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

Wednesday, 12 November 2025

BBC News

• Parents criticise 'inaccurate' school bus map systemA council has refused to publish maps used to determine children's eligibility for free school transport, campaigners have claimed.
• New Heathrow railway must not harm moors - councilA Surrey council has said it will support a new rail link between Staines and Heathrow Airport on the condition that an area of moorland is protected. The Heathrow Southern Rail (HSR) scheme would create a direct rail route into the airport, which supporters say would cut traffic, make it easier to get to work at Heathrow and boost the local economy.
• £6m train centre a 'step forward' for industryA purpose-built £6m centre where train modifications and upgrades will take place is a "step forward for the rail industry", a technology company has said.
• Liverpool Street station rebuild decision delayedPlans to transform Liverpool Street station have been delayed again after the organisation behind the redevelopment added further details to the application.
• Bus network funding scheme set to be extendedThe Bus Network Support Grant comes to an end on 31 December.
• Roseburn Path: What is the row over a new Edinburgh tram line about? A public consultation on plans to build a new tram line along a popular cycle route closes on Monday.

The Guardian

• The race begins to make the world’s best self-driving carsChinese search giant Baidu challenges Google’s Waymo’s driverless vehicles and Musk aims for a $1tn pay packageSign up for the TechScape newsletter hereHello, and welcome to TechScape. I’m your host, Blake Montgomery, writing to you from Barcelona, where my diet has transformed at least half my body into ham.Sam Altman’s bet: can OpenAI’s profits keep pace with industry’s soaring costs?

The Telegraph

• Heathrow accuses Reeves of 'own goal' on tax [subscription]Heathrow has accused Rachel Reeves of an 'own goal' on tax, warning that a planned £500m increase in the airport's business rates bill will undermine pro-growth expansion plans.

Times Online

• How road pricing could replace fuel duty [subscription]A smart approach to charging drivers could ease congestion and have environmental benefits, says policy expert Tom Clougherty

Local Government

• New bus shelter on the way for Broughton residentsGood news for bus users in Broughton - a brand-new bus shelter is on the way, giving people a safe, dry and more comfortable place to wait for their bus.

Network Rail

• £4.5m upgrade delivered on the Kyle lineImprovement work on the Kyle line in the Highlands has been successfully completed, following a £4.5m investment over the past three weeks.

Birmingham Mail

• Rachel Reeves could sting 697,000 drivers in car tax shake-upClassic car owners have been warned they could be in the Labour Party Chancellor's crosshairs - as it called for support for the future generations of vehicle lovers.

The York Press

• Warning issued as new East Coast Main Line timetable brings changesNetwork Rail has issued a safety warning after announcing its new East Coast Main Line timetable.

Plymouth Herald

• Tavistock to Plymouth rail link dream thrown into jeopardyHopes of Devon County Council using a pot of earmarked cash to reinstate the Tavistock to Plymouth rail link on funding a vital business case look increasingly unlikely.

Other Regional Press

• Bus summit kicks off independent review of franchising across CambridgeshireBus operators from around the country came together in an important step towards franchising across our region.
• First Cambridgeshire franchised bus services not until 2028The implementation of bus franchising in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will not be completed until at least 2028, it has been confirmed.
• Two-year closure of Kirklees rail station nears as route upgrade reaches ‘pivotal’ pointIt will be closing from the middle of December

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• First UK solar powered refrigeration tech trucks hit the roadWith net-zero targets fast approaching, Noble Foods, the parent company of Happy Eggs, has announced the introduction of 40 zero-emission, solar-powered transport refrigeration units. In what is believed to be a UK first, the company has partnered with British electric transport refrigeration specialist Sunswap to roll out the innovative technology. The announcement follows successful trials of Sunswap’s battery and solar-powered refrigeration system, which demonstrated the potential to reduce fleet CO₂ emissions by up to 3,120 tonnes over the units’ lifetime. Sun...

New Civil Engineer

• Northern mayors pen letter to chancellor calling for Northern Powerhouse Rail to be built in fullThe mayors of regions and cities in the North of England have penned a letter to chancellor Rachel Reeves calling for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) to be built in full.
• Transport for Wales primes market for £25M Caerphilly station rebuild contractTransport for Wales has issued a preliminary market engagement notice for a major construction project at Caerphilly Station, signalling the start of a transformative redevelopment with an estimated value of £25M, excluding VAT.

Rail Business Daily

• Rail Forum announces Rail Safety Week 2025 Children's Competition winnersRail Forum has announce the winners and runners-up of the 2025 Rail Safety Week Children's Competitions, designed to help parents, guardians, and teachers spark important conversations with young people about staying safe on and around the railway.

Rail Magazine

• TrainPal accused of encouraging "unlawful behaviour" with social media advertsOnline ticketing retailer TrainPal has been criticised for running a marketing campaign which used fake social media profiles to spread misinformation.

Railnews

• Class 222 replacements due in service next month on EMR The first of a fleet of 33 Hitachi-built bi-mode trains which will replace the Class 222 Meridians is set to enter service next month on the Midland Main Line. The Class 810 units will be able to make use of the electrified sections north of Bedford, although full electrification of the Midland Main Line to Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield has been paused once again.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• The risks of shadow AI for coach and bus operatorsThe passenger transport industry, long reliant on manual processes and experience-based decision making, is undergoing significant digital transformation. This is largely down to the integration of AI. Whilst AI can bring a raft of efficiencies to the industry, many workers are unknowingly using shadow AI tools unaware of the potential data privacy and security risks this could present. Gary Rigler, Vice President of passenger transport at digital transformation business OneAdvanced looks at the challenges and opportunities this present, and why bus and coach operators needs smart systems, but with compliance and security still in mind.

Other News Sources

• South Reading Bus Rapid Transit phase opensWork to further improve public transport links between south Reading and the town centre on the A33 relief road has been completed.
• Scottish bus operators penalised for timetable and maintenance failuresFollowing a public inquiry held in Edinburgh, the current Traffic Commissioner for Scotland, Richard Turfitt, has issued a decision on the operator licences held by McGill's Scotland East Ltd and Midland Bluebird Ltd, trading as McGill's Midland Bluebird.
• Work Begins On £15m West Highland Line UpgradePart of the West Highland Line is closed as Network Rail begins a £15m upgrade on a key section of the route.
• Let's make rail the backbone of Britain's housing strategyEvery new home should be planned with a station or tram stop at its heart, writes Christopher Martin, director of Urban Movement
• The Railways Bill must recognise the economic role of commuter rail in big citiesThe Railways Bill is being debated in the Commons today for the first time. This legislation will establish Great British Railways (GBR), the new managing body over passenger services and rail infrastructure.

EIN News Subscription

• France rejects airline tax hike, pushes global adoption at COP30France has no intention of further increasing the "solidarity tax" on airline tickets, its transport ministry said on Tuesday, adding that current discussions on the sidelines of COP30 aim to "encourage other countries" to use such mechanisms to finance sustainable development.