At moments of structural change, leadership matters more than ever. The appointment of Feras Alshaker as Interim Chief Executive of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) comes at a pivotal time for the UK’s transport regulatory landscape. With rail reform accelerating, roads policy evolving, and new technologies reshaping infrastructure management, his tenure—however temporary—will be anything but routine. So who is Feras Alshaker, and what does his appointment signal about the d

Medway Council has signalled its intention to procure a new highways term maintenance contract worth an estimated £132 million, as it prepares to replace its current long-standing arrangement. The proposed contract is set to run for an initial seven-year period from 1 August 2027 to 31 July 2034, with the option to extend for a further three years until July 2037. The successful contractor will take responsibility for maintaining a substantial and diverse asset base across th

A major step towards decarbonising UK industry and logistics has been announced, with GeoPura and Forth Ports agreeing a 10-year partnership to develop a commercial-scale green hydrogen facility at the Port of Tilbury. The new plant, located in Essex, will initially feature a 1MW electrolyser powered by electricity generated from rooftop solar panels. Construction is expected to begin later this year, marking the start of what could become a key low-carbon energy hub for the

InterCity 225 trains have made a return to the East Coast Main Line, marking their first regular appearance on the route in five years. The iconic trains, which operated services between London King’s Cross and Newcastle for decades, were largely withdrawn in 2020 following the introduction of LNER’s Azuma fleet. Since then, they have primarily been used on services to West Yorkshire. Now, as part of LNER’s latest timetable changes, the InterCity 225 is once again running bet

Great Western Railway (GWR) is set to trial new early morning train services between Reading and Gatwick Airport, aiming to improve connectivity for passengers with early flights and late arrivals. The 12-week pilot will begin on 6 June, with services operating on Saturdays and Mondays to assess demand for extended hours on the route. Currently, GWR services run between 04:30 and 23:30, limiting options for travellers needing to reach the airport during overnight periods. The

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has confirmed interim leadership plans ahead of the departure of its Chief Executive, John Larkinson, later this month. Feras Alshaker, currently Director of Planning and Performance, will step into the role of Interim Chief Executive from Monday 27 April, following a decision by the ORR Board. Alshaker brings nearly a decade of experience at the regulator and currently holds senior responsibility for oversight of Britain’s rail network and E

WJ Group has announced a major brand consolidation, bringing its JMS and Textureblast operations together under a new trading division, WJ Surface Treatments, effective from 1 April. The move sees both brands integrated into WJ North, streamlining the company’s service offering following a period of expansion that has included acquisitions and the development of specialist capabilities. Previously, JMS operated across three key sectors—highways, marine, and surface preparatio

Engineering and design consultancy GHD has secured a place on the London Borough of Ealing’s Highways and Transport Services Framework for a second term, continuing its role in supporting infrastructure and public realm projects across London. The company has been reappointed to Lot 3 (General Engineering) under the 2025–2029 framework, which runs from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2029. The framework is accessible to 33 local authorities and covers a wide range of highways,

Costain has been appointed to the Procure Partnerships Framework’s North West Contractor Framework, strengthening its position in the region’s infrastructure delivery market. The framework, managed by Wirral Council, enables public sector organisations across the North West—including local authorities, government departments, utilities, schools, housing associations and emergency services—to procure infrastructure projects efficiently from initial planning through to completi

A Birmingham social enterprise that helps young people facing complex barriers into work has received £10,000 of funding from the team behind the M42 junction 6 scheme. Miss Macaroon is the latest beneficiary of the project’s Community Legacy Fund, part of a wider National Highways commitment to ‘give back’ to local communities by creating positive change through its work. The investment for MacsMAD (Macaroons that Make A Difference) has enabled the creation of a dedicated tr

Thousands of new homes and jobs are set to be delivered across England following the launch of a new £165 million government fund aimed at unlocking stalled developments by improving transport infrastructure. The Growth and Housing Accelerator Fund will focus on sites where progress has been delayed due to a lack of funding for essential road links. By addressing these infrastructure gaps, the initiative is designed to enable construction to begin on housing and employment si

Concerns are growing over the impact of e-scooters and e-bikes on accessibility in Liverpool city centre, with a local charity warning that poor parking and unsafe riding are discouraging blind and visually impaired people from visiting. Bradbury Fields Services for Blind and Partially Sighted People says vehicles are frequently being left obstructing pavements, including on tactile paving designed to assist those with visual impairments. Deputy chief executive Donna Healey-S

Work on a major scheme to improve capacity and reduce congestion on the A38 in Derby is not expected to begin until 2030, despite receiving government approval last year. The £600 million project includes plans to introduce flyovers and underpasses at the busy Little Eaton, Markeaton and Kingsway roundabouts, alongside road widening to improve traffic flow on a key route through the city. Approved by the government in July, the scheme forms part of the Department for Transpor

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority has outlined how it intends to invest a record £940 million in transport improvements, submitting initial proposals to the Department for Transport following consultation with local councils. The draft plans set out a broad programme of investment aimed at improving connectivity, reducing congestion, and supporting economic growth across the region. Key allocations include £150 million each for bus services, rail upgrades, and th

York’s annual maintenance plan for our roads and streets has been published today (31 March), which will result in a 50% increase in investment in highways, pathways, lighting, drainage and more. This will see significantly more invested in York’s roads than in previous years and the wide-ranging plan commits to highway repair schemes in villages and suburbs as well as the city centre, from Acomb to Osbaldwick and lots of areas in between. It also covers street lighting repai

Schools in Suffolk are beginning to benefit from more than £4,000 worth of books, dictionaries and other resources thanks to the National Highways social value fund Two primary schools close to the A14 in Ipswich - where maintenance work has been carried out - were awarded a total of £4,419.25 to help pay for new literature and learning tools. Sproughton Primary School was handed £1,904.25 while Bramford Primary School was given £2,518. Both schools are within a short distanc