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

Thursday, 08 May 2025

BBC News

• Cause of Heathrow shutdown fire unknown, report saysThe root cause of a fire which led to the shutdown of Heathrow Airport and affected hundreds of thousands of journeys worldwide "remains unknown", an interim report says.
• Northern pins reliability hopes on new trainsThe reliability of rail operator Northern will improve when up to 450 new trains start to come into service at the end of the decade, bosses have claimed.
• Wellington station 'still firmly under consideration'The government has said it is still considering the case for a new railway station in Wellington in Somerset.
• Nexus says Metro door fault 'cannot happen again'A problem with the doors on the Tyne and Wear Metro's new trains "cannot happen again", the network's operator has said.
• Train named after Welsh festival mascotA train has been named in honour of the Welsh mascot Mistar Urdd in celebration of the upcoming Urdd National Eisteddfod.

Financial Times

• US to upgrade safety equipment at Newark airport after outage Air traffic controllers have taken a leave of absence under a programme covering traumatic job events
• Emirates says global air travel demand unaffected by trade tensions Dubai carrier reports record earnings as more passengers bought the airline’s most expensive seats

The Guardian

• Cause of Heathrow shutdown fire remains unknownSuspicious activity ruled out after investigation into blaze that left London hub and homes without power
• Trainline shares tumble amid warnings over expansion of London contactless zoneTicket website also faces uncertainty over hit to foreign travel and government plan for UK rail booking system

The Independent

• Trainline profits surge amid record sales as firm braces for UK rail shake-upThe ticketing company benefited from fewer train strikes in 2024 and more sales of digital travel passes than the previous year.

The Scotsman

• Exclusive:Edinburgh Airport launches 'most ambitious' expansion as traffic soarsSoaring passenger numbers at Edinburgh Airport will see last year's record busiest day surpassed ten times this summer as it embarks on its most ambitious expansion plans yet.

Times Online

• Uber falls short amid economic concerns and cheaper transportThe ride-hailing giant faces challenges including lower ride prices, but it still predicted a strong performance in the second quarter
• Trainline urges ministers to play fair with state competitor [subscription]The online rail ticket seller reports a 54 per cent rise in profits, but has concerns over the rival Great British Railways entering its marketplace

Reuters News

• Cause of Heathrow shutdown fire still unknown, initial report saysLONDON, May 8 (Reuters) - The cause of the fire at an electricity substation that forced Britain's Heathrow Airport to shut down for almost a day remains unknown, the National Energy System Operator said in an interim report on Thursday.

i News

• Nearly 7,000 trains delayed last year by floodsTrain journeys were delayed by 130 days last year as a result of flooding, as the UK's creaking rail infrastructure struggled to cope with the effects of climate change, new figures show.
• Rail fares are surging as Trainline makes £86m profits - up 56% in a yearRail passengers do not 'need' Trainline and its soaring profits should be invested in cutting fares instead, campaigners have said.

This is Money

• Trainline fires back at Labour's plans for state-backed train ticket sellerTrainline is taking an 'increasingly assertive stance' with the UK Government over plans to revamp the rail ticket sector.

Sky News

• Cause of fire that sparked major Heathrow power outage remains unknownThe root cause of the fire that sparked a major power outage at Heathrow Airport remains unknown, the UK's national energy system operator has said.

Birmingham Post

• Greater Manchester park and ride set to more than treble in size after busway successPlanning application to expand Tyldesley's 'travel hub' has been formally submitted

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Authority responds after readers raise concerns over plans to retire Metro brandingWest Yorkshire Combined Authority has said a "fresh, modern identity" is needed - after it emerged the Metro branding that has been in place on the county's public transport network for more than 50 years is set to be "retired".

Northern Echo

• New conservation area to celebrate Middleton St George's heritageThe bicentennial celebrations of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) inspired Darlington Borough Council officials to consult residents on plans for the new zone in Middleton St George.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Shake-up of bus services due to be given final approval tomorrow - despite Dudley Council objectionMayor Richard Parker's plans for a £22.5 million shake-up of the West Midlands bus network are set to be approved tomorrow (FRI) - despite a Black Country council's objection.
• Dudley Council leader says mayor should 'find promised HS2 cash'Dudley's leader is calling on West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker to collect promised HS2 cash for the borough.
• Thousands of apprenticeships to be made available to young aspiring train driversLowering the train driver age to 18 will help future-proof the nation's railways, support young people in fulfilling careers and boost growth across the country, the Department for Transport has said.

Yorkshire Post

• Trainline profits surge on back of record salesTrainline profits surged last year after it made a record amount of sales, as the company benefited from the growing popularity of digital tickets and fewer rail strikes.

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 building new 'green' bridge near Bucks villageHS2 Limited has asked Buckinghamshire Council for planning permission to build a new 'green' bridge outside a Bucks village.

Other Regional Press

• Local MP Urges Transport Minister to Scrap Bus Pass Rule for Disabled PeopleLast week, Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, met with the Minister for Local Transport, to push for an end to bus pass restrictions that disadvantage disabled people.
• MP calls vandals 'idiots' after damage at Hedge End StationAn MP has branded vandals 'idiots' after a spate of smashed windows, broken plant pots and other damage at Hedge End train station.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Council trials electric recycling truck powered by solar panelsBath & North East Somerset Council are trialling an electric recycling collection truck powered by electricity generated from solar panels at Keynsham Recycling Hub.

Highways News

• Transport technology to move from innovation to impact over next five yearsA group of highways industry leaders from both the private and public sector have agreed that transport technology must be delivered by a more joined up public sector over the next five years in order to maximise the benefits that can be delivered to the travelling public.

Rail Advent

• Digital signalling set to be installed on Class 185 trainsTransPennine Express (TPE) is upgrading its fleet of Class 185 trains with the European Train Control System (ETCS).
• £7.9m project to start at Bedfordshire railway stationA £7.9 million investment to transform Harlington station is set to begin next week.

Rail Business Daily

• Women in Rail launches new business planWomen in Rail has launched its new blueprint for change, aimed at supporting a more inclusive, supportive, and progressive UK rail industry.
• Network Rail completes repairs after Three Bridges landslipEngineers have completed a programme of repairs to an embankment that supports the busy Brighton Main Line.
• Connecting rail and light rail: New partnership supports integrated transport visionRail Forum and UKTram have announced a strategic partnership designed to strengthen collaboration across the UKs rail and light rail sectors. This partnership aims to deliver increased value to members of both organisations through shared initiatives, mutual support, and aligned objectives.

Rail Magazine

• Bookings open for Coventry Very Light Rail testsOnline bookings for a first ride on the Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) are now open.

Rail-News.com

• The Role of Night Trains in Sweden's Transport NetworkAt the Train & Rail conference in Stockholm, Dan Olofsson, Head of Operational Strategy and National Coordination at SJ, outlined the ongoing and strategic importance of night trains in Sweden's transport system.

Railway Technology

• CAF secures $453m maintenance contracts in UK and ColombiaThe UK contract is for the maintenance of Northern Train's rolling stock fleet and the Colombian contract is with Medellín Metro.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Scottish Citylink AIR gets eight Irizar i6S Efficient integralsWest Coast Motors will operate the fleet as its i6S Efficient integral pool grows even further
• Next-gen Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV gets London debut on SL6Alexander Dennis has announced it has delivered 12 new Enviro400EV to Arriva London for use on Transport for London's (TfL) SL6 route.
• Oxford Bus Company to revive 'Chatty Bus' campaignOxford Bus Company and Thames Travel will mark Mental Health Awareness Week by bringing back its Chatty Bus initiative.

Aviation Industry

• London Heathrow remains main option for British tradeThe sudden closure of Europe's busiest airport, London Heathrow, following a fire at a near-by electrical substation had a profound temporary impact on the UK's supply chains.
• Aviation professionals call on the industry to rethink itselfFive aviation professionals with shared environmental concerns have formed Call Aviation to Action, a group who aim to promote a deep and just transition on aviation business models and strategies to fit a liveable planet.