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

Thursday, 04 December 2025

Government

• Mercedes electric vehicle investment to create over 150 British JobsOver 150 jobs will be created across Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire through a new UK-Germany electric vehicle technology project led by Mercedes.
• UK Space Agency invests £17 million to drive next wave of space innovationThe UK Space Agency has announced £17 million for seventeen UK space projects through its National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP), unveiled today at Space Comm Expo in Glasgow.
• All aboard for Cardiff Central Station transformationThe transformed station will improve links between Wales and the rest of the UK, breaking down barriers to travel and jobs.

BBC News

• Minister 'committed' to Ely junction but no funds yetA transport minister has insisted the government is committed to improving a key railway junction "as quickly as possible" but only when the funding is available.
• Contactless payment delayed at 20 railway stationsPlans to expand contactless payments to 20 stations have been delayed by six months, a train operator has said. Greater Anglia announced last month it would introduce a tap-in tap-out ticketing system at barriers across several stations in Essex and Hertfordshire, including Stansted Airport.
• Lower Thames Crossing tunnelling 'to begin in 2028'The tunnelling process for the Lower Thames Crossing is due to begin in 2028. National Highways said negotiations to buy one of the world's largest tunnelling machines were now under way.
• London could halve cost of new transport projectsA European model of planning and finance could help projects like Crossrail 2, a report suggests.
• Airbus to inspect some planes over 'quality issue' with panelsIt comes days after thousands of Airbus planes were grounded for an urgent software update.

Department for Transport

• Government boost for businesses to drive freight innovationFunding of up to £130,000 will be paid out to 9 small and medium-sized firms, exploring ways to solve challenges within the freight and logistics industry.
• Professor Patricia Thornley appointed as new DfT Chief Scientific AdviserProfessor Patricia Thornley brings extensive expertise across sustainable energy and clean transport, ensuring science advice is vital to decision-making.

Financial Times

• Airbus cuts delivery target after problems with A320 aircraftWorld’s largest planemaker lowered goal to ‘around 790’ jets from 820, days after addressing technical issues
• Delta Air Lines warns of $200mn hit to profit from government shutdownUS carrier says demand trends remain ‘healthy’ for current quarter despite disruptions in October and November
• Budget airlines plan Ukraine return Ryanair, Wizz Air and EasyJet predict a boom in travel including ‘catastrophe tourism’ once a peace deal is signed

The Guardian

• Road tests find no EV in Australia that lives up to its claimed range on a single charge – but one brand came close MG4 only managed 281km of its claimed 405km range, while Tesla Model Y came closest to matching expectationsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updates. Electric vehicles are not travelling as far as their manufacturers promise, with independent road tests showing all models analysed have failed to meet their advertised range.One popular small car produced the worst EV result to date in the latest tests, pulling up more than 120km short of the distance printed on its sticker.
• We tested Europe's luxurious new 'business-class' sleeper bus between Amsterdam and ZurichA new overnight bus service in the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland offers comfort and sustainability

The Independent

• Pilot suicide exposes hidden mental health crisis in aviationPilots say they don't speak up for fear of losing their licenses

Times Online

• Households under new flight paths "should not be compensated"Transport official has advised ministers that people will have to accept any fall in value of their homes due to noise from runways at Heathrow
• Pay-per-mile hybrid tax 'will hurt green goals'Double taxation will put potential buyers off EVs and push them towards more polluting cars, motor industry experts have said

Mail Online

• Heathrow Airport to hit drivers dropping off loved ones with an £80 fine 'if you stay for 11 minutes'The change comes alongside an inflation-busting rise in the drop-off fee, jumping from £6 to £7, and marks the first time Britain's busiest airport has enforced a time limit on farewells.

National Highways

• Government greenlights record breaking Lower Thames Crossing tunnelling machineThe machine is capable of digging through complex ground conditions 60 metres below the Thames

Birmingham Mail

• What we know about Birmingham Airport's £3.8million passenger service boostBirmingham Airport has announced significant investment into its assisted travel services

Bolton News

• 'The tough job few talk about' -behind the scenes on Britain’s motorwaysNational Highways explain their role and how they work to keep motorway traffic flowing.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Urgent bus improvements needed now - rather than 'warm words about a better future'A BRADFORD Councillor has slammed West Yorkshire’s Mayor for taking too long to improve the regions bus network.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• New application for direct rail link between Wrexham and London submittedWrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway has submitted a new application to the Office of Road and Rail
• 'Deep concern' over cuts to Euston trains from North WalesThe rail regulator has been slammed for timetable reductions affecting both local and holiday passengers

Manchester Evening News

• Andy Burnham kick-starts Greater Manchester's 'rail revolution' with plan to double passengers and build 75,000 homes'The domination of cars being cheapest and most reliable is going to end'

Wales Online

• Huge changes to Cardiff Central railway station get go-aheadThe changes will cost £140m. Huge changes to Cardiff central railway station have been given approval. The redevelopment will mean increased capacity, easier movement around the station and better accessibility for those with reduced mobility, as well as improved waiting areas, new shops and cycle storage.

Get Surrey

• £4.5m funding secured to improve Dorking West station and districts parks and green spacesOf the funding, nearly 500,000 will go to improvements at Dorking West station

Other Regional Press

• Lower Thames Crossing: new tunnelling machine greenlitA RECORD breaking tunnelling machine is to be purchased for use on the Lower Thames Crossing mere days after funding for the scheme was announced in the autumn budget.
• Proposed new town would have 'detrimental impact on aviation safety', says MODHeyford Park - a proposed new town of 9,000 homes near Bicester in Oxfordshire - would have a 'significant and detrimental impact on aviation safety', says the Ministry of Defence.
• Spades 'due in ground in 2027' for new Teesside Airport train stationTransport funding is due to be discussed by TVCA Cabinet at this month's upcoming meeting
• 'We don't run park and ride to return a profit'Council chiefs say its Park & Ride ‘is working’ – but admit money raised from some of Kent's most costly car parks will continue to fund its losses.
• Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard's warning shot to Keir Starmer over Northern Powerhouse RailRegion's leaders want answers over their £15bn plan to improve creaking Victorian rail insfrastructure

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Rail safety education to become mandatory in English schoolsNetwork Rail has relaunched its Switched On website ahead of rail safety education becoming a compulsory part of England's PSHE national curriculum from September 2026. The enhanced platform provides free, age-appropriate resources for pupils aged 3-16, designed to reduce railway safety incidents involving young people. Content is tailored across three key educational stages, from foundational safety knowledge for early years children through to critical thinking materials for secondary students aged 12-16.  New resources tackle contemporary challenges, including dangerous s...

Construction Enquirer

• Monster TBM hunt starts for Lower Thames CrossingBouygues Murphy JV has entered talks to buy a monster TBM to drive one of the widest tunnels in the world for the Lower Thames Crossing.

Construction News

• TBM tender launched for Lower Thames Crossing tunnelBouygues Travaux Publics Murphy Joint Venture has launched procurement for one of Europe's largest tunnel boring machines (TBM), marking a major milestone for the £10bn Lower Thames Crossing.

New Civil Engineer

• LTC: Purchase of one of world's largest TBMs underway as project cost hits £11bnNational Highways has begun the process of buying one of the world's largest tunnel-boring machines (TBM) for the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) amid news the budget for the project to build a new road tunnel under the Thames Estuary has increased to £11bn.

Railnews

• Rail firms less confident about prospects for 2026 Business leaders are losing faith in rail, according to the results of a survey published by the Railway Industry Association. A total of 125 companies were asked whether they thought the rail market would contract or grow in the coming year by independent pollsters Savanta, and almost two thirds thought it was likely to contract, as opposed to just under half last year.

Aviation Industry

• Lufthansa Lufthansa (LH, Frankfurt International) is satisfied with the effects of its wide-ranging restructuring programme and is "on the path back to profitability", chief executive Jens Ritter said. "We're achieving all the ambitions and targets we set for ourselves for 2025,"
• Financial Gulf Widens Between Electric Aviation ContendersThis year started with the high-profile collapse of one of the more well-known European electric aircraft developers, and as 2025 drew to a close, a leading U.S. player raised $1 billion through an initial public offering on Wall Street. The contrast between the respective fortunes of Germany's Lilium and Vermont-based Beta Technologies speaks volumes about the emerging picture that advanced air mobility has seen increasing polarization between the "haves" and the "have-nots."

Other News Sources

• New train station could be coming to Blackburn with Darwen- have your say on locationA new railway station could be on track for Blackburn with Darwen.

EIN News Subscription

• Boeing Vs. Airbus Safety: Here's What The U.S. Accident Stats SayLately, Boeing has dominated headlines and not for good reasons. After a series of incidents involving the 737 MAX and Dreamliner, public perception of Boeing's safety record has declined. However, if you strip away the emotion and look at raw data, the issue becomes far less dramatic.