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

Tuesday, 03 June 2025

BBC News

• Further road improvements for major Leeds routeThe latest phase of a £10m scheme to improve safety on a major road in Leeds will begin on 2 June.
• Fare increases planned for Ring and Ride busesRing and Ride fares are set to increase for the first time in eight years due to cost pressures.
• Bus safety laws could have saved my daughter's life, says mumLegislation is being proposed to prohibit drivers overtaking buses dropping off or picking up passengers.
• Tram disruption explained as works begin in citySeveral trams will not run or they will run via alternative routes due to the £150m improvement works.
• Tube drug use falls for first time in three yearsFigures show most recorded incidents of drug use were at Hammersmith, followed by Oxford Circus.

Department for Transport

• Government protects thousands of miles of bus services from being scrappedBus Services Bill will give local leaders the power to shape the bus services their communities rely on.

Financial Times

• Airline alliances still short of a first-class productSuccessful alliances are about laying the least cash while making customers feel better off
• India cuts out Turkish connections in aviationAlso in this newsletter, economic indicators look set for a rate cut, and Andrew Holland’s mantra

The Herald

• When AI kills off the ScotRail lady, you know we're all in troubleI found myself having a conversation with AI last month. I've resisted engaging with this monster technology until now, but my voyeuristic inquisitiveness could no longer be contained. I had to take a peek into the locked room in the ogre's castle marked "Danger".

City AM

• Keep electric cars exempt from Congestion Charge, says Polestar boss Electric car users should not be forced to pay London's congestion charge, even at a discount, the boss of Polestar has said. Transport for London (TfL) last week unveiled proposals to hike the Congestion Charge by a fifth last week, the first increase since 2029.

The Mirror

• Major bus routes plan to benefit thousands of passengers in local communitiesThousands of bus passengers who rely on 'lifeline' routes to get to work, school or the doctors’ will be protected from sudden cuts to services at short-notice

Birmingham Post

• Lumo to add new trains from London to North West and ScotlandThe open access operator will provide services between London, Milton Keynes, Preston, Carlisle and Stirling
• How to reduce train journey times from Carmarthen to Cardiff by 22 minutesWe need to transform the under utilised Swansea District Line with a new parkway station at Felindre

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• First passengers to experience new terminal building at Leeds Bradford AirportLEEDS Bradford Airport (LBA) has revealed that selected flights and passengers will get a first look and arrivals experience in the new terminal building in the coming weeks, ahead of the new terminal building officially opening to the public.

Bristol Live

• Temple Island towers plan leaves Government heritage chiefs concerned"The station approach or ‘ramp’ constitutes its primary setting, and we place great importance on conserving this view"
• 'Huge success' claims for Bristol pedestrianisation scheme some residents aren't happy withElizabeth Igoe, who lives in North Road in St Andrews, said the council has not considered how the plans would impact parking, local businesses and traffic and called the scheme an "unnecessary waste of money"

London Evening Standard

• Heathrow rival could build and operate third runway in UK 'first', says aviation ministerGovernment invites potential promoters of another runway at the west London airport to come forward with plans this summer
• Vital routes to be protected as part of buses overhaulCouncils will put strict requirements in place before 'socially necessary' routes can be changed or cancelled, the Department for Transport said.

Manchester Evening News

• Andy Burnham has made a £400m demand... but 'that's not good enough''The simple ability to get around is a right that should be available to all our communities'

Metro

• 'Underrated' UK seaside town gets direct train to London for first time in 30 yearsA beloved UK seaside town could finally be reconnected to the capital after decades of being cut off from direct rail links.

Nation. Cymru

• Rail union calls for UK Government to reconsider classification of Oxford to Cambridge rail line as 'England and Wales' projectA transport trade union has urged the UK Government to 'be honest' with the people of Wales and reconsider its classification of the new Oxford to Cambridge rail line as an 'England and Wales' project.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Vital rural bus routes protected and fares capped as bus bill passes through parliamentLocal authorities to have a hand in bus routes, and even establish their own

Northern Echo

• Exhibition showcases Stockton and Darlington Railway to open - full detailsThe Whistle Stop exhibition, part of the S&DR200 Festival, will open at Darlington Library from June 14 to July 24.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• 'We want better bus services to get to the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital'Bus campaigners are calling on public transport chiefs to make improvements to routes serving the new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital.

Other Regional Press

• Belfast International Airport statement on plans to reopen city centre rail linkIt comes as people have been voicing their support for the idea
• Students angry over 'shameful' bus pass cancellationStudents at Oxford Brookes have reacted furiously to the university's announcement with one flagging financial and safety concerns.
• Network Rail chief executive will provide Botley Road updateThe chief executive of Network Rail will visit Oxford later this month  to give residents a progress report on the £161m rail scheme which shut Botley Road
• New 24-hour bus service launchesStagecoach South has announced the new round-the-clock service on its Coastliner 700 route.
• New cycle path installed near popular seafront cafeWorks on a new seafront cycle path have been completed

Bus and Coach Buyer

• Transport Secretary calls for greater accountability for bus servicesAs the Bus Services Bill reached its Second Reading in the House of Commons yesterday (2 June 2025), the Transport Secretary called for greater accountability and reliability for bus services.

Bus and Coach.com

• CPCA prepares for launch of 'Tiger' routesCambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) has moved closer to the launch of its new 'Tiger'-branded bus route network, part of its plans to improve bus services in the region, with contracts awarded to bus operators. Funded by the region?s mayoral precept, the new routes will provide important extra connections to towns and cities for bus users across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Bus-News

• UK Government Introduces Measures to Safeguard Local Bus ServicesBus services across England could become more stable and accountable under the government's new Bus Services Bill, which has passed its second reading in the House of Commons.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Chancellor urged to prioritise freight and logistics during Comprehensive Spending Review to hit government targetsExperts at The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK (CILT UK) are encouraging the Chancellor to protect and boost spending on freight and logistics projects as part of Rachel Reeves' Comprehensive Spending Review.

Highways News

• National Highways to share information about Lower Thames Crossing workNational Highways are planning a series of public meetings across Thurrock to talk about the work they will be undertaking in advance of construction of the proposed Lower Thames Crossing.

New Civil Engineer

• Balfour Beatty completes £60M road to unlock development of Liverpool freeport and colliery siteA new £60M road has been completed in St Helens by Balfour Beatty to allow for the future development of a freeport and ex-colliery site in the Liverpool city region.

Rail Advent

• Transport for the North Calls For Bigger Investment to Improve StationsNew research carried out by Transport for the North has found that most stations in the North are inaccessible for many people.

Rail Magazine

• North Wales test station proposed to replace A proposed test station on the Wrexham-Bidston line would replace an existing calling point that is 'very poorly used'.

Railnews

• FirstGroup to lease 222s for London-Stirling service FirstGroup is to lease five Class 222 Meridian diesel units cascaded from East Midlands Railway for its open access service between Stirling and London.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Socially necessary bus services in England set for 'strict' protectionBullish tone from government around one of Bus Services Bill's keys as second reading passed

Other News Sources

• CPT statement on Second Reading of the Bus Services Bill in the House of CommonsThe Second Reading of the Bus Services Bill is taking place in the House of Commons on Monday 2nd June. The Confederation of Passenger Transport has been working closely with the Department for Transport on behalf of bus operators and the wider industry.