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

Friday, 19 September 2025

BBC News

• Ctrl Alt Deleaf blows away competition as new leaf-busting train nameThere are four words guaranteed to cause despair and derision among commuters waiting on a railway platform: "leaves on the line".
• Main road to close for months as new bridge builtA main road in Sutton Bonington will be closed for almost a year while a railway bridge is demolished and rebuilt.
• Revamped route to improve station link to townImproved walking routes are due to offer easier access between a town centre and its railway station. Harlow Council leader Dan Swords said the route in the Essex town "hasn't worked for years" and needed transforming.
• Security rules eased for Dublin Airport passengersThe new rules involving liquids and gels in passenger's hand luggage came into effect on Friday.
• Bus services 'badly affected' as strike beginsAbout 2,000 drivers on the Bee Network will go on strike until Monday.
• Two teenagers charged over Transport for London cyber attackThe police say the hack caused "significant disruption" and "millions in losses" for TfL.
• Electric aviation awaits a battery breakthroughWith batteries still too heavy, start-up plane makers are exploring hybrid options for new aircraft.

Financial Times

• Russian drones target Ukraine’s railway networkStrikes hit electricity substations that power trains and locomotive depots

The Guardian

• TfL says persistent offenders owe more than £700m in Ulez finesTransport body promises to crack down on the small minority of people with four or more penalty notices Transport for London is promising to crack down on drivers who flout its ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) after revealing that 94% of the £790m owed in fines has been racked up by persistent offenders.Non-payers have been fined up to £17,000 this year, including one driver whose car was seized and sold at auction after he ignored 130 warning letters and 14 visits by enforcement officers.

The Herald

• Glasgow to use AI to improve bus services in cityGlasgow City Council is looking to reduce bus journey times and improve efficiency of public transport by trialling AI technology.

i News

• The Yorkshire market town with a heritage railway and national park accessThe North York Moors-fringing town of Pickering dates to 270 BC and, if you go by local legend, gained the name 'Pike-Ring' from King Peredurus of York.

Birmingham Mail

• Lifetime ban campaign for drivers who kill taken to law-makers as MPs say 'make it happen'BirminghamLive's campaign, backed by families of those killed and severely injured on roads, was raised during the Sentencing Bill debate

Birmingham Post

• Stena Line hails 'significant landmark' for Irish Sea freight as Stena Futura prepares to go into serviceVessels have been designed to be able to use sustainable fuel technologies

London Evening Standard

• Paddington chaos: 'Do not travel warning' as power outage hits Heathrow Express and Elizabeth lineNational Rail said disruption was expected until the end of Thursday- with Heathrow Express, Great Western Railway and Elizabeth Line services affected

Manchester Evening News

• Greater Manchester bus strikes LIVE as dozens of services cancelled in travel chaosCommuters across Greater Manchester are being hit by mass disruption due to bus strikes today as drivers take industrial action in a row over a pay deal.

The York Press

• LNER wins Customer Service Award for period package schemeYork-based train operator LNER has earned a prestigious award at the 'railway industry's Oscars'.

Carlisle News & Star

• New train route from London to Stirling via Carlisle praisedResidents, business leaders and politicians have praised a new train route from London to Stirling which will stop at Carlisle.

Kent Online

• Kent and Sussex MPs lobby rail regulator for more Channel Tunnel operatorsThey claim it could boost the Kent economy by £2.7bn over five years and attract 500,000 extra visitors, giving an extra employment boost to the hospitality, retail and transport sectors.

Other Regional Press

• Bus Bill plans 'vital' for cut-off residentsPLANS to finally reconnect rural communities to neighbouring towns with more frequent bus services have been welcomed by an MP who said improvements are now 'vital' for cut-off residents.
• Welwyn Hatfield MP Andrew Lewin: 'Rail improvements coming'I know how important it is to local people to have fast, reliable, and regular train services.
• Ravensthorpe train station set for three-year closureTrains will not be stopping in Ravensthorpe for three years from December with the town's railway station set to close before being rebuilt 200 metres away.
• Historic viaduct restored with help of local engineersThe South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society is completing work to restore the iconic Lambley Viaduct, a grade II* listed structure spanning the river South Tyne near Lambley.
• Major update over new 11pm to 9.30am bus travel rule in EnglandThe amendment to the Bus Services (No.2) Bill was put forward
• Port unveils state-of-the-art vessels worth millions of poundsTwo new state-of-the-art vessels worth a combined seven figures have been unveiled at a ceremony at Portland Port

Train Operators

• Avanti West Coast celebrates double win at National Rail AwardsAvanti West Coast's Penrith station and Evero fleet have been honoured at the National Rail Awards.

New Civil Engineer

• Inside the challenges encountered in delivering the new Camp Hill line railwayBuilding three new stations by a live line in urban areas, with a few surprises thrown in, have made for an interesting delivery for VolkerFitzpatrick on Transport for West Midlands' Camp Hill line project.

Rail Business Daily

• Heathrow Express maintains open access punctuality for sixth straight month in 2025Heathrow Express has been recognised as a top performer for punctuality in the latest rail performance statistics published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for the period of April to June 2025. With a punctuality rate of 90.8 per cent, Heathrow Express led all open access operators by a margin of at least 18 per cent.

Rail Magazine

• Concerns freight will be Freight will be squeezed in around passenger services on the East Coast Main Line once the route's new timetable is introduced.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Kathryn Pulham announced as CPT President for 2026Kathryn Pulham, a former Director of Pulhams Coaches, has been announced as the next President of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).
• National Express and Alsa to create 'European coach powerhouse'Two Mobico Group businesses to be brought together; UK Coach MD is Javier Martinez Prieto
• Transport UK London Bus introduces 13 Enviro100EV electricsRoute G1 from Battersea depot is beneficiary of vehicles, which have 354kWh energy storage

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow Airport Rolls Out ChargeBox Fast Charging StationsHeathrow Airport has begun a rollout of 41 ChargeBox fast charging stations across Terminals 3, 4 and 5, with each station equipped with 15 fast-charging endpoints.

Other News Sources

• Heathrow targets carbon reduction with One Click LCAHeathrow is using One Click LCA's decarbonisation platform in planning new construction or renovation projects.
• TfL names the next 10 tube stations set for mobile signal rollout in 2025The tube stations that should have mobile phone coverage by the end of this year have been named, along with the plans for the middle of next year.
• Shropshire MP reveals bus pass loophole as she meets Government Minister over county's failing bus servicesA Shropshire MP has branded a loophole 'crazy' after it was revealed bus passengers whose journey crossed into Wales found their passes were no longer valid.
• £20 million for improved bus infrastructure in ScotlandThe Scottish Government has allocated £20 million to shorten bus journey times, increase reliability, and improve integration with other modes of transport