station is 70 per cent complete - with budget fully spentExtra funds will be ploughed into a delayed railway station project which could be completed almost three years later than planned.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• 75% of people back plans for public control of bus networks, Transport for West Midlands sayA proposal to control the West Midlands' bus networks has been 'overwhelmingly' backed a Transport for West Midlands consultation has shown.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• White Rose Rail Station: Leeds partners set to share plans for completion of train station by shopping centrePlans to complete the development of a new railway station in Leeds that has faced significant disruption are set to be shared next week.

Kent Online

• Plans for new footbridge over railway linking two housing estates in Ashford submitted by Network RailPlans for a footbridge over a railway line have been resubmitted after high costs scuppered the previous design.

Other Regional Press

• King's Lynn bus station revamp to cost less than Norfolk County Council expected as project heads to final stages this summerThe renovation of King's Lynn bus station, including new bus bays and underground changes, is nearing completion. The final improvements, including the installation of real-time information screens, will cost £346,687, less than the initial estimate of £387,000.
• Cornwall buses 'not fit for purpose' as changes slammedOne concerned parent says her daughter missed a vital exam due to her bus no longer going directly to Truro and Penwith College
• 'Real progress' made on campaign to keep busy level crossing open to vehiclesThe campaign to keep a busy level crossing open to vehicles has made 'real progress' - with a parliament petition gaining nearly 1,000 signatures in one weekend.
• Oxford MP urges Rail Minister to support Botley Road tradersMP Layla Moran has written to Rail Minister Lord Hendy urging the government to provide financial support to businesses affected by the ongoing Botley Road closure.
• Coventry Very Light Rail bookings open as city regeneration chief says 'really pleased'Residents are being given the opportunity to try the new VLR system in Coventry
• Scottish Greens MSP, Ariane Burgess, praises free bus travel for young people in MorayAn MSP has praised the positive impact of free bus travel for everyone under 22 in the area.

Rail Business Daily

• Stadler awarded contract for further expansion of the Bergen light-railStadler has been awarded the contract for the delivery of signalling technology as part of the expansion of the Bybanen light rail system in Bergen, Norway. The client is the state-owned project organization Bybanen Utbygging, a subsidiary of the Vestland fylkeskommune.
• Leadership transition marks new chapter for Gloucestershire & Oxfordshire Community Rail PartnershipsThe Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) are entering a new chapter as Jon Harris, founding Chair of the CRP Community Interest Company (CIC), steps down from his leadership role. In his place, Kevin Harris, CEO of Constructing Excellence South West and Director of Time for Strategy, has been appointed to lead the CIC into its next stage of development.
• Innovative rail project aims to make freight industry more eco-friendly and boost local supply chainExperts say an innovative project that explores the use of hydrogen fuel cell technology in the rail freight industry could create opportunities within the local supply chain.

Rail Magazine

• HS1 owner hoping to unlock access to more European cities as it updates on capacity plansThe owner of the HS1 route says there is a strong opportunity to expand the range of destinations from St Pancras, with demand for international rail travel set to triple.

Railway Gazette

• DB focuses on core rail business now Schenker sale completedGERMANY: Today we completed the largest corporate transaction in the history of Deutsche Bahn and the logistics industry, DB CEO Dr Richard Lutz said when the sale of the DB Schenker global logistics business to Danish group DSV was finalised on April 30.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Ignacio Garat leaves Mobico CEO role as Phil White is ChairFormer CEO to remain in advisory role for three months; new Chair is focused on future fitness
• Rotala advocates route-by-route West Midlands bus franchisingGroup believes that route-based approach rather than tranches would bring multiple benefits
• Wrightbus set to have 130 hydrogen buses in Germany by year endPipeline of orders for multiple customers to give major boost to manufacturer's hydrogen work

The Business Desk

• Regional leaders to decide on plan to revive stalled railway station developmentPlans to restart and complete the stalled delivery of a new White Rose Railway Station will be set out to regional leaders next week.

Other News Sources

• Why increased construction investment will kickstart growthWhile the industry awaits details of the infrastructure strategy, it must ensure that it will be able to deliver on the country's plans, writes Nitesh Patel.
• Britain's Quangos Uncovered: £6.2 billion in cost overruns in major government projects revealedAs part of Britain's Quangos Uncovered, a TaxPayers' Alliance project exposing the sprawling influence of Britain's quangocracy, new research reveals £6.2 billion in cost overruns and 3,372 days (over nine years) of delays across four major projects, three of which have been mishandled by quangos: the Lower Thames Crossing, Houses of Parliament restoration, NHS digitalisation.