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

Wednesday, 02 July 2025

BBC News

• On-demand bus service to roll out to entire countyAn on demand bus service is to be rolled out across Rutland following a trial.
• Butlin's tourists 'overcrowd' rural bus serviceIssues plaguing a rural bus service in Somerset have been dubbed "beyond ridiculous" by the local MP.
• GWR battery-powered trains could be used in futureBattery-powered trains could be used more frequently after a successful trial by Great Western Railway (GWR).
• Ship shortage causes summer west coast ferry disruptionVessels on several routes will be redeployed while work is carried out on the MV Alfred and MV Lord of the Isles.
• The bridge changing lives and boosting businessThe Öresund bridge, which connects Denmark and Sweden, is celebrating 25 years since its opening.

Department for Transport

• New Permanent Secretary at Department for Transport Jo Shanmugalingam has been appointed as the new Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport, taking over from Bernadette Kelly

Financial Times

• Qantas hit by cyber attack after FBI alert on Scattered Spider groupAustralian airline investigating whether hacking group that targeted M&S is behind customer database breach
• Market squalls threaten to throw container shipping off courseHow does an industry that built and benefited from globalisation survive when its main cheerleader turns on it?
• Sabotage suspected as mystery blasts hit oil tankersFive vessels hit with limpet mines this year shortly after visiting Russian ports
• Heathrow fire caused by ‘catastrophic failure’ at substation Finding from official review raises questions for National Grid

The Guardian

• Twelve of England's regional mayors back plan for 'national active travel network'Exclusive: Unprecedented move to focus initially on helping children to walk, cycle or scoot to school safely
• Labour ought to think small on infrastructure | LettersGuardian readers respond to George Monbiot’s column about plans for the Lower Thames Crossing
• Qantas confirms cyber-attack exposed records of up to 6 million customersThe airline said the affected system has now been contained and its systems secured after the data breach
• Speed restrictions imposed on two main train lines amid UK heatwaveLonger journeys and possible cancellations expected on Brighton and western mainlines out of London

Times Online

• Manchester Airports Group handles a record 64m passengers [subscription]Profits are up sharply for the company that also owns Stansted and East Midlands airports

City AM

• Manchester Airports Group takes off amid expansion driveThe UK's largest airport group has reported a record year of passenger traffic and rising profit as it presses ahead with a major programme of expansion.

Network Rail

• Passengers invited to find out more ahead of major Stockport bridge rebuildThe £20m investment in the Greek Street bridge will close the Manchester spur of the West Coast Main Line for three weeks this August.
• Scotland's scenic Far North Line reopens after £11.5m upgradeTrain services on the Far North Line have resumed after three weeks of essential engineering work to improve the reliability of one of Scotland's most scenic and remote railways.
• Railway safety campaign launches as accidental deaths hit five-year highPowerful new safety films will be seen across Britain this summer as Network Rail and the British Transport Police launch a campaign to tackle rising unsafe behaviour around the rail network.

Carlisle News & Star

• Resident to raise concerns about Stagecoach bus serviceA CALL will be made next week to improve bus services in the Cumberland Council area at a meeting in Carlisle.

Other Regional Press

• MP's campaign to end disabled bus pass restrictions gathers paceLocal MP Tom Gordon has ramped up his campaign to allow disabled people to use their bus passes at any time of day.
• SALC grant cap will hit active travel plans in SomersetEfforts to deliver new walking and cycling links across Somerset have hit a bump in the road due to changes in a key grant funding organisation.
• Loss of Worcestershire Parkway train causing 'havoc'THE loss of a commuter train is causing 'havoc' for people trying to get to work, a councillor said.
• Shillingstone Station marks milestone with rail extensionShillingstone Station has celebrated a significant milestone last week with the completion of a 400-metre rail extension.

Rail Business Daily

• Tom Bryant appointed Chief Executive of Tees Valley Combined AuthorityAn experienced leader with a career of more than 20 years in Local Government has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA).
• Porterbrook appoints Max Ordish as Head of Freight and Commercial ProjectsPorterbrook, the UK's leading rolling stock financier and asset management company, has today announced the appointment of Max Ordish as Head of Freight and Commercial Projects.
• Inclusivity driving the designs of East West Rail's stationsMembers of East West Railway Company's Accessibility Advisory Panel (AAP) are helping to future-proof the inclusive design of the project after visiting stations still to be built or remodelled along the proposed route to assess facilities for disabled passengers.

Rail Magazine

• Track damage caused by Bletchley derailment blocks through trains onto East West RailThe East West Rail route remains closed to through traffic, including a daily freight flow, after a derailment on the West Coast Main Line.
• Midlands Rail Hub plans for East Midlands 'put on hold'Midlands Rail Hub enhancements designed to provide better connectivity and more services for the East Midlands region appear to have been put on hold following recent announcements from the Chancellor.
• UK "fails to provide trains people want or like" due to lack of rolling stock strategyThe UK rail industry has suffered from a lack of rolling stock strategy over the past 30 years.

Railway Supply

• Siemens Mobility Launches First Battery-Electric Passenger Locomotive in North AmericaSiemens Mobility has launched the Charger B+AC, North America's first battery-electric passenger locomotive, combining sustainable technology with high-speed rail performance in a single dual-powered platform.
• €2.1 Billion Investment to Boost Italy's Rail InfrastructureItaly's rail infrastructure will receive a €2.1 billion investment over two years to improve maintenance, strengthen operations, and modernize the national rail system for better service reliability.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Cardiff Bus upgrades Ticketer platform to use TK300 machinesNew ticket machine has an Android-based driver console and updated contactless card reader

Aviation Industry

• Bristol Airport unveils 2040 master plan following public consultationBristol Airport has published its final Master Plan outlining its vision through to 2040, following an extensive public consultation. The blueprint sets out plans to meet rising regional travel demand, improve connectivity, and stimulate economic growth in the South West.
• Manchester Airports Group reports record yearThe parent company of Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports plans to invest £2.5 billion in the next five years, following a record year.

Other News Sources

• We're pulling out stops to fix bus sheltersVandalised and neglected bus shelters are to undergo repairs across Erewash as the borough council launches a huge mission to get them back up to scratch.
• UK Doge unit uncovers staggering amount of taxpayer cash splurged on bus 'inclusivity' researchThe UK's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) has uncovered that nearly £160,000 of taxpayers' money has been spent on a research paper on the "accessibility and inclusivity of buses and coaches".
• Cardiff bus services under threat as workers ballot for strike actionBus services in Cardiff could be severely disrupted this summer, as over 450 Unite members including drivers are being balloted for strike action.
• Cardiff bus services under threat as workers ballot for strike actionBus services in Cardiff could be severely disrupted this summer, as over 450 Unite members including drivers are being balloted for strike action.
• Power outage at Heathrow airport may have been caused by paper getting caught in power generatorsA power outage which wiped out Heathrow airport for hours and caused travel chaos may have been caused by paper getting caught up in power generators, a government-commissioned report is expected to say today.
• Alstom unveils interior of new unmanned metro train for ParisFrance: The three-car Metropolis trainset was unveiled at the Palaiseau maintenance and storage site.
• Independent Rail Retailers Prospectus Champions Passenger ChoiceIndependent Rail Retailers (IRR) has launched a new prospectus setting out a clear vision for the future of rail retailing highlighting the key role independent retailers play in modernising the passenger experience, growing rail use, and supporting a competitive, customer-first rail industry.
• Hitachi Rail delivers major milestone in London Underground's largest ever signalling upgradeHitachi Rail has completed the latest signalling deployment on London Underground's Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines. The deployment represents the most technically challenging milestone to date in Transport for London's Four Lines Modernisation (4LM) project, London's largest ever signalling upgrade.
• Full cost of HS2 work around Moxon's bat tunnel will be £68m, says DfTDesign alone said to cost £5.3m, although department said it could not identify exact price for structure itself

News from Europe

• France asks airlines to reduce flights due to planned air traffic controller strikeFrance's civil aviation authority on Tuesday asked commercial airlines to reduce flights at Paris airports due to a planned July 3 strike by air traffic controllers, which comes just as the summer holiday season begins.
• "Lose your job or give up some benefits", PKP Cargo's new proposal to trade unionsThe Polish state-owned rail freight operator PKP Cargo has officially submitted its restructuring plan after finding itself on the verge of bankruptcy. One of the most controversial aspects of the plan concerns the workers, who might be left with two somewhat unpleasant options: be laid off or keep the position but lose various benefits.
• Increased electrification of rail network would enable 'seamless' train travel across EuropeAdvancing the electrification rate across Europe's rail networks would enable 'seamless rail travel' across the continent, with varying levels of electrification currently in place, Transport & Environment (T&E) has said.