Public Transport news

• ALBUM’s Astill warns of ‘existential threat’

  02-05-2025 15:35 via passengertransport.co.uk
  As Britain’s small and medium-sized bus operators prepare to gather in Nottingham, David Astill warns against squeezing them out of the market
   Astill: ‘We’re talking about an existential threat’
   Ahead of this month’s ALBUM Conference in Nottingham, ALBUM chair David Astill has warned that bus franchising poses “an existential threat” to small and medium-sized bus operators.
  ALBUM represents Britain’s non-aligned, municipal and SME bus o
  
  Read more

• Annus horribilis sees Mobico boss step down

  02-05-2025 15:34 via passengertransport.co.uk
  Mobico Group’s woes continues after it reveals a loss of £793m, sale of American school bus business and the departure of CEO Ignacio Garat
   School bus business sold to Arriva parent I Squared Capital
   Mobico chief executive Ignacio Garat stepped down suddenly this week, marking the second senior departure in recent months.The move comes shortly after Mobico’s former CEO and current chair designate, Phil White, was appointed as executive chair as the group’s boa
  
  Read more

• Arriva makes bid for cross-country service

  02-05-2025 15:33 via passengertransport.co.uk
  Newcastle to Brighton link restores for service lost in 2008
   The proposal would form part of Arriva’s Grand Central open access operation
   Arriva has submitted an open access application to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for a new rail service stretching almost the entire length of England, running directly between Newcastle and Brighton via Gatwick Airport.The proposal would form part of Arriva’s Grand Central open access operation and aims to begin operations in Decem
  
  Read more

• Looking after the ‘stakeholders’

  02-05-2025 15:32 via passengertransport.co.uk
   
  The value of good stakeholder relations can’t be underestimated. Who should do it, what should it involve and who does it well?
   Sometimes, the term ‘stakeholder’ gets used in a very depersonalised, almost token manner in business
   I do titter when I listen to business mumbo-jumbo – ‘drill down’, ‘helicopter vision’, ‘pain point’, ‘mission critical’, ‘deep dive’,  and so on, blah, blah, cod
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Read our supplement: The ALBUM Report 2025

  02-05-2025 13:59 via passengertransport.co.uk
  Welcome to The ALBUM Report 2025, a publication from Passenger Transport devoted to Britain’s independent and municipal bus companies.
  Returning for a ninth year, this year’s report also incorporates the Conference Workbook for the ALBUM Conference 2025, hosted by Nottingham City Transport on May 12-14.
  We hope you find it an interesting read and we welcome all feedback.
   
  Click on the image above to view the supplement.
  If you are viewing the site on a mobile or tablet device,
  
  Read more

• Bank holiday weekend travel: 17m leisure trips by car expected, says RAC

  02-05-2025 13:41
  The 1m increase on last year compounded by part-closure of west coast mainline on Sunday and MondayA warm and sunny May bank holiday weekend is expected to bring a million more drivers out on the roads than last year, with the part-closure of Great Britain’s main rail line on Sunday and Monday likely to aggravate the situation.Congestion is set to peak with the temperatures on Friday afternoon, when getaway drives and commuter traffic coincide. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Wrightbus set to have 130 hydrogen buses in Germany by year end

  02-05-2025 02:00 via route-one.net
  Route One (Bus and Coach) - Pipeline of orders for multiple customers to give major boost to manufacturer's hydrogen work
  
  Read more

• Will railway work affect my bank holiday journey?

  02-05-2025 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  BBC News - Travellers planning a train journey this bank holiday weekend are being warned of disruption during major upgrade work across north-west England and further afield.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Why increased construction investment will kickstart growth

  02-05-2025 02:00 via constructionmanagement.co.uk
  Other News Sources - While the industry awaits details of the infrastructure strategy, it must ensure that it will be able to deliver on the countrymp;#39;s plans, writes Nitesh Patel.
  
  Read more

• White Rose Rail Station: Leeds partners set to share plans for completion of train station by shopping centre

  02-05-2025 02:00 via yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk
  Yorkshire Evening Post - Plans to complete the development of a new railway station in Leeds that has faced significant disruption are set to be shared next week.
  
  Read more

• We'll strip free bus passes from antisocial young people, says Swinney

  02-05-2025 02:00 via thetimes.com
  Times Online - First minister says a system to punish repeated bad behaviour is being developed after reports of mp;#39;horrendousmp;#39; experiences for passengers and drivers
  
  Read more

• Three-quarters of people back plan for public control of bus network

  02-05-2025 02:00 via wmca.org.uk
  Local Government - The proposal by Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands to take back control of the regionmp;#39;s bus network has been overwhelmingly backed in a a wide-ranging consultation.
  
  Read more

• Tesla denies contacting headhunters to replace Musk

  02-05-2025 02:00 via bbc.com
  BBC News - The electric car firm says a report that it is hunting for a successor is mp;quot;absolutely falsemp;quot;.
  
  Read more

• Stadler awarded contract for further expansion of the Bergen light-rail

  02-05-2025 02:00 via news.railbusinessdaily.com
  Rail Business Daily - Stadler has been awarded the contract for the delivery of signalling technology as part of the expansion of the Bybanen light rail system in Bergen, Norway. The client is the state-owned project organization Bybanen Utbygging, a subsidiary of the Vestland fylkeskommune.
  
  Read more

• Scottish Greens MSP, Ariane Burgess, praises free bus travel for young people in Moray

  02-05-2025 02:00 via forres-gazette.co.uk
  Other Regional Press - An MSP has praised the positive impact of free bus travel for everyone under 22 in the area.
  
  Read more

• Rotala advocates route-by-route West Midlands bus franchising

  02-05-2025 02:00 via route-one.net
  Route One (Bus and Coach) - Group believes that route-based approach rather than tranches would bring multiple benefits
  
  Read more

• Regional leaders to decide on plan to revive stalled railway station development

  02-05-2025 02:00 via thebusinessdesk.com
  The Business Desk - Plans to restart and complete the stalled delivery of a new White Rose Railway Station will be set out to regional leaders next week.
  
  Read more

• Plans for new footbridge over railway linking two housing estates in Ashford submitted by Network Rail

  02-05-2025 02:00 via kentonline.co.uk
  Kent Online - Plans for a footbridge over a railway line have been resubmitted after high costs scuppered the previous design.
  
  Read more

• Passengers told to allow more time for station works

  02-05-2025 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  BBC News - A train operator has warned passengers who are travelling to a town's railway station by road to allow more time for their journeys.
  
  Read more

• Oxford MP urges Rail Minister to support Botley Road traders

  02-05-2025 02:00 via thisisoxfordshire.co.uk
  Other Regional Press - MP Layla Moran has written to Rail Minister Lord Hendy urging the government to provide financial support to businesses affected by the ongoing Botley Road closure.
  
  Read more

• New rail station is 70 per cent complete - with budget fully spent

  02-05-2025 02:00 via thetelegraphandargus.co.uk
  Bradford Telegraph & Argus - Extra funds will be ploughed into a delayed railway station project which could be completed almost three years later than planned.
  
  Read more

• Nearly £1 million investment to modernise vital Lincolnshire level crossings

  02-05-2025 02:00 via networkrailmediacentre.co.uk
  Network Rail - Crucial renewal work planned to take place at four key level crossings in Lincolnshire, investing nearly mp;pound;1 million to improve safety and reliability for road and rail users.
  
  Read more

• Major plan to bring West Midlands bus network under public control backed

  02-05-2025 02:00 via birminghammail.co.uk
  Birmingham Mail - Bosses have announced people have overwhelmingly backed plans to transform the West Midlands bus network and bring it back into public control.
  
  Read more

• Leadership transition marks new chapter for Gloucestershire & Oxfordshire Community Rail Partnerships

  02-05-2025 02:00 via news.railbusinessdaily.com
  Rail Business Daily - The Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) are entering a new chapter as Jon Harris, founding Chair of the CRP Community Interest Company (CIC), steps down from his leadership role. In his place, Kevin Harris, CEO of Constructing Excellence South West and Director of Time for Strategy, has been appointed to lead the CIC into its next stage of development.
  
  Read more

• King's Lynn bus station revamp to cost less than Norfolk County Council expected as project heads to final stages this summer

  02-05-2025 02:00 via lynnnews.co.uk
  Other Regional Press - The renovation of Kingmp;#39;s Lynn bus station, including new bus bays and underground changes, is nearing completion. The final improvements, including the installation of real-time information screens, will cost mp;pound;346,687, less than the initial estimate of mp;pound;387,000.
  
  Read more

• Innovative rail project aims to make freight industry more eco-friendly and boost local supply chain

  02-05-2025 02:00 via news.railbusinessdaily.com
  Rail Business Daily - Experts say an innovative project that explores the use of hydrogen fuel cell technology in the rail freight industry could create opportunities within the local supply chain.
  
  Read more

• Ignacio Garat leaves Mobico CEO role as Phil White is Chair

  02-05-2025 02:00 via route-one.net
  Route One (Bus and Coach) - Former CEO to remain in advisory role for three months; new Chair is focused on future fitness
  
  Read more

• HS1 owner hoping to unlock access to more European cities as it updates on capacity plans

  02-05-2025 02:00 via railmagazine.com
  Rail Magazine - The owner of the HS1 route says there is a strong opportunity to expand the range of destinations from St Pancras, with demand for international rail travel set to triple.
  
  Read more

• Glasgow Airport increases drop-off charge to £6

  02-05-2025 02:00 via bbc.com
  BBC News - The pick-up/drop off zone allows cars to stay a maximum of 15 minutes.
  
  Read more

• Gatwick Airport drop-off charge rises to £7

  02-05-2025 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  BBC News - Gatwick Airport is increasing the price of its drop-off zones by mp;pound;1, bringing the minimum charge to 37.
  
  Read more

• Funding boost expected for delayed railway station

  02-05-2025 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  BBC News - Extra funds are expected to be ploughed into the construction of a delayed railway station project, meaning it could finally be completed almost three years later than planned.
  
  Read more

• DB focuses on core rail business now Schenker sale completed

  02-05-2025 02:00 via railwaygazette.com
  Railway Gazette - GERMANY: Today we completed the largest corporate transaction in the history of Deutsche Bahn and the logistics industry, DB CEO Dr Richard Lutz said when the sale of the DB Schenker global logistics business to Danish group DSV was finalised on April 30.
  
  Read more

• Coventry Very Light Rail bookings open as city regeneration chief says 'really pleased'

  02-05-2025 02:00 via coventrytelegraph.net
  Other Regional Press - Residents are being given the opportunity to try the new VLR system in Coventry
  
  Read more

• Cornwall buses 'not fit for purpose' as changes slammed

  02-05-2025 02:00 via cornwalllive.com
  Other Regional Press - One concerned parent says her daughter missed a vital exam due to her bus no longer going directly to Truro and Penwith College
  
  Read more

• COMPLETED: Full Island Line services resume EARLY following critical repairs to historic Ryde Pier

  02-05-2025 02:00 via networkrailmediacentre.co.uk
  Network Rail - This morning (Friday 2 May) marks the resumption of Island Line services from Ryde Pier to Shanklin, following a complex programme to repair and refurbish the historic structure.
  
  Read more

• Britain's Quangos Uncovered: £6.2 billion in cost overruns in major government projects revealed

  02-05-2025 02:00 via taxpayersalliance.com
  Other News Sources - As part of Britainmp;#39;s Quangos Uncovered, a TaxPayersmp;#39; Alliance project exposing the sprawling influence of Britainmp;#39;s quangocracy, new research reveals mp;pound;6.2 billion in cost overruns and 3,372 days (over nine years) of delays across four major projects, three of which have been mishandled by quangos: the Lower Thames Crossing, Houses of Parliament restoration, NHS digitalisation.
  
  Read more

• £1 bn tram plan for Blues, NEC, HS2 and Birmingham Airport unveiled that will 'change lives'

  02-05-2025 02:00 via birminghammail.co.uk
  Birmingham Mail - Exclusive - East Birmingham and North Solihull tramline mp;#39;needs to happenmp;#39; finally say local leaders
  
  Read more

• 'Real progress' made on campaign to keep busy level crossing open to vehicles

  02-05-2025 02:00 via oxfordmail.co.uk
  Other Regional Press - The campaign to keep a busy level crossing open to vehicles has made mp;#39;real progressmp;#39; - with amp;nbsp;parliament petition gaining nearly 1,000 signatures in one weekend.
  
  Read more

• 'Cut-off for 58 years' town to get train station

  02-05-2025 02:00 via bbc.com
  BBC News - The town of Golborne near Wigan will be connected to the rail network for the first time since 1967.
  
  Read more

• Airport 'exploiting' motorists with rise in drop-off fees subscription

  02-05-2025 02:00 via telegraph.co.uk
  The Telegraph - Owners of Glasgow site increase mp;#39;kiss and flymp;#39; charges by nearly 10pc despite raking in a mp;pound;40m profit
  
  Read more

• A freight hub at London Waterloo station

  02-05-2025 02:00 via networkrail.co.uk
  Network Rail - Wemp;#39;ve teamed up with industry partners to trial a sustainable freight hub at London Waterloo. The one-of-a-kind hub uses spare, empty space at the station to sort and deliver parcels using greener cargo bikes instead of vans.
  
  Read more

• 75 of people back plans for public control of bus networks, Transport for West Midlands say

  02-05-2025 02:00 via expressandstar.com
  Wolverhampton Express and Star - A proposal to control the West Midlandsmp;#39; bus networks has been mp;#39;overwhelminglymp;#39; backed a Transport for West Midlands consultation has shown.
  
  Read more

Follow @PublicTrnsprtUK on Twitter!