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

Wednesday, 20 August 2025

BBC News

• Keeping trains on track during the hot weatherA new type of technology is being trialled on the railway line between Tonbridge and Hastings to help keep trains running in hotter weather.
• Borough's e-bike bans creating chaos, says comicDara Ó Briain likens the dumping of e-bikes on either side of a London bridge to Checkpoint Charlie.
• New bridge and roads plan to boost Glasgow Airport links The £59m project is expected to improve transport connections between Paisley town centre and the airport.
• Air Canada to resume flights after pay deal struck with unionAbout 10,000 cabin crew walked out on Saturday in a protest over pay, but mediated talks led to a breakthrough.
• Travellers warned of bank holiday road and rail delaysMillions are told to prepare for disruption from traffic, rail engineering works and strikes.

Financial Times

• Off the Rails — was HS2 doomed from the start?Former politician Sally Gimson examines the blunders that led to the failure of one of Europe’s biggest infrastructure projects
• Air Canada to resume flights after reaching deal with union to end strikeAirline says some disruptions to continue for up to 10 days as it seeks to restore service

The Guardian

• Woman sexually assaulted on flight challenges UK rules on compensationWoman who was attacked on flight from Qatar to London was denied payout because plane was not registered in UKA woman who was sexually assaulted while sleeping on a flight to London is challenging UK government rules that disqualify her from a compensation scheme because the plane was not registered in Britain.
• Citroën rebuked by UK minister over handling of mass safety recallTransport secretary urges Stellantis to offer more help after tens of thousands are left unable to use their carThe transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, has expressed “serious concerns” about Citroën’s handling of a safety recall that has left thousands of Britons unable to drive their cars.In June the car company’s owner, Stellantis, issued an immediate and rare “stop drive” order for certain models because of a potentially fatal airbag safety fault.

The Independent

• The new eGates programs hopes to make it a quick trip through airport security at these three citiesCLEAR is partnering with TSA to launch the pilot program at three US airports this month.
• Six ways to get real about rail faresEveryone seems to be talking about rail fares. The excitement is due to the third Wednesday in August traditionally being Act One of the annual festival of rail fare misery.

Labour List

• More than half of Labour members oppose Heathrow expansion, poll revealsA majority of Labour members oppose the expansion of Heathrow Airport, exclusive polling by Survation for LabourList has revealed.
• 'Heathrow third runway is the wrong answer to the wrong question'My long-standing opposition to expansion at Heathrow has been a cornerstone of my twenty years as the MP for Hammersmith and as Leader of the Council before that. The arguments for a third runway claim to support growth and national interest, yet fundamentally ignore the realities of our climate obligations, public health, and the long-term wellbeing of communities like my constituents.

Birmingham Post

• Newcastle gets five new European flights with $100m Ryanair investmentThe low-cost airline is to base a third aircraft at Newcastle, creating 40 jobs and supporting hundreds more

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Land in Shipley levelled out to create new compound for Transpennine Route UpgradeA REDUNDANT patch of land in Shipley is being levelled out to create a new compound for the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).
• Tunnel abandonment funding 'would largely cover' refurbishment cost, say campaignersCampaigners fighting to safeguard the future of a historic railway tunnel claim that public money earmarked by the Government to abandon the structure could “largely cover” its refurbishment.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Airbus workers in the UK to strike next month as dates of action released Unite members at Broughton and Filton will walk out in a dispute over pay

London Evening Standard

• Rail campaigners say potential 5.5% fares rise would be 'ripping off' passengersAn inflation figure often used to determine increases in the cost of train travel will be announced on Wednesday.

The York Press

• Final section of new national walking trail opensThe final section of a national walking trail has opened.

Wales Online

• Rail fare hike looms with potential 5.5% increase sparking outrage among passengersTransport organisations have been left furious by the potential rise in next year's railway fares, which they have condemned as "outrageous".

Kent Online

• Conservation charity call on Natural England to ensure Lower Thames Crossing, connecting Kent to Essex, protects 'special wildlife'A conservation charity has called on the environmental regulator appointed for the Lower Thames Crossing to ensure its approach is nature-led and protects the area's 'special wildlife'.

Other Regional Press

• Ending peak rail fares will boost North Ayrshire, says MSPMSP Kenneth Gibson has said the Scottish Government's decision to end peak rail fares will be a big boost for North Ayrshire commuters.
• Elland Rail Station latest: Transport improvement plans for Calderdale town available to view at upcoming eventThe latest plans to improve transport links for Elland, including updates on the planned new rail station and new walking and cycling routes, will be available to view at an upcoming information event in the town.

Train Operators

• Final chance to peek behind the doors at Ashford Train Maintenance CentreWith just days to go, Southeastern is inviting families, rail fans and residents to step inside Ashford's Train Maintenance Centre for a rare behind-the-scenes celebration of 200 years of railway history.

Rail Business Daily

• Staffordshire railway cutting secured through National Trust parklandNetwork Rail has completed a vital programme of stabilisation work at Little Haywood cutting, located within the Shugborough Estate and Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of the railway for passengers and freight services.
• Network Rail to GBR Transition: Keep what's great, learn from the restMeirion Thomas, Senior Director at Arcadis and the former Chair of Railway Industry Association Scotland, writes about seizing the moment for meaningful change

Rail Magazine

• Funding concerns create doubts over new Preston stationThe future of a potential railway station in Preston is in doubt, because only half of the funding needed to build it has been made available.

Railnews

• CrossCountry passengers face holiday strikes Services on CrossCountry will be ‘significantly’ reduced over the forthcoming Bank Holiday weekend and there will be no trains at all on Saturday, because the RMT is continuing industrial action in its dispute with CrossCountry over overtime and rest day working.

Railway Gazette

• Pioneering tunnel strengthening technique could reduce costsUK: Infrastructure manager Network Rail says a strengthening and waterproofing process used on the 175-year old Blackheath Tunnel in southeast London is believed to be 'the first of its kind in the UK and potentially the world'.

Other News Sources

• Effortless experience extends to customers with extra needs at East Midlands AirportEast Midlands Airport is building on its growing reputation for providing a top-class service when it comes to accessibility and supporting customers who need extra help.
• Mitie Deploys UK's Largest Fleet of Autonomous Cobots at London Heathrow AirportWith a record-breaking 84 million travellers expected to pass through Heathrow Airport this year, passengers heading off on their summer holidays will get a glimpse of the future when they next travel through the UK's international gateway 'thanks to the roll-out of Mitie's fleet of automated cleaning robots.
• Improvements set for Winchester buses after services axedImprovements to Winchester buses and routes soon to be implemented following cuts to services.