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

Thursday, 31 July 2025

BBC News

• New customer representative for bus stationA new customer representative will be introduced at a town bus station following the closure of its information office.
• Airlines demand answers after air traffic control failureTen flights to and from Heathrow were cancelled on Thursday, on top of some 150 across the UK on Wednesday.
• Hotel tycoon reveals Heathrow expansion proposalArora Group says a shorter runway will avoid the cost and disruption of diverting the M25 motorway.

ITV News

• UK flights disrupted by air traffic control due to technical glitchFlight disruption is expected to continue on Thursday as airlines work to restore services after an air traffic control issue grounded flights across the UK.

Financial Times

• UK air traffic control criticised after outage disrupts summer getaway‘Technical issue’ at Nats results in more than 150 flights being cancelled across multiple British airports
• Airbus dogged by engine shortages but sticks to full-year delivery targetsChief executive Guillaume Faury said the company was counting on engine suppliers to recover by the end of the year

The Guardian

• Calls for UK air traffic control boss to resign as new glitch disrupts flightsThe head of the UK's air traffic control company is facing calls to resign after the second disruption to flights in two years due to technical problems.

The Independent

• Air traffic outage live: Flights resume after technical fault grounds 150 planes and triggers airlines backlashNats says radar fault is fixed but passengers face delays and diversions as airlines deal with backlog

The Telegraph

• The 'creative accounting' helping Starmer stick to his Nato promise [subscription]... Indeed, rural broadband isn't the only thing that Britain now appears to be earmarking as 'defence-related spending'. According to reports, a dizzying range of projects may now be included under that ledger, from upgrading the Port Talbot steel plant through to offshore wind farms and the Lower Thames Crossing connecting Gravesend in Kent with Tilbury in Essex.
• Chaos after planes grounded across BritainHundreds of thousands of passengers across the UK are suffering travel chaos after an air traffic control failure grounded planes at the start of the school summer holidays.

Times Online

• Heathrow to announce third runway plans as PM unveils airport expansion [subscription]Sir Keir Starmer backs huge expansion of Britain's airports in an effort to grow the economy, saying he'll 'do what it takes to get projects moving'
• Air traffic control failure causes chaos at British airports [subscription]A short-lived technical issue is still disrupting journeys, with dozens of flights cancelled and delayed

Sky News

• Airlines furious after another technical glitch cancels flightsAirlines have reacted furiously after a technical glitch in air traffic control systems led to more than 150 flight cancellations.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Local MP and campaigners pledge to fight for Wharfedale GreenwayLocal MP and campaigners pledge to fight for Wharfedale Greenway

Liverpool Echo

• Merseyrail taking steps to install major new bridge ahead of new season at SandhillsThe project has been sped up as Everton's new home begins life near the station

London Evening Standard

• London airport latest: Passengers left stranded as radar glitch cancels flights at Heathrow and GatwickAll outbound flights in the UK are being affected by a technical issue with air traffic control, Gatwick airport says

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• A19 roundabout upgrades to cut major congestion must be 'affordable', Labour minister warnsLabour?s transport secretary has warned that major upgrades to two notoriously congested roundabouts in Northumberland must be made ?affordable? if they are to become a reality. Heidi Alexander said on Wednesday that the Government would have to ?look carefully? at plans to cut queues at the Moor Farm and Seaton Burn roundabouts on the A19.
• Update on free bus travel over 60s in England as extension of existing scheme suggestedA massive campaign has been waged to try to get people in England the same concessionary travel as those in London do

The York Press

• 'It won’t be quick and it won’t be easy' - mayor's bid to improve transportThe Mayor of York and North Yorkshire David Skaith says improving transport across his patch is top of his agenda.

Wales Online

• Hydrogen buses to take over on Swansea roads in 2027A refuelling hub is also planned off Fabian Way

Kent Online

• Dartford Crossing toll hike to generate £46m and Kent County Council demands share of revenueThe new charges will see the cost of a return trip rise from 35 to £7

Other Regional Press

• Reading Buses release new fare prices for this summerA town bus company has launched a new scheme to encourage residents to travel by bus during the warmer months.
• ‘New 20mph plan is mission creep to get us out of our cars’A motoring campaigner claims a proposed district-wide 20mph scheme is designed to deter people from using their cars and punish sensible drivers.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• UK commits to zero-emission bus manufacturing pipelineGovernment ministers and metro mayors met in Westminster on 28 July to discuss plans for expanding zero-emission bus manufacturing across UK regions, with a focus on creating long-term job opportunities and cleaner transport options. The fifth meeting of the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel was attended by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, and several metro mayors including David Skaith (York and North Yorkshire), Richard Parker (West Midlands), and Steve Rotheram (Liverpool). Scottish Government representatives also participated.

Rail Magazine

• GB Railfreight Class 69 programme nears its endGB Railfreight is close to accepting the 16th (and final) Class 69 after its conversion by EMD at Longport was completed.
• Updated plans released for North Wales Main Line level crossing replacementsNetwork Rail has released updated plans for new footbridges to replace four level crossings on the North Wales Main Line.

Rail UK

• All Aboard the 'Train of the Future'As part of the Railway 200 celebrations, a cross-industry partnership celebrating 200 years of the modern railway, LNER has gazed into the future to predict what train travel could look like in the year 2075.

Railway-News

• Icomera Powers High-Speed Private 5G Rail Trials at MillbrookOn 16 June 2025, England's Connected Heartland (ECH) programme welcomed government and industry guests to Millbrook Proving Ground for the finale of a three-week testing campaign.

Other News Sources

• Transport for Wales: Swansea Could See Hydrogen Buses by 2027 Under New Trial PlanTransport for Wales has confirmed it is exploring hydrogen fuel cell bus trials in Swansea, with operations expected to begin by 2027.
• Cambridge autonomous bus project wins new fundingThe Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has secured an additional 31 million in funding from the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) to expand its Connector project.
• Historic England says revised Liverpool Street station plans a 'significant improvement' over first schemeBut Network Rail's Acme-designed rethink of scrapped Herzog & de Meuron scheme has already amassed nearly 2,000 objections from members of public
• Group including Bechtel and Scott Brownrigg pitches Heathrow expansion plan to governmentProposals for the expansion of Heathrow West will be submitted to the government by Arora Group this week.
• Hargreaves Services eyes Heathrow as profits riseAn industrial services firm is eyeing blue-ribbon aviation work after demand nudged profits higher.
• Where new busses will run as Surrey set for UK's largest zero emission hydrogen fleetThe zero emission buses will operate on multiple routes across Surrey
• Gatwick Airport flights grounded live updates as 'technical issue' causes major disruptionFlights have been grounded at London Gatwick this afternoon due to a technical issue
• Updates as flights grounded at Gatwick airportDeparture flights from Gatwick airport have been grounded due to technical issues.