HS2 Ltd chief executive Mark Wild has insisted that proposed changes to the high-speed rail project, including lower operating speeds and the removal of Automatic Train Operation (ATO), will reduce costs and delivery risks without limiting future capacity upgrades. The comments were made in a letter sent to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander outlining a series of recommendations aimed at resetting the long-delayed and increasingly expensive rail scheme. Lower Speeds to Reduc

Oxfordshire County Council has approved a new pilot programme aimed at making rural roads safer and more accessible for pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users and horse riders through the introduction of additional quiet lanes across the county. The initiative, approved by the council’s cabinet on 19 May, is intended to reduce traffic volumes and vehicle speeds on selected roads where there is strong local community support. Focus on Safer Shared Rural Roads Quiet lanes are

Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that Londoners will be invited to give their views on the long-awaited Bakerloo line extension later this year, marking another significant step forward for one of the capital’s most ambitious transport projects. According to papers due to be presented at TfL’s board meeting on May 26, public consultation on the proposed extension is expected to run between December 2026 and February 2027, following the completion of ongoing feasibilit

Image Credit | London Centric Confidential planning documents have revealed growing concerns over the future design and capacity of the proposed HS2 station at Euston, with fears that the redeveloped transport hub could become overcrowded only a few years after opening. According to leaked material, the new station is expected to serve as the London terminus for High Speed 2 services from Birmingham while operating alongside the existing Euston mainline station. Current propo

Infrastructure services company Amey has appointed Tom Kinnear as its new Delivery Director for Transport, reinforcing the firm’s strategic push to expand its advisory capabilities across key infrastructure sectors. Kinnear will oversee Amey’s transport advisory operations covering highways, rail, aviation, and ports. Bringing more than two decades of experience in transport consultancy, he is recognised for helping infrastructure organisations convert strategic objectives, d

The High Court has ruled in favour of United Utilities Water (UU) in a major construction payment dispute, enforcing an adjudicator’s decision requiring Farrans Construction to pay approximately £3.3 million. Farrans, operating under Northstone (NI), attempted to challenge the adjudication award by arguing that a payment notice issued by UU was unclear and legally defective. The contractor claimed that inconsistencies within the project’s shared digital contract management pl

Lancashire County Council has approved a new strategic plan for 2026/27 alongside an additional £5 million investment in highways maintenance as the authority looks to improve frontline services while preparing for future local government changes. Cabinet members backed the council’s latest improvement framework, titled Building a Better Lancashire: Moving the Dial on our Priorities in 2026/27, which outlines the authority’s key focus areas for the coming financial year. The

Newport City Council has announced a major expansion of its road repair and resurfacing programme as part of a renewed effort to address deteriorating road conditions across the city. The latest phase of the council’s Fixing Our Roads initiative will see additional highways improvement schemes delivered over the next two years following increased investment commitments in the authority’s 2026/27 budget. More than 30 major routes across Newport have already undergone resurfaci

National Highways has launched a trial of a new solar-powered “talking” compacting litter bin along the A303 in the South West as part of efforts to reduce roadside waste and cut maintenance costs. The smart bin has been installed in a layby near Upottery in Devon and is the first of its kind to be introduced by National Highways in the region. Officials say the technology could eventually be rolled out more widely across England’s strategic road network if the trial proves s

Nearly seven years after Hammersmith Bridge was closed to vehicles over serious structural safety concerns, uncertainty continues to surround one of London’s most politically charged infrastructure problems. Despite years of engineering studies, public debate and funding negotiations, there is still no confirmed timetable for the bridge to fully reopen to traffic. The Grade II-listed suspension bridge has remained closed to cars, buses and heavy vehicles since 2019 after eng

Pressure is increasing for the construction of a new River Severn crossing near Welshpool after repeated damage to a historic bridge caused major disruption for local communities and businesses. Campaigners have now formally presented a petition to Powys County Council calling for funding support to develop a replacement crossing at Llandrinio, where the existing Grade I listed bridge has faced a series of structural incidents in recent years. The petition was organised by lo

Transport for London (TfL) is exploring the future role of Heathrow Express services as key operating agreements linked to the airport rail connection approach expiry in 2028, raising the possibility of the Elizabeth line taking over the route. The discussion forms part of TfL’s wider submission to the Airports National Policy Statement review, where the organisation argues that major improvements to public transport capacity will be essential if Heathrow Airport expands furt

Motorists travelling through west London are being advised to prepare for continued weekend disruption on the A40 Westway as Transport for London (TfL) carries out essential maintenance works near the Westway Roundabout. The programme, which involves the replacement of safety-critical expansion joints, is now entering its final stages and is expected to be completed by 1 June. As part of the works, westbound sections of the A40 will continue to close during selected weekends,

The UK government has confirmed that HS2 services are unlikely to begin operating before 2036, while revised forecasts now place the total cost of the high-speed rail project at between £87.7 billion and £102.7 billion. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced the updated figures in Parliament, describing the project as an example of repeated mismanagement and failed oversight rather than the symbol of national ambition it was originally intended to become. Under the rev

Avanti West Coast is set to temporarily reduce its timetable this summer after the Department for Transport requested measures aimed at lowering operational costs during quieter travel periods. The rail operator plans to remove almost 12% of its weekday services between 20 July and 28 August as part of what it describes as a “demand-led timetable” trial. Under the temporary changes, 38 daily services will be withdrawn from routes linking London with Birmingham, Liverpool and

Transport for London (TfL) has awarded M Group a major contract to maintain bridges and civil structures across the London Underground network under a deal that could run for up to eight years. The agreement, which began in April 2026, covers planned and reactive maintenance works across a wide range of structural assets and has an initial term of five years, with an option to extend through to 2034. Under the contract, M Group will be responsible for maintaining critical inf