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

Friday, 17 October 2025

BBC News

• City set to bring in more 'experimental' bus lanesPlans to introduce two new bus lanes in Liverpool have been announced. Proposals to create one on Longmoor Lane in Fazakerley and add one on Upper Parliament Street in Toxteth were unveiled by Liverpool City Council earlier this week.
• Funds must be secured for collapsed road, MP saysThe government recently committed £92bn for road and rail repair projects and Dartford MP Jim Dickson said he will be "calling out" the Kent County Council if it fails to apply for some of that funding.
• Cardiff's SUV parking premium wins approvalOwners of large cars such as SUVs would be charged more to encourage switching to smaller vehicles.
• E-bike hire schemes 'like wild west' mayor saysThe e-bike sector is unregulated, with individual London boroughs having different rules.
• Glasgow's cycle hire fleet to go electric from NovemberThe city's non-electric bikes will be replaced with a minimum of 1,000 e-bikes operated by Swedish firm Voi.

Financial Times

• Ferrari cuts supply of cars to UK after non-dom tax changesCarmaker tries to stem declining residual values for its vehicles

The Guardian

• Heed warnings from Wolmar on robotaxis | Brief lettersIn assessing the merits of driverless taxis (Driverless taxis from Waymo will be on London’s roads next year, US firm announces, 15 October), passengers should consider the cautions presented in Christian Wolmar’s book Driverless Cars: On a Road to Nowhere.

The Independent

• Aer Lingus faces another strike – this time by Manchester cabin crewUnite union says tax-free overnight allowance of £97 for dinner, breakfast and incidentals is not enough

The Scotsman

• 'Deeply alarming' anti-social behaviour incidents on ScotRail reach nearly 9 a dayMinisters must 'urgently ensure' safety on the Scottish rail network so people are not deterred from travelling by train, the Scottish Conservatives have demanded as they revealed 'soaring' levels of anti-social behaviour.

Times Online

• China's hold on UK infrastructure - from nuclear power to Heathrow [subscription]Britain is the third largest recipient of Chinese investment over the past two decades, behind the US and Australia, according to figures from the American Enterprise Institute. Significant Chinese investments include a 10 per cent stake in Heathrow airport, which is critical for the government's plan for growth.
• What to expect from the arrival of driverless taxis in London [subscription]Self-driving cars have been a common sight in California for more than a year. Are they the future ? or a frustrating encroachment from Big Tech?
• The cargo bike boom that could change London's roads forever [subscription]More and more businesses have shifted away from delivery vans and cars to cargo bikes. If it continues, the white van drop-off may become a thing of the past

Welsh Government

• Welsh rail boosted by £10.5m Holyhead wheel lathe openingThe automatic lathe an important maintenance tool that can repair worn or damaged wheels is part of the Welsh Government's Network North Wales initiative.

Daily Express

• First UK city to have driverless taxis revealed and it's not ManchesterThey're already a common sight in America, and now Waymo's driverless cabs are coming to the UK, amid warnings of road accidents and traffic chaos...

Daily Record

• Hooded teen yobs spray ScotRail passenger with fire extinguisher in 'unacceptable assault'ScotRail say they will 'work with British Transport Police to clamp down on unacceptable behaviour' after the incident at Linlithgow on Sunday morning.

Network Rail

• Two hundred years after the first modern railway train ran in Britain, our railway is marking the moment with the launch of a new national timepiece. The clock created by WPP brand design agency Design Bridge and Partners', was the result of an international competition run by Network Rail in partnership with the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Design Museum.

Birmingham Mail

• First-ever SUV tax announced for UK drivers with cars over 2,000kg affectedCouncillors voted on Thursday to approve a new parking plan for the city.

Bolton News

• 'Barely legible' grime-covered road signs across to be cleanedFilthy road signs on main roads across parts of Bury are to be cleaned by the council after complaints they are ‘barely legible’ and 'in a poor state'.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• MP calls for urgent progress on 'vital' 'road to nowhere'SKIPTON MP Sir Julian Smith is pressing for 'urgent progress' on the town's 'road to nowhere'.

Bristol Live

• Bristol Greens deny being ‘anti-car’ and pledge better buses and fewer potholes'Not everyone agrees about what the solution is, but pretty much everyone agrees transport is a problem'

Wales Online

• Minister tells Senedd committee Wales won't get HS2 money back The UK Government minister has previously said 'something is amiss'. Now he's gone back on it, saying: 'At the time I made my previous comments I wasn't a minister in the government.'

Kent Online

• Chancellor Rachel Reeves promises to speed up court reviews for the Lower Thames CrossingChancellor of the Exchequer has said work on the 10 billion pound Lower Thames Crossing could see spades in the ground sooner if the government can speed up court challenges. She also wants to limit the number of such actions being brought against major projects.

Other Regional Press

• The Advertiser heard people's opinions on Newark's A46 bypass project being given green light by Transport Minister Lord Hendy on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi AlexanderOn October 1, Transport Minister Lord Hendy on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander has approved a development consent order for the multi-million-pound National Highways project. The approval means the formal green light has been given for the scheme to tackle congestion on a crucial trade corridor through the East Midlands.
• Major update as new railway station Beaulieu Park prepares to open in EssexThe long-awaited Beaulieu Park Station has taken a major step forward with rail bosses confirming it can open later this month. The new station is the first to be built on the Great Eastern Main Line for more than a century.
• Oxfordshire MP concern about BTP station bike theft probeAn MP has raised concerns following claims British Transport Police has decided not to investigate some bike thefts outside railway stations.
• Major rail investment brings jobs and reliability boost to HolyheadA new £10.5m wheel lathe facility opening in Holyhead today will improve reliability for the rail network across Wales.
• 'Heartening' to hear from ScotRail and Network Rail at Carrbridge on Highland Main LineHighland Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess, met with local and national transport stakeholders at Carrbridge Station to discuss improvements to the Highland Main Line (HML) and its role in delivering sustainable travel across the region.
• New tricycle showroom to 'make the joy and freedom of cycling accessible to all'A tricycle manufacturer has opened a showroom in Chandlers Ford - in a bid to 'make the joy and freedom of cycling accessible to all'.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Major train upgrade programme completed for South East rail networkThe final unit of a five £100 million train upgrade programme has been completed, improving 1,222 carriages used by millions of passengers across the south east of England.
• TfL launch campaign encouraging Londoners to support victims of hate crime and harassmentTransport for London (TfL) has launched a new campaign encouraging passengers to act as active bystanders when they witness hate crime, sexual offences or harassment on the capital's transport network.

Construction News

• Whitehall downplays report National Highways stripped of Lower Thames roleA government source has downplayed a report that Whitehall is to take a bigger role in delivery of the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) project.

Highways Magazine

• 'Difficult decisions ahead': New roads minister sharpens project axeFurther cuts could be made to the major road network programme in next month's budget, the new roads minister Simon Lightwood has signalled, warning industry that 'tough decisions' lie ahead.

Highways News

• Policy unpicked: What Simon Lightwood's plans mean for Britain's road network on today's Highways Voices, thanks to Westcotec, SWARCO, Clearway and ArcadisThe Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood MP gave his first major speech in his new role at Highways UK today (Thursday) and you can hear it in full on today's Highways Voices podcast.
• Management of Lower Thames Crossing will stay with National Highways, says Nick HarrisThe management and oversight of the Lower Thames Crossing will stay with National Highways, according to its Chief Executive, Nick Harris.

Rail Magazine

• First electric train tests completed on East Kilbride LineAn electric Class 380 made its inaugural journey on the East Kilbride line in Scotland in the early hours of October 14, becoming the first electric train to run on the newly electrified line.
• Incoming Network Rail Chief Executive outlines prioritiesIncoming Network Rail Chief Executive Jeremy Westlake has outlined his priorities for when he replaces Sir Andrew Haines on October 20.

Other News Sources

• Bid to improve rural bus services in CumbriaA fresh bid to improve rural bus services in Cumbria has been announced by the Government.