Local Transport Today is the authoritative, independent journal for transport decision makers. Analysis, Comment & News on Transport Policy, Planning, Finance and Delivery since 1989.

UK’s first electric flight tests start in Scotland
Deniz Huseyin

Flight tests of electric aircraft have started in the UK for the first time, carrying Royal Mail parcels to remote Scottish communities. Loganair and BETA Technologies are working with Royal Mail to demonstrate the all-electric cargo  flights. The first of a series of demonstration flights across Scotland’s regional airport network took place between Glasgow and Dundee in March, with further flights planned between Aberdeen, Inverness, Wick and Orkney. The flights will carry  “representative” letters and parcels, replicating the daily mail flights Loganair operates so Royal Mail can deliver to Orkney and the wider Scottish Highlands and Islands. Loganair said the battery-powered craft would not require new airport infrastructure, operates from existing runways,... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

2024/25 bus statistics are revised upwards

The DfT’s bus statistics have been revised upwards since the original release last November as a result of updates made to the underlying data and a processing enhancement. Figures for England for the year ending March 2025 have been revised upwards by +0.3% for passenger journeys, +0.6% for... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News
Bus passenger satisfaction up but with big regional discrepancies

Bus passenger satisfaction up but with big regional discrepancies
Deniz Huseyin

The percentage of satisfied bus passengers in England rose to... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

England’s first Land Use Framework ‘maps spatial priorities’

The UK bus manufacturing expert panel has concluded after a year with a set of agreed mayoral commitments on zero emission buses. The panel, initiated by the DfT, consisted of industry experts and local transport leaders across the UK. It ran from March 2025 to March 2026. The mayors involved have... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News
North East approves next step in plan to bring in bus franchising

North East approves next step in plan to bring in bus franchising
Deniz Huseyin

The North East Combined Authority (NECA) Cabinet has agreed to... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

England’s first Land Use Framework ‘maps spatial priorities’
Peter Stonham

The Government has published England’s first Land Use Framework which it describes as “a plan for delivering new homes, nature restoration, clean energy and food security”. It demonstrated clearly that there is enough land to deliver the government’s objectives provided we... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News
Lambeth signs agreement with e-bike operators for ‘bay parking only’ scheme

Lambeth signs agreement with e-bike operators for ‘bay parking only’ scheme
Deniz Huseyin

Lambeth Council is to convert parking spaces into dockless bike parking... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

Swansea micromobility hire features in first year RTP funding
Rhodri Clark

A micromobility hire scheme for Swansea and subsidised taxis on the island of Anglesey are among the Regional Transport Fund allocations for 2026/27. The Welsh Government’s Regional Transport Fund (RTF) replaces several previous subject-based funds, for which unitary authority submitted bids... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

Waltham Forest plans to introduce e-bike hire

Electric bike hire is set to be introduced in Waltham Forest, the north-east London borough which has gained a reputation for making its roads safer for walking and cycling since winning Mini Holland funding more than 10 years ago. Despite widely installing cyclist-friendly infrastructure –... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News
20mph default limit has ‘saved the lives of children’, Welsh minister tells Senedd

20mph default limit has ‘saved the lives of children’, Welsh minister tells Senedd
Rhodri Clark

Julie James, the Welsh Government’s Counsel General and Minister for... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

Power supply glitch casts shadow on pre-election event to plug Valley Lines
Rhodri Clark

A pre-election event last week to celebrate 100% energisation of the Core Valley Lines suffered a setback, with the final section of 25kV overhead power supply unable to be energised as expected. The media had been invited to attend, alongside Transport Secretary Ken Skates, “the energisation... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

Minister Skates ticks off predecessor Waters for raising Cardiff Parkway funding issue
Rhodri Clark

Welsh Transport Secretary Ken Skates gave his predecessor, Lee Waters, a ticking off for asking how much public money will be spent on Cardiff Parkway station, a project which was originally to be privately funded. The station, east of Cardiff, is envisaged as having four platforms, long enough to... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

Environment regulators to fast track East West Rail and Lower Thames Crossing
Peter Stonham

The Environment Agency will be Lead Environmental Regulator for the East West Rail (EWR) project, under further Government moves to speed up planning processes. It will act as a single point of contact to streamline approvals and accelerate development in the Oxford, Milton Keynes,?Bedford to... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

Dispute still blocks EWR service start

There is still no date set for new services to start on the first part of the £7bn East West rail project though the track is finished and trains available This would bring a new service from Oxford to Bletchley and Milton Keynes, using rebuilt track and serving the new Winslow station... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

Northern Growth and transport-led development ‘next steps’ plans published
Peter Stonham

 The government has published a further document supporting its Northern Growth strategy which was launched earlier this year,with its plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail and other transport investment to support economic development in northern towns and cities. Northern Growth Strategy: Next... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

Public Accounts Committee to take up NPR concerns with DfT and project leader

The Commons Public Accounts Committee is to begin taking evidence about the progress of Northern Powerhouse Rail following the report from the National Audit Office (NAO) on the project (LTT934). In the first session of its inquiry on April 27th, it will hear from Jo Shanmugalingam, Permanent... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

Alexander looks for HS2 savings from train speed cut

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander has stressed the need for further savings in providing Parliament with an update on the London-Birmingham HS2 reset. She said £43.6bn has been spent on the project, but did not offer a new total construction cost estimate. £2.6bn of further... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

Plans for rail capacity boost at Croydon remain on hold due to ‘limited funding’
Deniz Huseyin

Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood has confirmed that there are no plans to re-start a much anticipated rail upgrade across Croydon, which was paused by the previous Government. During a House of Commons debate, Labour MP for Croydon  East Natasha Irons warned that the further delay of... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

AtkinsRéalis wins contract to upgrade Wessex signalling

Network Rail has awarded AtkinsRéalis a contract worth nearly £100m to upgrade signalling and telecommunications infrastructure on the Wessex route. Over three years AtkinsRéalis will act as principal contractor and designer to deliver end-to-end design, project management... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

£185m project brings five long closed rail stations in West Midlands back into operation

Five new rail stations in the West Midlands that had been closed for decades are soon to re-open in a £185m project, which has been supported by £126m in Government funding. On the Black Country line, the new Willenhall and Darlaston Stations, which last had passenger services in 1965,... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

DfT accepts ORR’s rail fares enforcement guidance

The DfT has accepted the recommendations of the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) for rail enforcement to be overhauled and made fairer for customers. In its response, the DfT said: “We acknowledge that the current fares and ticketing system is overly complex, with numerous ticket types, rules... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

New Elland station gets £70m WYCA go ahead

More than £71m of funding has been approved to build a new railway station and surrounding access at Elland in West Yorkshire. The long-awaited station will be added to the Calder Valley line. It was originally set to open this year, but the plans have been hit by delays. Last week West... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

Thanet Parkway abstracting significantly fewer passengers than forecast

Thanet Parkway, the HS1-served station in Kent is generating significantly more new trips than forecast and abstracting fewer from other stations, new statistics provided by train operator Southeastern show. When LTT932 reported in February on rapid growth at Thanet Parkway, Southeastern was unable... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

Seven sites picked to go ahead as New Town programme developments
Peter Stonham

The government has narrowed its new towns shortlist to seven confirmed locations aiming to deliver up to 200,000 new homes, on which consultation will now take place. A year-long review by the New Towns Taskforce, initially proposed 12 sites. Those selected are at Leeds, Manchester, Enfield,... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

Catapult working with South Yorkshire MCA on innovation growth locations

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and the Connected Places Catapult are to collaborate to target innovation-led growth by promoting opportunities for technology testbeds at strategic locations in the region with a focus on the transport and construction industries. A memorandum of... continue

2 Apr 2026Local Transport Today News

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