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

Tuesday, 16 September 2025

BBC News

• Bus depot purchasing plans questionedCouncillors raise concerns about the state of bus depots to be purchased across the West Midlands.
• Bus maker to keep Scottish sites open after £4m furlough pledgeThe company had set previously out plans to close the plant with the loss of 400 jobs and move production to Yorkshire.
• Clydebuilt ship that changed the world celebrated with new replicaA contract is awarded to build a new replica of Henry Bell's steamship "Comet" that first sailed from Port Glasgow in 1812.
• Tube union 'hopeful' of deal to avoid more strikesThe RMT's general secretary says he is "optimistic" a deal can be struck with Transport for London.
• More rail staff to wear cameras amid rising abuseMore railway staff will wear body-worn cameras in a bid to tackle rising violence and abuse, it has been announced.

Department for Transport

• New look, same message: 'See it. Say it. Sorted'New design makes the British Transport Police's 61016 number clearer plus additional funding for CCTV at railway stations.

The Guardian

• ‘See it. Say it. Sorted’ campaign gets refresh – but slogan stays sameSecurity message has been frequent – and for some, irritating – part of Great Britain’s public transport system since 2016It has been described as the most irritating slogan in the history of British transport, and now the infamous “See it. Say it. Sorted” security campaign is getting an overhaul a decade after being introduced.However, to the chagrin of those hoping the frequent announcements across the UK rail network could be scrapped, the government has only undertaken a mild “refresh” of the slogan, which was launched under Theresa May’s gov...
• UK could raise nearly £2bn by taxing SUVs in line with European countries, study showsThinktank says an ‘SUV loophole’ means UK buyers pay up to 20 times less tax on biggest models than in neighbouring nationsTaxing Britain’s SUVs in line with other European countries could raise almost £2bn a year for the public finances, research has shown.The Transport & Environment thinktank has urged the government to use the autumn budget to bring in a levy on the largest vehicles, which it said would reflect the damage they caused to the environment and infrastructure.

The Telegraph

• See it, say it, sorted Re-recorded rail slogan still baffling passengers [subscription]Britain's 'See it. Say it. Sorted' railway security announcement still risks confusing passengers, despite a relaunch.

Times Online

• Britain is 'tax haven for road-damaging SUVs' [subscription]The biggest, most-polluting models should be hit with an extra levy in the budget, bringing us into line with other European countries, campaigners say

The National

• Edinburgh Trams set to close key section of rail line for 3 daysA SECTION of tram line in Edinburgh is set to temporarily close for essential repairs, it has been announced.

Birmingham Mail

• Learner drivers could face mandatory 'learning period' before sitting testCabinet member and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has been warned a significant rise in immigration is contributing to the test backlog.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Railway station car park to close for around a year in Transpennine upgradeA West Yorkshire railway station car park is to close for around a year as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).

Bristol Live

• Bus strike in Bristol under wayA four-day strike by hundreds of bus drivers is starting today (Tuesday, September 16). Last-ditch talks between the bus drivers' union Unite and bosses at First Bus broke down on Monday without resolution, which meant the four-day strike by 600 First Bus drivers based at two of the city's depots is to go ahead from today.

London Evening Standard

• RMT boss Eddie Dempsey 'almost optimistic' that TfL peace talks will prevent more Tube strikesIf we can get ourselves into a position where there's a compromise that works on both sides, then we'll settle

Northern Echo

• Images show update on Bishop Auckland bus station as signage goes upNew images have revealed the progress of the Bishop Auckland bus station development, with signage now appearing on the site.

The York Press

• Major bus manufacturer will not move entire operation to North YorkshireThe bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis will not consolidate its operation to Scarborough and will keep its Scottish sites open.

Other Regional Press

• New architects invited to bid for £1.9m rail station redesignNew architects have been asked to bid for a £1.9m contract to redesign Oxford rail station next to Botley Road.
• UK's train security campaign 'See it. Say it. Sorted.' refreshed for first timeThe UK's 'See it. Say it. Sorted.’ train and railway security campaign has been refreshed for the first time in nearly 10 years
• Latest on Wiltshire plans to transform 'unreliable' railwaysAn update has been issued on a project to transform Wiltshire's 'unreliable and non-existent' railway system by the government.
• Isle of Wight rail passengers warned of major autumn closureRail passengers on the Isle of Wight are being urged to plan ahead this autumn, as major engineering work will see the Island Line closed for several weeks in October and November.
• East Devon MP calls for urgent rail service improvementsAn East Devon MP has called for urgent upgrades to improve commuter rail services.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• British travellers warned to allow extra time as EU introduce new boarder checks from OctoberA new awareness campaign has been launched by the government advising British travellers to prepare for incoming EU border checks following the introduction of a new Entry/Exit System (EES) from 12 October. The checks will require passengers to scan passports, have their fingerprints taken and their photograph taken at borders. According to the government, the EU are to introduce EES for UK and non-EU nationals, travelling for short stays when entering Schengen area countries including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.  The British Home Office confirmed EES checks are...

Highways News

• TfWM officer sets out devolved transport strategy ahead of World Congress 2027Transport for West Midlands' Principal Policy and Strategy Officer has set out ideas for a range of improvements to the region's transport infrastructure that could be showcased in 2027 when the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress comes to Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre.

Rail Advent

• Avanti timetable update brings 86 extra services a week starting today!Although most train operators are making the next change to their timetables in December, Avanti West Coast has already increased services across its routes as part of a September update.

Rail Magazine

• Sir Andrew Haines: Network Rail Sir Andrew Haines has said Network Rail has 'not been able to shift the dial' on performance in recent years.
• Construction work for new building at Greater Anglia station beginsConstruction work on a long-awaited new station building in Essex has begun. Wickford station in Essex, on Greater Anglia's (GA) London Victoria-Southend Victoria line, has had a temporary building since the original was demolished in 2021.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• National bus fare cap in England uplift: impact difficult to gaugeThe national bus fare cap in England rose at the start of 2025 - and its impact has been varied
• Bus franchise contract competition at risk via consolidation: lawyerConcerns that market concentration and fall in operator field may drive franchising costs

Other News Sources

• One Click LCA Helps Heathrow Cut Carbon EmissionsCommitted to its net-zero emissions goal by 2050, Heathrow now requires building design and carbon consultancy partners to perform life-cycle analysis on all new projects, using the One Click LCA platform.
• Industry leaders address major challenges facing the UK freight and logistics sectorSeveral key infrastructure projects were discussed, including the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC), Heathrow Airport, and the A14/Orwell Bridge. ALTA members highlighted the direct impact these projects have on the movement of legitimate trade and called for accelerated investment and delivery.
• It's time to admit that high-speed rail is a dead endFor those who think there could never be a worse disaster than HS2, or hope that governments can learn from their mistakes, I have disappointing news. Later this month, ministers will unveil a future platinum medallist in the Fiasco Olympics: a project which even their own infrastructure watchdog calls 'unachievable'. A new, high-speed line between Liverpool and Manchester which will actually take longer than the existing rail service.