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

Wednesday, 28 May 2025

BBC News

• Installation of new railway footbridge delayedPlans to construct a new footbridge at a railway station have been delayed.
• TfL confirms bus route changes in central LondonTransport for London (TfL) has confirmed it will be restructuring routes of some of its bus services in central London after "careful consideration".
• Bus station reopens after urgent repairsCardiff bus interchange reopens after being closed for five hours on Tuesday afternoon.
• Protesters who planned airport disruption jailedThe four Just Stop Oil protesters were planning to glue themselves to the airport taxiway last August.
• 'Stop using my voice' - New train announcer is my AI cloneVoiceover artist Gayanne says an AI used on ScotRail trains was trained using her voice.
• Council leader renews Metrolink expansion callNew Stockport Council leader Mark Roberts say it is his town's "turn" to be connected to the network.

Financial Times

• SpaceX Starship rocket fails to deploy satellites and explodes on re-entryElon Musk says leaks caused loss of pressure as rocket’s upper stage shatters over Indian Ocean
• London congestion charge set to rise by 20% under TfL plansProposals would end residents’ discount for all but electric vehicles, says transport body
• Riding a revolutionary electric ferry to the Isle of WightOlympic sailing champion Iain Percy has developed a high-speed water taxi that is set to make waves against fossil-fuelled rivals

The Guardian

• Tesla sales slump across Europe amid backlash against MuskRegistrations for new vehicles in April drop to half 2024 figure despite a broader rise in battery electric carsSales of new Tesla electric cars are sliding across Europe, data suggests, amid a political backlash against its billionaire chief executive, Elon Musk.The figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) showed registrations for new Teslas halved in April compared to the same month a year earlier, despite a broader rise in battery electric vehicles overall.
• SpaceX Starship breaks up over Indian Ocean in latest bumpy testShip flew farther than on two previous attempts but sprang leaks and began spinning before re-entering the atmosphere out of controlAnother SpaceX Starship prototype broke up over the Indian Ocean on Tuesday, capping the latest bumpy test flight for the rocket central to billionaire Elon Musk’s dream of colonising Mars.The biggest and most powerful launch vehicle ever built lifted off at 6.36pm local time from the company’s facility near a southern Texas village that earlier this month voted to become a city also named Starbase.

The Herald

• Look at how Norway does ferries, Scotland. Not so hard, is it?I fancied a wee day trip to Arran the other day, so took the train to Troon, for the ferry.

Times Online

• Electric passenger aircraft could take flight with sodium fuel cells [subscription]A 'revolutionary' metal-air cell could deliver more five times as much energy as a lithium battery of the same weight and remove CO2 from the atmosphere
• Britain's first flying taxi completes cross-country flight. [subscription]The electric aircraft hit 150mph in its first real-world flight, marking a key step towards UK air taxis by 2028
• TfL congestion charge to hit £18 a day as mayor goes greener. [subscription]Transport for London proposes increasing the daily rate to drive in the city centre and cut discounts available to residents

Daily Record

• Actress claims ScotRail’s new 'Iona' AI announcer uses her voice without permissionThe government-owned train operator recently rolled out “Iona”, an AI voice on some routes, which replaced older messages recorded by a human.

Sky News

• 'I've been turned into an AI train announcer - and no one told me'Gayanne Potter is one of Britain's most recognisable voices - behind adverts for the likes of Estee Lauder, Apple, LBC radio, and B&Q.

London Evening Standard

• Bakerloo Line upgrade and extension has overwhelming London-wide support, survey showsNine in ten businesses (89%) support the proposals, while 76% of residents back the plans

North Wales Live

• Merseyrail train evacuated after smoke seen coming from tunnelRail replacement buses are currently in operation due to the ongoing disruption

Other Regional Press

• New documentary inside UK’s busiest ferry port set to airA new documentary taking a look at the UK’s most hectic ferry port and its staff will soon hit at TV screens.
• Who are the rivals bidding to take on Eurostar?We take an in-depth look at the firms wanting to run rival services to Eurostar - and what their plans are for Ebbsfleet and Ashford.
• Birmingham Airport braced for 'busiest half term ever' - plus tips for passengersThe airport will welcome 466,363 passengers, an increase of nine per cent from last year

New Civil Engineer

• Herefordshire Council to tender £42M contract for Hereford Western Bypass phase 1Herefordshire Council has taken a substantial step forward in reviving the long-discussed Hereford Western Bypass with preparations underway to tender the construction of Phase 1.

Rail Advent

• Lincolnshire Level Crossing upgrades will mean Rail Replacement BusesAhead of planned work, East Midlands Railway is reminding customers of the changes to services resulting in rail replacement services.

Rail UK

• West Midlands Railway and Transport for Wales unveil major Shrewsbury investmentWest Midlands Railway (WMR) and Transport for Wales (TfW) are celebrating the completion of a major £3 million upgrade at a key depot in Shrewsbury.

Railnews

• HS2 probes claims of inflated staff charges It has been revealed that an investigation is under way into allegations of irregular billing for workers building HS2. A whistleblower claims that two companies supplying staff to contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI had charged for supplying them as if they were on PAYE, which would presumably have included national insurance, when in fact they were self-employed.

Railtech

• Open-access push to revive Wales to London link gains some steam, despite rail nationalisationIf nationalisation has put the brakes on open-access passenger rail operations, then the Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway didn't get the memo. The operator is seeking to launch a direct service between Wales and London, despite the national government shifting away from such initiatives.

Other News Sources

• Waterloo Station vision to make area more sustainablePlans for a regenerated station have been revealed with a wide variety of improvements
• Concept delivers initial GI phase for East West Rail's Bedford-Cambridge routeEast West Railway Company and Concept Engineering Consultants are making progress on ground investigations for the new railway alignment between Bedford and Cambridge, following initial delays in the Ravensden area due to a gas explosion last year