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

Wednesday, 17 December 2025

BBC News

• New transport depot and museum given green light for NeilstonJ&M Murdoch plan to turn the land off Lochlibo Road into workshops, offices and a museum.
• Prestwick Airport records sixth year in a row in profitThe report said Prestwick has already achieved its annual operating target in the first six months of the financial year.
• Rail link between London and Edinburgh extended to GlasgowLumo has extended its service to and from London King's Cross to Glasgow Queen Street.
• Nissan begins building new Leaf in UKBusiness Secretary Peter Kyle says "Nissan's investment is a major commitment to the North East".
• EU waters down plans to end new petrol and diesel car sales by 2035Carmakers, particularly in Germany, have lobbied heavily for concessions to the planned rules.

Department for Transport

• Changes to international maritime lawMinisterial statement on UK maritime law updates from 1 January 2026, implementing international safety and pollution changes and related UK regulations.

Financial Times

• United and American to take stakes in Brazil’s Azul as it exits bankruptcy Deal includes debt-for-equity swap as airline to emerge from Chapter 11 within weeks of court ruling
• Ryanair chief O’Leary plans to hand over to ‘nicer’ successor by 2035Outspoken boss says he does not ‘want to hang around till 96 like Buffett’
• Gatwick airport blames Budget as it raises drop-off charges by 40%Chief executive says higher business rates worry investors as they prepare to sign off on £2.2bn expansion

The Guardian

• Spain to launch €60 monthly nationwide public transport passBus and train initiative comes as government struggles to survive corruption and sexual harassment allegations

i News

• Train stations on green belt will be surrounded by new villages under planning reformsSwathes of green belt land will be opened up to housing development if it is within a 15-minute walk from a well-connected train station under the biggest planning reforms for years, ministers have announced.

Mail Online

• Smart motorway speed cameras were secretly turned off TWO months agoThe Daily Mail revealed on Monday how thousands of innocent motorists have wrongly been clocked for speeding due to a fault with every speed camera on smart motorways across the UK.

The National

• Date named for driverless trains to start operating on Glasgow SubwayGlasgow's subway will be ready to operate using driverless trains next year, according to the latest update.

Birmingham Post

• Swansea Council has appetite to operate its own bus serviceThe move follows the passing on new bus franchise legislation in Wales
• Rolls-Royce launches £200m interim share buyback schemeThe FTSE-100 heavyweight made the announcement ahead of its full-year financial results
• Top Nissan exec hails "fantastic start" in Government support for automotive sectorAdam Pennick, vice president of manufacturing at Nissan's Sunderland Plant, urged more work on turning the Industrial Strategy into action

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Campaigners in Leeds demand buses improve accessibility and speedActivists will hold a mass bus boarding demonstration at Leeds bus station, for buses to improve accessibility and speed.
• 'Amended plans' for filling in of Queensbury Tunnel are expectedAMENDED plans” for the filling of Queensbury Tunnel are expected to be submitted to Bradford Council – a meeting has heard.

London Evening Standard

• Graffiti on Tube trains is costing TfL £11 million every year, figures revealA spike in the so-called tagging of Tube carriages is costing millions

Manchester Evening News

• Transformation around Greater Manchester town's train station takes another step forwardThe regeneration of the western edge of the town has been mooted for years
• Rail operator Northern under 'official investigation' by railway regulator over passenger assistanceConcerns over staff completing disability awareness training have been raised

Nottingham Evening Post

• 'Revolutionary' public transport app 'possibly one of best in world' launched in NottinghamThe Ride app will allow users to book train, bus, tram, Enterprise hire cars, e-bike and e-scooter tickets in the same place

Wales Online

• New transport hub for Llanelli railway station gets the go-aheadThe 'wonderful scheme' has been approved by councillors
• New transport hub for Llanelli railway station gets the go-ahead The 'wonderful scheme' has been approved by councillors

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Electric vehicle supply chain pilot to launch in the West MidlandsA new green manufacturing pilot which is aiming to bolster the car industry has been launched in the West Midlands.

Other Regional Press

• 'Embarrassing bollards fiasco' at Exeter train stationWork to remove a set of bollards that risked the progress of extension work at an Exeter doctor's surgery has finally got underway after months of back-and-forth.
• Wrexham MP on Railways Bill second reading in ParliamentThis week saw the second reading of the Railways Bill in Parliament and an opportunity for me to speak about the benefits that bringing track and train back together under public ownership will bring.
• Privatisation plan for Lower Thames Crossing is slammed by action group and described as a 'Christmas Turkey'THE government has revealed that the controversial Lower Thames Crossing scheme will be fully privatised and its builders and owners will be able to claim tolls from it and the Dartford crossing in perpetuity.
• New 50mph speed limits on part of Oxford's ring roadNew 50mph speed limits will be introduced on Oxford's ring road near New Hinksey and Rose Hill, while 30mph will be introduced on nearby roads.
• Tees Flex on-demand bus service to be stopped following vote with funding to support new routesMayor Ben Houchen voted for the recommendation to extend Tees Flex, with three local council leaders disagreeing, and an alternative given unanimous support
• Bournemouth Airport ranked among UK's most reliable airportsBournemouth Airport named one of the UK’s most reliable airports, with just 0.1% flight cancellations in 2023, joint top with Glasgow Prestwick.

Train Operators

• First of Great Western Railway's recommissioned Class 175 trains enters passenger serviceThe first of Great Western Railway's recommissioned Class 175 trains has entered into passenger service ahead of their phased rollout next year.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Lower Thames Crossing project moves forwardThe government has approved plans to purchase one of the world's largest tunnelling machines for the Lower Thames Crossing, marking significant progress on the major infrastructure project.

Rail Magazine

• DfT outlines nationalised operators' objectives over coming yearsThe Department for Transport (DfT) has published the programme of projects already nationalised operators must achieve over the coming years.
• Additional TfL funding possible to offset impact of national fares freezeAdditional Government funding for London is being discussed to help offset the impact of the regulated fares freeze.

Railnews

• Council bids to extend successful Ashington line Northumberland County Council is bidding to improve the train service from Newcastle upon Tyne to Ashington, which opened a year ago, by continuing trains beyond Ashington to the line’s original terminus at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Nottingham City Transport orders 13 next-gen Yutong U11DDMunicipal will take delivery of the buses in late-2026; EMCCA money towards their procurement
• Transport Manager Hub is aimed at filling skills gapTransport Managers need a greater level of support in attaining competence, believes Beverley Bell, founder and Chief Executive of Beverley Bell Consulting and Training, which is setting up a new association for the profession.

Other News Sources

• The UK's Longest Tunnel Road Is Being Built Beneath The River Thames And Construction Is Set To Begin In 2026Following a rather hefty increase in government funding; a shiny new road has officially been given the green light. The 14.5 mile motorway-style road will feature the longest tunnel road in the country. And construction is set to begin next year.
• Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander: Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander tells Noah Vickers about nationalising Britain's railways, expanding Heathrow Airport and what kind of car she drives
• Plan to save 'lifeline' bus service receives council supportA parish council has voted to save a "lifeline" bus service - if members can get a grant