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

Wednesday, 13 August 2025

BBC News

• Network Rail sorry for continued rail disruptionNetwork Rail has apologised to rail users as it announced disruption to services between two East Sussex towns would continue.
• Bus strike action on hold after 'improved offer'Unite members at Cardiff Bus had planned to walk out for three weeks in a row over pay.
• AI can make us UK's biggest firm, Rolls-Royce saysTufan Erginbilgic says business deals to supply nuclear power for artificial intelligence could boost its fortunes
• Give under-22s free bus passes to help them into work, MPs sayA pilot scheme for free travel at any time of day would help them get to work and education, a report says.

Financial Times

• Rachel Reeves orders fresh planning overhaul for 'critical' infrastructure projectsOfficials asked to draw up proposals for second bill that would include scaling back judicial reviews for major works.

The Independent

• Heathrow records busiest-ever day as passengers jet off for summer holidaysMore than a quarter of a million passengers passed through the airport in 24 hours
• How the HS2 shambles could have been avoided – if we’d copied the SwissTrain Talk: After all the squandered billions, some lessons for the future of railway expansion

The Telegraph

• The rail crisis threatening to ruin your holiday to Cornwall [subscription]An increase in heavy rainfall and landslips could hit the train networks along the South West coastline
• Nap pods and on-board cinemas: The future of rail travel [subscription]We unpack London North Eastern's hyper-futuristic predictions for the train of 2075, and gaze into our own locomotive crystal ball

Times Online

• Give short-distance cyclists priority over speedy commuters [subscription]The majority find a bicycle useful for shorter rides: the trip to school or to visit friends locally, or journeys where public transport may be complex

Transport Committee

• England's buses: more ambition needed to undo a decade of decline and get bums back on seats, Transport Committee tells GovtA new Transport Committee report calls on the Government to reform the way local bus services are funded and to adopt a national ambition for a minimum level of public transport connectivity. This would protect residents in England's towns and villages from becoming increasingly isolated, MPs say.

City AM

• Alstom: Profit slashed at London Underground trains maker Profit at Alstom, the train manufacturer which supplies the London Underground, has been slashed by almost £100m as its turnover fell significantly during its latest financial year. The Derby-headquartered business has reported a pre-tax profit of £21.9m for the 12 months to 31 March, 2025, down from the £121m it achieved in the prior year.

The Mirror

• Free bus passes should be given to all under 22-year-olds in England, MPs sayIn a new report today, the Commons Transport Committee said giving free bus passes to all under 22-year-olds would improve young people's access to 'work and skills opportunities'

Local Government

• Transport Committee report on bus services: CCN responseToday the Transport Committee has released a new report, Buses Connecting Communities, which includes a reference to the County Councils Network's recent research on rural bus services.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Direct train service from Bradford to Huddersfield out of action for 18 monthsThe direct train service from Bradford to Huddersfield will be out of action for 18 months.

Manchester Evening News

• One of Stockport's busiest junctions is now a 60-metre gap, but not for long....Incredible footage shows a major railway bridge in Stockport being dismantled as the epic £20m million project reaches a crucial stage.

Yorkshire Post

• Minimum bus service levels must be introduced to stop rural communities 'becoming isolated', MPs sayThe Government must introduce a minimum level of bus connectivity to stop towns and villages becoming 'increasingly isolated', MPs have said.

Other Regional Press

• Wrexham and Flintshire rail stations get £1.8million upgradeA £1.8 million upgrade to stations on the Wrexham-Bidston train line has been put out to tender by Transport for Wales.
• Community divided over 'unacceptable' M27 motorway services plansThe Fareham community remains divided on plans for a multi-million pound motorways services area on the M27, which could bring more than 270 jobs.

Train Operators

• Greater Anglia launches West Anglia customer committeeGreater Anglia has launched a new customer committee on its West Anglia route. The committee, made up of 12 people, covers the routes from Cambridge, Stansted Airport, Hertford East, and intermediate stations along the line to London Liverpool Street.

Rail UK

• Scenic Heart of Wales service shows continued improvementOne of the most picturesque rail routes in the UK has shown consistent improvement in performance and reliability for passengers this year.

Railnews

• ScotRail to abolish peak fares ‘for good’ Peak fares are to be abolished again on ScotRail from 1 September in line with a government promise, and the First Minister says that this time the change will be ‘for good’. Some fares will be reduced by almost half, with a return to Edinburgh from Glasgow coming down from 32.60 to 16.80, which is a reduction of 48.5 per cent. A return from Inverkeithing to Edinburgh will now be 7.40, rather than 12.60.

Railway Gazette

• Soil moisture deficit triggers temporary c2c timetable alterationsUK: South Essex train operator c2c is to temporarily amend its timetable following track problems arising from soil moisture deficit caused by this year's exceptionally dry weather.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Bus funding reform advocated in Transport Committee reportThe Transport Committee has called on the government to reform how bus services are funded amid a series of recommendations made in response to its 'Buses connecting communities' inquiry.

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow experiences its busiest day everHeathrow welcomed 7.9 million passengers in July, marking its busiest month ever - and seventh consecutive month as Europe's most punctual hub - and then on 1st of August had its busiest day ever with 270,869 passengers.

Other News Sources

• Southern England rail hit by worst soil moisture deficit on recordHot and dry summer weather has caused moisture levels in a number of clay soil railway embankments in southern England to drop to their lowest levels since records began, Network Rail has said.

EIN News Subscription

• Italy: End of 100ml limit for hand luggage liquids at five major airportsPassengers departing from five of Italy’s busiest airports can now carry liquids over 100ml in their hand luggage, thanks to the installation of advanced security screening technology.