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

Thursday, 11 December 2025

BBC News

• Rail passengers concerned about timetable changesEast Midlands Railway (EMR) said the new timetables, which come into force on Sunday, will add thousands of seats each day and allow more trains to stop at under-served stations.
• Road changes at railway station to ease congestionA new road layout is to be trialled outside Sheffield railway station in an attempt to reduce heavy congestion.
• Slow buses causing passenger fall, Assembly toldAverage bus speeds have fallen across the capital amid "endless traffic", the London Assembly hears.

Department for Transport

• Motor Insurance Taskforce report - Written statement to ParliamentGovernment will continue its work to deliver against the actions set out in the Motor Insurance Taskforce final report.

Financial Times

• Carmakers sound warning over EU’s ‘very dangerous’ local sourcing rulesCompanies and industries divided over bloc’s ‘Made in Europe’ plans
• Inside the failed green revolutions at BP and ShellHow the energy giants tried to transform their businesses — but ended up dramatically scaling back those plans and writing off billions of dollars

The Telegraph

• The longest-ever low-cost flight is coming soon, and alcohol is banned [subscription]As a UAE-based carrier announces plans for the longest flight route on a single-aisle jet, we examine other epic options
• Rail boss to exit after ghost train humiliation [subscription]The chief executive of Britain's rail regulator has said he will stand down, just days after an embarrassing climbdown over plans to run a high-speed service from Manchester to London without any passengers.
• How 'The Flying Banana' became a British railway icon. [subscription]After 50 long years of service, the Class 43 High Speed Train will be taking its final bow in the South West this week

Times Online

• FirstGroup wins £3bn deal to operate London Overground rail network [subscription]Shares in the rail and bus operator rose after Transport for London announced its preferred operator for the Overground rail network for the next decade
• Budget airlines are advertising cheap cabin bag fees 'that don't exist [subscription]New research from Which? has shown that budget airlines rarely, if ever, offer the lowest advertised price. Cathy Adams reports

Transport Committee

• Transport Committee welcomes future support for rural bus servicesThe Transport Committee has welcomed an announcement by the Department for Transport that, for the first time, funding provided to local authorities for bus services will take into account how rural an area is.

City AM

• Labour rail pledge in doubt after £3bn private contract to run London Overground  London Mayor Said Khan has caused a row within the Labour party after First Group was awarded a £3bn deal to operate the London Overground, a move which seemingly flies in the face of Labour’s manifesto commitment to bring railways back into public ownership.  On Tuesday the London-listed transport group revealed that it would begin [...]

Network Rail

• Wrapping up the year with improvements across Scotland's Railway this ChristmasRail passengers are being reminded to plan their journeys carefully this Christmas and New Year as Network Rail delivers essential engineering work to improve Scotland's railway.

Birmingham Mail

• Airline implements controversial plus-size passenger rulePassengers travelling with one major airline will be forced to pay for an extra seat if they "cannot fit within the width of their seat's armrests". Southwest Airlines is introducing the policy, which is set to come into force from January 27, 2026.
• £30m boost for safer walking and cycling routes across the West MidlandsWork will be carried out across the West Midlands to encourage more cycling and walking

Birmingham Post

• Could self-driving vehicles be on their way to Greater Manchester?TfGM suggests 24-hour system on decommissioned rail corridor

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Leeds Bradford Airport boasts major improvement for on-time flightsNew data shows that punctuality at Leeds Bradford Airport exceeded the national average in the first half of 2025.

London Evening Standard

• How slow is your London bus' Declining bus speeds mapped as citywide average falls below 9mphBus operators blame roadworks, cycle lanes, 20mph speed limits and LTNs as passenger numbers continue to plummet

Yorkshire Post

• Doncaster Sheffield Airport: 'very positive discussions with a number of airlines'Officials behind the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport have said there have been very positive discussions with a number of airlines, despite holiday giant Tui warning yesterday of a challenging environment for the wider industry.
• Eight Yorkshire railway stations named among top 50 busiest and least used stations in BritainThe top 50 busiest and least used railway stations in Britain for 2024/2025 have been announced - and eight are based in Yorkshire.

Cambridge News

• Cambridge could see electric flying taxis taking passengers as early as 2028The Valo aircraft has capacity for up to six passengers and its first planned commercial routes would connect cities with airports

Oxford Mail

• Oxfordshire rail services to London at 'breaking point'Commuters and families are being 'crammed in' to trains from Oxfordshire to London due to capacity 'being pushed to breaking point', an MP has warned.

Other Regional Press

• Customer satisfaction flying high at East Midlands AirportAlmost three-quarters of passengers flying from East Midlands Airport reported high levels of satisfaction during this year's summer season, following a wide range of improvements at the airport.
• 317m Funding to Drive Zero Emission Bus Expansion in PlymouthPlymouth's bus network is about to get a huge upgrade thanks to a £17 million Government funding boost and a high-profile visit from Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood MP.
• Keir Starmer visiting Norwich to celebrate £46m bus cashSir Keir Starmer is visiting Norwich today to announce £46m of government spending on bus transport in Norfolk.
• City mayor vows to never give up on railway station revampThis story was written by the local democracy reporting service (LDRS), a BBC-funded scheme to improve the coverage of issues relating to local democracy. The Leicester Gazette has been a partner in the scheme since March 2024, and so receives some stories as part of it.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Transport Secretary acted lawfully over Luton Airport expansion High Court findsAccording to reports from the BBC the High Court has ruled the government has not acting unlawfully when approving the expansion of London Luton Airport. The Airports expansion plans were challenged by Campaign group Luton and District Association of Aircraft Noise (Ladacan) as they argued the Transport Secretary, Hedi Alexander’s plans ignored key climate and environmental impacts. Both groups said the decision to expand Gatwick Airport considered greenhouse gas emissions as a key factor but the decision for Luton has been done differently. Despite concerns by planning inspectors...

Highways Magazine

• LTC begins tunneling machine procurementProcurement has begun for one of the world's largest tunnelling machines to be used in the construction of National Highways' Lower Thames Crossing (LTC), following the £891m included in the Autumn budget for the project.

Modern Railways

• 'The most exciting place on the railway'TransPennine Express MD CHRIS JACKSON tells RICHARD CLINNICK why Northern England is a crucible of investment and opportunity for the railway

New Civil Engineer

• Great British Railways Bill 'does not work for Wales', MPs tell ParliamentWelsh MPs have told Parliament how the plan to reform the nation's rail sector and establish Great British Railways (GBR) 'does not work' for their nation.

Railway-News

• Alstom's Greatest Gathering Raises £100,000 for CharityAlstom has announced that its Railway 200 event, The Greatest Gathering, officially raised over 100,000 GBP for charity.

Other News Sources

• Logistics UK welcomes new freight tech funding from DfTLogistics UK has welcomed a new ?1.1 million Government fund to trial freight technologies aimed at improving safety, efficiency and sustainability.
• High Court challenge over Gatwick second runway plans set to be heard in JanuaryPlans for a second runway at Gatwick were approved in September
• Rhymney line electrified as South Wales Metro approaches finish lineTransport for Wales has now electrified 99% of the railway lines in South East Wales as part of the South Wales Metro.
• Call to reopen historic Hereford-Ross railwayHEREFORDSHIRE'S new transport strategy should look at reopening the historic Hereford-Ross-on-Wye-Gloucester railway to boost travel to the rest of the country, a local councillor has urged.
• Air Liquide and Hyundai broaden partnership to roll out hydrogen infrastructure in Europe, the U.S. and South KoreaTwo industrial giants unite to reshape the global energy landscape through an ambitious hydrogen ecosystem expansion. Air Liquide and Hyundai Motor Group have renewed their strategic partnership, targeting comprehensive infrastructure development across three continents.