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

Friday, 08 August 2025

BBC News

• Ferry firm criticised over ticket pricing policyA cross-Solent ferry operator's "exorbitant dynamic pricing" has been criticised for its effect on residents and businesses on the Isle of Wight.
• Guernsey Airport announces plans for major revampBosses at Guernsey Airport have announced major plans to redevelop the site.
• Station kiosk 'inferior' to closed ticket officeTrain passengers have complained about long queues after the ticket office at Newcastle's Central Station was replaced by a kiosk.
• Project to tackle carbon cost of metal car partsAston Business School and Metal Assemblies hope to make the automotive supply more sustainable.
• London bus heat complaints highest on recordThere have already been 276 complaints about London's buses being too hot during 2025, records show.
• Section of the A3 in Surrey to close overnightA section of a main road in Surrey is set to be closed in both directions as a £317m junction upgrade continues. The A3 northbound will be closed from the M25 Junction 10 (Wisley interchange) to the Painshill exit from 21:00 BST on Friday until 09:00 on Saturday morning.

Financial Times

• Maersk brushes off US tariffs to lift outlookContainer shipping boss says ‘weakness in the US’ balanced by strength elsewhere
• China’s Cosco seeks at least 20% as CK Hutchison reshapes $23bn Panama ports dealState-owned shipping group has leverage over BlackRock and MSC as Beijing tries to rewrite terms of sale

The Independent

• Rail strikes resume with bank holiday shutdown on CrossCountry trainsIn previous strikes, CrossCountry has maintained a skeleton operation with a sharply reduced number of routes and trains

Wired Gov

• Strong appetite to invest in rail but barriers hold back marketORR review reveals strong appetite for rail infrastructure investment, with work now underway to remove barriers and streamline the investment process to support economic growth.

Bolton News

• Pensioners love using their free bus pass whenever they want as restrictions liftedSenior residents in Bolton have expressed their joy at the new rules for pensioners’ bus passes, which allow free travel for the rest of the month.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Anger as Newcastle Central Station ticket office replaced by 'deeply unsuitable' kioskTrain passengers have complained about long queues after the ticket office at the North East's busiest railway station was closed and replaced by a kiosk. LNER has recently moved the ticket office at Newcastle Central Station to a new kiosk in front of the departure boards on the station concourse.

Doncaster Free Press

• Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Chamber boss A Doncaster business boss says he is 'confident' funding for the re-opening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport will go-ahead as he urged local firms to get behind the project.

Wrexham.com

• New T51 bus service between Wrexham and Rhyl launching in SeptemberA new bus service connecting communities between Wrexham and Rhyl will launch in September.

Other Regional Press

• Full steam ahead as £48 million secured for major rail improvements along the Penistone Rail LineWe have been awarded £48 million by the government to improve local stations and make train travel more convenient and comfortable for passengers along the popular Penistone Line route.
• Competition helping make public transport better than everPublic services in the view of many are in headlong decline these days, in what is routinely termed "broken Britain".

Highways Magazine

• Birmingham puts on the brakes to 30mphBirmingham has announced plans to reduce the limit on a raft of 40mph main roads to 30mph, with around 30 major routes expected to be impacted.

Highways News

• Autonomous vehicles: UK drivers still need convincingIt seems as thought there is still a lot of work to be done in order for the general public to be convinced of the value and benefits of driverless vehicles, if the results of a recent survey are anything to go by.

Rail Business Daily

• Department for Transport confirms date that West Midlands Railway will transfer to public ownershipThe Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that West Midlands Trains which operates services under the West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway brands will transfer to public ownership on Sunday, 1 February 2026.
• Civil servants to move to state-owned rail operatorThe Guardian has reported that hundreds of civil servants will be transferred from the Department for Transport to the state-owned rail operator.

Rail Magazine

• Railway 200: how rail responded to the rise of air travel - Christian WolmarIn the final of our three-part series exploring rail's transport business context, we look at the threat from above.
• More leasing and maintenance details for Chiltern Railway's replacement Class 68 fleetThe deal for Chiltern Railways take on 14 Class 68s displaced by TransPennine Express (68019-032) will involve leasing them directly from Beacon Rail rather than through DRS.

Railnews

• Lack of clear railway policy is holding up investment—ORR The Office of Rail and Road has warned the Treasury that a lack of clear policy is discouraging railway investment from the private sector. The ORR has been reviewing its Rail Network Investment Framework, which sets out how third parties like private investors, local authorities and developers can work with Network Rail and the ORR to help with projects ranging from smaller improvements to larger schemes such as new stations or depots.

Railway Gazette

• TfGM seeks supplier feedback on light rail asset renewal planUK: Transport for Greater Manchester has begun the procurement process for a multi-year light rail asset renewals contract worth up to £1.6bn.

Railway-News

• NEXCOM Brings Intelligence and Safety to Light RailAs urban and suburban regions search for cost-effective, sustainable and efficient public transportation, light rail continues to gain traction. This form of transit leverages existing rolling stock technology and rights-of-way to deliver the speed and reliability of rail travel without the high cost and infrastructure demands of heavy rail. Light rail systems effectively bridge the gap between bus and subway networks, offering a smart, scalable solution for growing cities.

TaxiPoint

• Cross-border taxi and private hire checks at East Midlands Airport delivers 'disappointing' results Leicestershire Police's Roads Policing Unit has carried out a vehicle safety operation around East Midlands Airport, targeting roadworthiness, with a particular focus on private hire vehicles (PHV) and taxis.

Aviation Industry

• Virgin Atlantic Leases London Heathrow 8 Weekly Slots to this Asian CarrierThe leasing slots are likely tied to Virgin Atlantic's network optimization and fleet realignment.

Other News Sources

• £48m funding for Penistone Rail Line improvementsFunding of £48m has been awarded for improvement along the Penistone Rail Line between Huddersfield, Barnsley and Sheffield.
• London Underground video shows first glimpse of new Piccadilly line trains in actionThe trains are being tested by Transport for London (TfL) ahead of being rolled out for passenger use