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

Saturday, 19 July 2025

BBC News

• MP calls for West Coast Main Line improvementsAn MP has called on the government to make improvements to the West Coast Main Line to "show people across the North West that this government care about their future".
• Bus service scrapped due to low passenger numbersA bus service connecting a village to a nearby town has been scrapped.

Financial Times

• A $250bn rail merger could help put US logistics on trackSmoother cross-continental logistics ought to be an easy goal to get behind
• EU’s extra free cabin bag will weigh on airline passengers Establishing a single, standard take-off point for bag charges would be a clear win

The Independent

• When will there be a direct rail link from London to Switzerland?Simon Calder answers your questions on odd flight timings, excursions in the Dordogne, why we have to pay for drop-off at airports, and the likelihood of a direct rail service to Switzerland
• Huge setback for California's $128bn high-speed rail project after Trump cuts fundingTrump called the track a disastrously overpriced high speed train to nowhere

i News

• Eastern leg of HS2 officially dead as land is sold offThe eastern section of Phase 2b of the line was cancelled nearly four years ago

Local Government

• Long-term Active Travel Masterplan adopted by councilA 20-year vision aimed at making walking, wheeling and cycling the natural choice for many journeys across the district has been formally adopted by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Network Rail

• Major rail upgrades underway in South WalesNetwork Rail (Wales and Borders) has started a comprehensive programme of engineering works across key rail corridors in South Wales as part of its ongoing commitment to maintaining and improving rail infrastructure.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Kim Leadbeater attends opening of Jo Cox memorial at Batley StationA new memorial to Jo Cox has been unveiled at Batley Station.

Doncaster Free Press

• Photo gallery: Mayor reveals current state of Doncaster Sheffield Airport following visitSouth Yorkshire's mayor has revealed the current state of Doncaster Sheffield Airport ahead of a crucial decision on funding towards its planned re-opening.

Kent Online

• Plans for new footbridge over railway linking two housing estates in Ashford are approvedA groundbreaking footbridge will be built over a dangerous railway line after plans were given the green light for a second time.

Other Regional Press

• MAYOR INSISTS £750M TRANSPORT FUNDING WILL NOT BE BRISTOL-CENTRICThe unprecedented £3752m of transport funding handed to West of England metro mayor Helen Godwin last month will not be Bristol-centric, she has insisted.
• Millions of travellers to use Stansted Airport over summerMillions of travellers are expected to pass through London Stansted Airport as the summer holidays begin.
• Knutsford residents miss out on Manchester Airport jobs due to busesUNEMPLOYED Knutsford residents are losing out on job opportunities with companies at Manchester Airport because of the lack of cross-border bus services, a councillor said.
• Wrightbus reveals long-awaited 6x2 zero-emission bus with global rollout on the horizonAfter two years in development, Wrightbus has today unveiled its much-anticipated 6x2 zero-emission bus, simultaneously rolling off production lines in Northern Ireland and Malaysia a major milestone for the UK-based manufacturer.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• £28m given for zero-emission Bradford and Sheffield busesA grant of £28m is being made to fund zero-emission buses in Bradford and Sheffield.

New Civil Engineer

• ORR expresses concern over Network Rail scaling back asset renewals amid financial strugglesRegulator the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has published its annual assessment of Great Britain's railway, highlighting both notable achievements and pressing challenges facing the network.
• Government lifts 85-year safeguarding on London Gateway Bridge land to boost growthThe UK government has formally lifted the safeguarding direction on land earmarked for the long-proposed London Gateway Bridge, signalling a significant shift in infrastructure and urban planning priorities for the Thames Gateway area.
• Midland Main Line electrification pause down to lack of funds and bi-mode trains, Hendy saysThe government's decision to put an indefinite pause on the electrification of the Midland Main Line (MML) was because there isn't enough money and new bi-mode trains worsened the business case, according to the rail minister.

Rail Business Daily

• Transport Secretary outlines HS2 progressThe Transport Secretary has said costs for HS2 were 'overly optimistic' and the programme moved to construction 'too quickly when the designs were still immature'
• Palace of Westminster hosts celebration of community railAround 200 members, MPs, rail industry partners and third-sector supporters gathered at the Palace of Westminster to celebrate the growing impact of the community rail movement.

Railtech

• Powering rail monitoring devices with wind and vibrations Promising solution in Chinese studyA Chinese research team has studied a new way to power train monitoring sensors: by harvesting the airflow and vibrations created by the trains themselves

Transport Scotland

• Construction work ramps up on the A9 as the fourth section of A9 Dualling contract is expected to be awardedThe Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, has announced her intention to award Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd the construction contract for the fourth section of the A9 Dualling Programme between Tay Crossing and Ballinluig. The award of this £152.7 million contract (at Q2 2025 prices) will mark the achievement of another delivery milestone for the A9 Dualling Programme.

Other News Sources

• Welsh Government's 'Travel for All' plan launched in WrexhamA new plan to improve transport accessibility across Wales has been launched.
• Public transport app Citymapper goes LIVE in LincolnshirePublic transport users can now use the brilliant Citymapper app to make getting around Lincolnshire a lot more straightforward.
• Nottingham City Transport single bus ticket DOWN to £2.50 for rest of summerNottingham City Transport is making bus travel cheaper this summer with a sale on Single Tickets just £2.50 for an adult single, down from £3.
• Transport for Wales plans traffic model to ease Chepstow congestionTransport for Wales is developing a new traffic model to address congestion around High Beech Roundabouts, with short-term measures also under consideration.
• Wales launches plan to make public transport more inclusiveThe Welsh Government has unveiled Travel for All, a new initiative aimed at transforming public transport across Wales to be more inclusive, accessible, and empowering for disabled people and all passengers.
• Lack of alternatives forcing the poorest into barely affordable car ownershipBy being reliant on owning a car, the UK's poorest households are spending a disproportionate share of their income on getting about, new research from the Institute for Public Policy Research has found.
• We need to talk about infrastructure bottlenecks for hydrogen transportHydrogen has a growing profile in public transport. But, as research from IMI shows, there are several bottlenecks to address before its potential can be realised.
• Motability Foundation launches five-year strategy to drive change within accessible transportToday, national transport disability charity Motability Foundation announces five new funding rounds for charities and deaf and disabled people's organisations (DDPOs), following the launch of their new Transport Equity strategy last week.
• West Wales Airport to Become National Hub in Defence InnovationTEKEVER, Europe's leading provider of AI-driven Autonomous Systems, has acquired West Wales Airport in Aberporth.
• How a redesigned apron and aircraft stand layout is helping support cargo and passenger growth at East Midlands AirportAir traffic is on the rise at the regional airport which expects to welcome 1.8m passengers this summer.
• AIRPORT TECHNOLOGY ENHANCES TRAVELLER JOURNEY, RESEARCH SHOWSAirports are rapidly evolving into technology-driven hubs, reshaping the travel experience and unlocking significant commercial potential.
• Gatwick Airport injunction extended by further 12 months to stop environmental protestsThe airport's lawyers say there is a "real and imminent risk of blockading, obstruction and disruption" at its site near Crawley
• Hybrid freight locomotives could cut journey emissions by more than half at GB RailfreightA new fleet of hybrid locomotives that switch between electric power and biofuel will cut freight emissions by more than half on a typical journey, its operator has said.

News from Europe

• EU encourages sustainable journeys by rail: Are trains the future of travel?The EU is aiming to double high-speed rail traffic by 2030 and triple it by 2050. But harmonising rail networks across the continent is easier said than done. While some cross-border routes have opened in 2025, other projects have been hampered by a lack of infrastructure or investment, as well as vested interests in the EU member states.