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

Tuesday, 23 December 2025

Cogitamus

• Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 5, Season 4In our final (and seasonal) episode for 2025, Christian and Mark Walker look back on the year's transport highlights [1:58]. Christian explores with Dr Steve Denton FREng, Vice President at the Royal Academy of Engineering, the report 'Reviving Our Aged Infrastructure' published by the National Engineering Policy Centre [16:10]. After a look ahead by our presenters into what 2026 may bring in transport policy and initiatives [35:30], Christian gives a shout out to everyone working to keep our networks functioning over the festive period [45:04]. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our listeners from the Calling All Stations team!

BBC News

• Concerns raised as footbridge plans pushed backA councillor has raised concerns as plans for a footbridge at a railway station are delayed until the new year.
• Uber and Lyft announce plans to trial Chinese robotaxis in UK in 2026Chinese robotaxis could be set to hit UK roads in 2026 as ride-sharing apps Uber and Lyft announce partnerships with Baidu to trial the tech.
• City's electric bus fleet to expand with fundingAn extra 60 electric buses will be added to a fleet of vehicles serving Leicester. Leicester City Council said it had secured £8m of government funding towards the zero-emission buses.
• Smaller replacement trains 'causing overcrowding'A rail commuter who regularly travels into London has said smaller replacement trains are frequently causing overcrowding.
• Bus journey times being 'killed by congestion' in citiesThe industry warns that traffic jams are slowing average bus speeds and are calling for more priority measures for buses.
• Glasgow looks for operator for 3,000 new electric charge pointsGlasgow City Region - a partnership of eight local councils - had launched a procurement process for a private firm to deliver the scheme.
• Petrol and diesel profit margins still persistently high, says watchdogThe consumer watchdog says weak competition between retailers is keeping profit margins up.

The Guardian

• Chinese robotaxis due in London next year as Lyft and Uber reveal tie-upsFirms agree deals with Beijing-based Baidu to take self-driving cabs to UK capital

The Independent

• Uber and Lyft team up with Baidu to bring fully driverless taxis to London in 2026American and Chinese partnerships join Waymo in trialling autonomous all-electric cabs in the UK from next year

The Telegraph

• Taxpayer-backed net zero project axed after five months [subscription]Hydrogen-fuelled trucks scheme scrapped as companies reluctant to commit to vehicles

Times Online

• Sadiq Khan accused of hypocrisy over TfL Oyster deal with arms firm [subscription]A Spanish company is set to be handed a London Underground contract months after the mayor criticised a defence fair it attended

Local Government

• Building work completed on five new railway stationsMayor Richard Parker has announced the completion of construction on five new stations in Birmingham and the Black Country which will reconnect communities to the railway network for the first time in decades
• New transport hub planned for PillPlans for a new transport hub in Pill, North Somerset, are moving forward with works set to start early January 2026.
• Leicester set to meet electric bus target across whole networkLEICESTER is set to meet its target of providing zero emission, all-electric buses across the whole city network, with an additional 60 buses coming on stream from September 2026.

Sky News

• New Uber-backed driverless taxis to hit UK streets in 2026The plan sets the scene for simultaneous trials by US and Chinese autonomous taxi giants in London, as the capital becomes the European centre of a self-driving revolution.

Birmingham Mail

• JLR suppliers 'on the brink' after cyber attack fallout, warns manufacturing bossSmall suppliers in Jaguar Land Rover's supply chain could still collapse following the cyber attack on the car manufacturer earlier this year

London Evening Standard

• Heathrow taxis plaguing local communities hit with blitz of 6,250 parking finesHillingdon Council imposed a Public Spaces Protection Order to stop taxis and private hire vehicles waiting in local streets before picking up customers from the airport

Morning Star

• 'Superb' victory for rail workers as TransPennine contract to be brought in-houseRAIL union RMT hailed a 'superb victory' on the tracks today after it was revealed the dispatch contract for TransPennine Express will be brought back in-house.

The York Press

• Scarborough Railway Station: fresh plans submitted to councilFRESH plans have been submitted to revamp the area around a North Yorkshire railway station.

Yorkshire Post

• Northern Powerhouse Rail plans to finally be revealed in new yearThe long-awaited plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail are set to be announced in the New Year, although insiders fear that Yorkshire's long-term ambitions may not be met.
• The Government is at a fork in the road on transport infrastructure in YorkshireDelivering Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) is vital if the Government is to be taken seriously on economic growth. The region cannot realise its potential without it.

Bucks Free Press

• Christmas Day Bucks bus service: trips set to hit UK highChristmas Day journeys on local buses in Britain are expected to reach the highest level in at least a decade as Bucks bus services are set to run for the first time.

Oxford Mail

• Henley College students petition for extra train carriageA group of students from Henley College have launched a petition to add an extra carriage to the 'overcrowded' train service.

Other Regional Press

• Eastbourne to London Bridge direct train service restoredA restored rail service is set to improve connections between the coast and the capital.
• Fresh calls for action over Wymondham railway stationFurther calls have been made for the government to solve a situation which means disabled passengers at a Norfolk railway station are not able to get to one of the platforms.
• New Woodside ferry terminal landing stage arrives on waterfrontThe new Mersey Ferries landing stage and linkspan bridge at Woodside are now successfully in place on the Wirral waterfront as part of a £9m transformation project.
• Council to spend £607,000 on Wellington cycle link before new station opensSomerset Council will spend up to £607,000 over the coming months to ensure a new cycle link in Wellington is open ahead of the town's new railway station being delivered.
• South Western Railway pilots satellite Wi-Fi by A train operator has introduced satellite-powered Wi-Fi.South Western Railway (SWR) is piloting the new service in partnership with Angel Trains and Clarus Networks on select routes between London Waterloo, Portsmouth Harbour, and Weymouth.

Train Operators

• TransPennine Express boosts rail safety with the introduction of its own PCSOsTransPennine Express has introduced its own dedicated Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), in partnership with British Transport Police (BTP).
• ScotRail sets new record for daily passenger journeys under public ownershipScotRail has marked another record day for passenger journeys, with more than 350,000 trips made by customers on Saturday, 20 December.

Coach and Bus Week

• Young people and the bus industryEmily Whitlam asks why there aren't more opportunities for young people seeking to start a professional career in the coach and bus sector

New Civil Engineer

• Heathrow to begin £1.3bn Terminal upgrades and new baggage system work in 2026Heathrow Airport has announced £1.3bn of infrastructure projects due to start in 2026 that it says will improve reliability and accessibility for passengers.

Rail Engineer

• Inside a Rail Operations CentreMany of us will remember the introduction of the 1960/70s Power Signal Boxes (PSB) that covered large areas of route and replaced many traditional mechanical boxes. Not only did these make considerable cost savings, but improved rail operational control was achieved by means of the staff on 'back row' desks who could make train regulation decisions based upon the much wider view of emerging train movements.

Aviation Industry

• United Kingdom Tourism Boost Heathrow Airport Announces Massive £1.3bn Upgrade for 2026: All You Need To KnowThe United Kingdom is a land of stories, and soon, your journey into this beautiful country will begin with a warmer embrace. For many, London Heathrow is the first hello they receive from the British Isles.