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

Tuesday, 05 August 2025

BBC News

• Station older than town it serves up for awardA seaside town's railway station has been shortlisted for a national award.
• Exeter Airport sold as part of £200m dealExeter Airport has been sold alongside two other English regional airports in a £200m deal.
• Campaigners take airport expansion to High CourtA group campaigning against the expansion of London Luton Airport has been allowed to take its appeal to the High Court.
• An M25 tunnel - Rival Heathrow expansion plans explained [Radio London]Heathrow has revealed details of its plan to expand the airport at a cost of £49bn.
• Cardiff bus drivers set to strike for three weeksCardiff Bus staff - including bus drivers - vote to strike for three weeks over the summer.
• First UK-based firm gets space launch licenceThe CAA licence allows Skyrora to launch its rocket from the SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland.
• Eurostar passengers face delays and cancellations due to French rail issueSeveral services between London and Paris were impacted, as were some trains between Amsterdam and Brussels.

Department for Transport

• Rail boost for the North: Transpennine upgrade one step closerCompleted upgrades to Church Fenton to York rail line will bring passengers faster trains and more reliable services.

Financial Times

• UK watchdog tells banks to stop haggling over car finance redressNikhil Rathi says FCA wants scandal to be last one requiring mass compensation payouts
• To the Sea by Train — a journey back to a holiday heydayAndrew Martin’s history vividly conjures a lost age when Britons flocked to the coast by rail

The Guardian

• Pushing airport expansion while rail travel languishes so much for Labour's green agenda Polly ToynbeeThe climate damage done by avoidable flying is huge, yet the government sees more planes as the answer to its economic woes
• Storm Floris: Scottish government holds emergency meeting amid warnings of more UK travel disruptionScotland says there have been 119 incidents on the rail network caused by Storm Floris, including 75 tree-related ones. The Scottish government has held emergency meetings in response to the “significant disruption” caused by Storm Floris across the country, with warnings of further travel chaos on Tuesday as poor weather continues.
• Rail services in parts of England are cut as tracks disturbed by lack of moistureSouth Western Railway says some trains cannot travel at full speed after sunniest spring in more than 100 years

The Observer

• Heathrow's third runway has been a bugbear for decades. Not anymoreDespite lingering questions, the financial case for expansion has reached a tipping point

Times Online

• Most bestselling EVs barely ever reach peak charging speed. [subscription]A test of ten electric cars, including Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model Y, reveals the majority charge slower than advertised, causing waits at charging stations

City AM

• Laing O’Rourke: Heathrow Terminal Five builder doubles profit Laing O’Rourke, the construction giant behind Heathrow's Terminal Five, more than doubled its profit during its latest financial year. The business has posted a pre-tax profit of £41.5m for the 12 months to 31 March, 2025, up from the £18.1m it reported for the prior year.
• Boeing defence workers go on strike over pay dispute Thousands of Boeing defence workers have gone on strike for the first time in nearly 30 years in a fresh blow to the struggling aircraft company. Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers (IAM) working at Boeing defence manufacturing facilities in in Illinois and Missouri voted against the firm’s latest offer over [...]

Daily Express

• Starmer blasted over 'disingenuous' defence plan that won't fool Donald TrumpAccording to Bloomberg the money spent on the project could be counted as 'defence related' spending as could £1 billion spent to improve weak bridges and build the Lower Thames Crossing tunnel.

Local Government

• New Charfield Station will connect thousands in local villages to the national rail networkConstruction of a new train station at Charfield in South Gloucestershire will shortly get underway, following project approval and the release of £39.5 million of funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority to the council.

Birmingham Post

• Transforming rail in Wales a long-term project but positive signsChief executive of Transport for Wales James Price reflects on the recent publication its annual report and progress across public transport in Wales.

London Evening Standard

• Who will benefit from the Heathrow expansion? Ultra rich jetsettersThere's something bitterly ironic about a government claiming to take the climate crisis seriously while backing the expansion of Heathrow Airport a project that will release an estimated 4.4 million tonnes of CO₂ every year.

Northern Echo

• Teesside Airport firm commits to 'well-paid jobs' for all 24 traineesAirbourne Colours guarantees 24 well-paid aircraft painting jobs for Teesside Airport trainees, backed by Tees Valley Mayor and major airlines Jet2.com, Lufthansa.

Blackpool Gazette

• St Annes Station shortlisted for National Rail Awards finalsSt Annes-on-the-Sea railway station is up for the coveted Small Station of the Year award at the prestigious National Rail Awards 2025.

Other Regional Press

• Bournemouth Airport to 'accelerate' growth with new partnerThe operator of Bournemouth Airport has announced plans to "accelerate" its growth.
• Heathrow expansion is not the answer - Andy Slaughter MPWhy we can't afford to keep making the same mistake with a third runway
• Berkshire MPs give views on Heathrow third runway proposalsThe MPs for Windsor and Maidenhead have continued to voice their opposition to a third runway at Heathrow Airport after expansion proposals were submitted but Slough's MP remains supportive.
• Essex County Council meets with business over A12 schemeAN urgent meeting has been held between business leaders and council bosses after the government's decision to scrap the A12 widening scheme.

Modern Railways

• Photocall in push for MML electrificationCampaigners held a photocall at The Greatest Gathering in Derby on 1-2 August calling for completion of Midland main line electrification and cancellation of road schemes in the East Midlands.

New Civil Engineer

• Campaign demands A38 Derby scheme funds be redirected to Midland Main Line electrificationCampaigners in the Midlands are calling for the A38 Derby Junctions scheme to be cancelled and the funds to be redirected to Phase 3 of electrification of the Midland Main Line (MML).

Rail Business Daily

• Hitachi Rail acquires Omnicom to bolster its digital asset management businessHitachi Rail has acquired digital rail monitoring business Omnicom from Balfour Beatty, in what it called a 'strategic move to further grow HMAX', its digital asset management business.

Rail Magazine

• Wixams station construction work halted so larger version can be designedConstruction of a new station on the Midland Main Line has officially stopped so a larger version can be designed.
• Analysis: Network Rail 'performed well' but there is 'little margin for error'Philip Haigh delves into the Office of Rail and Road's assessment of Network Rail's performance over the first year of the current Control Period.
• Rail freight customers need supportive environment to expand operationsRail reform must help business keep expansion on track, says Chris Swan, Head of Rail for Tarmac

Railnews

• Widespread railway disruption in north as Storm Floris sweeps in People are being urged not to attempt train journeys in the north of England and Scotland today, as Storm Floris brings 100km/h winds and heavy rain which will sweep eastwards during the day. The Met Office has issued an Amber warning, and many lines in Scotland will be closed or have fewer and slower services. Network Rail has imposed a blanket speed restriction of 50mph (80km/h) on all Scottish lines.

Railway Gazette

• Inspiration train is 'most meaningful' rail project for graphics companyUK: The Railway 200 branding for the Inspiration exhibition train has been one of the most meaningful rail projects we've ever delivered, according to Aura Brand Solutions.

Aviation Industry

• Unite Urges Government to Back Heathrow Runway Plans with ActionFollowing Heathrow Airport's submission of 'shovel-ready' plans for a third runway, trade union Unite has called on the UK government to move beyond verbal support and ensure construction starts without delay.
• Expanding Heathrow Airport will be an expensive mistake; says AEF in response to the airport submitting expansion plansReacting to the news that two bids have been submitted to the Government to build a third runway at Heathrow – one by owners Heathrow Airport and the other by the Arora Group – AEF’s Celeste Hicks, Policy Manager, said:

Other News Sources

• Economists warn against £49bn Heathrow third runway as 'benefits uncertain'Economists have written to the government to raise concerns about the government's airport expansion plans, after Heathrow Airport submitted plans to construct a third runway.
• Guildford to Gatwick Airport rail line closing for two weeks for important upgrade The rail upgrades will mean no trains for two weeks and road closures
• Rail timetables may seem boring, but public ownership is a huge opportunity to get them right for passengersThe current timetable for Britain's railway contains good features, but overall it is a mess - one that the rail industry has to date shown little interest in fixing, even if that means risking loss of income should passengers choose cheaper, faster and less complex modes of transport.
• Jeremy Westlake to outline vision for network rail at RIA annual conference in LondonJeremy Westlake, incoming Network Rail CEO, will share his insights on rail reform and growth at the Railway Industry Association's annual conference this November.