Growing pressures on the UK’s cold chain are increasing risks to food security
Earlier this year the Cold Chain Federation (CCF) launched a major new whitepaper at an event in Westminster. The extensive document warns that growing pressures on the UK’s cold chain are increasing risks to food security, public health and economic resilience. At a macro level, the paper sets out the cold chain’s role in food…
16 days of TRU improvement works completed in Huddersfield
Major improvement works delivered by the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) in Huddersfield have taken the programme a significant step closer to delivering faster, more frequent and more reliable rail services for customers travelling across the North. Work took place between Saturday 19 September and Sunday 4 October, during which engineers worked around the clock to…
Plan to deliver York Outer Ring Road improvements is published
Long-standing plans to improve journeys and reduce congestion on York’s A1237 Outer Ring Road have taken a significant step forward with the publication of a new delivery plan. It shows how the changes will be delivered in phases, initially prioritising improvements that will increase capacity at key points on the route, support major new housing…
Expect unveils new brand identity to support the next stage of growth
Expect has launched a bold new brand identity, reflecting the company’s evolution and its commitment to helping ambitious businesses grow through adaptable, customer focused logistics solutions. Built around the proposition of “Growth Logistics”, the rebrand represents more than a visual refresh. It signals Expect’s ambition for the future and reinforces its position as a logistics…
TRU welcome Kirklees Council to Huddersfield station as programme reaches halfway mark in latest series of improvement works
Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) teams have made strong progress with works in the Huddersfield area while the railway has been closed, with work continuing until Sunday 4 October. The new leadership of Kirklees Council were invited to see the work at Huddersfield station first-hand and discuss the benefits TRU is bringing to rail users and…
Transpennine Route Upgrade Community Fund now open for applications
Communities across the North are being encouraged to apply for a share of £270,000 as the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) opens applications for the third year of its Community Fund. Community groups, schools and charities located within five kilometres of the Transpennine route, between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York, can now submit applications for projects…
York’s newest cycle lanes and pavements open for public use from Monday
Everyone travelling near York Station will be able to use new dedicated cycle routes and pavements from next week as the York Station Gateway scheme takes another step forward. From Monday morning (28 September) cyclists, pedestrians and mobility aid users will be able to use the new cycle lanes and pavements delivered as part of…
All aboard: Meet the new voices bringing TPE journeys to life
Customers travelling with TransPennine Express (TPE) are set to hear a new sound on board, as three colleagues’ step into the spotlight as the voices behind journeys across the network. Following an internal competition open to colleagues across the business, conductors Daniel Burn (York), Grant Rodden (Glasgow) and Sophie Howse (Cleethorpes) have been chosen as…
Overnight works due to start on the A19 south of York, between Escrick and the Designer Outlet roundabout, at 8pm on Monday 28 September
The resurfacing and patching are part of the wider Highways Maintenance programme, and have been planned by City of York Council highways team to ensure that the road can be repaired safely but minimising the impact of the works on residents and road users. In order for us to do this it will be necessary…
Smart concrete could pave the way for wirelessly charging EVs as they drive
Researchers at the University of Bradford are developing WattCrete, an innovative ‘smart concrete panel technology’ that significantly improves power transfer efficiency while electric vehicles charge up in motion. Professor Ashraf Ashour and Dr Boğaçhan Başaran, from the University’s Department of Engineering, have been awarded £236,000 by the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship to develop…
£1 billion fleet of new trains to offer more services and more seats
A new £1 billion fleet of British-built, battery-electric trains will run on a faster, more reliable Transpennine railway, delivering more services and more seats for passengers across the North. The 29 new Adessia Stream trains, ordered by TransPennine Express and built at Alstom’s historic Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, will be among the first battery-electric…
Bradford College opens cutting-edge £19.3m Motor Vehicle & Engineering building
Bradford College has officially opened its latest multi-million-pound facility after nearly two years under construction. The new Junction Mills building on Thornton Road will offer students training in modern automotive and digital engineering and will be vital in supporting the growth of electric and hybrid vehicle capability within West Yorkshire. The four-storey new build was…
Customers reminded to plan ahead as major TRU improvement works begin this week
From Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October 2026, Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) teams will deliver transformative upgrade work in the Huddersfield area. Services will be impacted throughout this period. Engineers will be working around the clock to deliver: Installation of two new lines of track – this will increase capacity and reduce journey times by…
A new season of support
For many businesses in the food supply chain, September brings not just a new season but also a new academic year, as school meal contracts restart and catering suppliers ramp up. During this period, education-linked food services move from a quiet summer schedule to full operational demand. A Sudden Change in Volume Unlike gradual seasonal…
TPE unveils battery train fleet to transform rail travel across the north
A £1 billion investment in a new fleet of battery-electric trains for TransPennine Express (TPE) has been announced in a move set to transform rail travel across the north of England while supporting hundreds of skilled jobs across the UK. The train operator has signed contracts with rail manufacturer Alstom for 29 new five-car battery-electric…
Why we’re working towards earned recognition
Earned Recognition is not something an operation of our size has to chase. But it is a recognition that matters to where Keep It Cool is heading, and how I want the business to be known. Nikki Redhead, Managing Director at Keep It Cool DVSA’s Earned Recognition scheme is built around larger fleets with the…
Flex to you – Why Flex Support makes sense in summer
For some businesses in our industry, summer is one of those periods where the calendar simply does not allow for slow days. Year after year, we see demand rise, schedules tighten and pressure on production lines build. Meanwhile, warehouse teams and existing transport fleets are stretched to capacity with the season’s demand. For the businesses…
Plan ahead for resurfacing works on Beckfield Lane
Over 1km of Beckfield Lane is set to be resurfaced from next week (from Monday 17 August), as part of this year’s record investment in the council’s Highways Maintenance Programme. Work will start on Beckfield Lane, from Wetherby Road to the junction of Lidgett Grove. This work builds on recent work to resurface footpaths, improve…
We’re finalists at the Motor Transport Awards
We have been named a finalist for Specialist Operator of the Year at this year’s Motor Transport Awards. It is an honour, a testament to the team’s dedication, and a mark of recognition in an industry where being nominated alongside leading specialist operators in motor transport carries real weight. When I purchased Keep It Cool…
Major Transpennine Route Upgrade works to drive forward Huddersfield station transformation this autumn
Customers will soon benefit from a more reliable, accessible and greener railway as the Transpennine Route Upgrade takes another significant step towards the transformation of Huddersfield station and the wider railway this autumn. From Saturday 19 September until Sunday 4 October 2026, engineers will be working around the clock to deliver a significant package of improvements in and around Huddersfield, helping improve reliability, increase capacity and support…
Improvement works on Bishopthorpe Road progressing ahead of schedule
As part of a long-term programme to resurface York’s roads and replace, upgrade and maintain traffic light systems across the city, the council has begun improvement works on Bishopthorpe Road this August. The project is currently progressing ahead of schedule, meaning the planned resurfacing works can now be completed earlier than anticipated, helping us keep…
TRU launches communication cards as part of its commitment to delivering a more accessible railway
The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) has placed accessibility at the heart of its transformation of the railway across the North since its inception. The latest example of this commitment is the introduction of new Customer Communication Cards, designed to help break down communication barriers between customers and railway staff. The cards include simple prompts and conversation starters to help…
TRU’s Baker Viaduct crosses the River Calder in Ravensthorpe
The newly built Baker Viaduct in Ravensthorpe now spans the River Calder with the penultimate pair of beams installed today (July 29), connecting the structural steelwork either side of the water. The 350m long, 2,400-tonne viaduct now spans two waterways after crossing the historic Calder & Hebble Navigation Canal last year, and forms a pivotal…
Plan ahead for upcoming works on Bishopthorpe Junction
As part of a long-term programme to resurface York’s roads and replace, upgrade, and maintain traffic light systems across the city, the council will be working on Bishopthorpe Road throughout August. This work will see ageing traffic lights replaced, improved drainage, refreshed road markings and resurfaced roads to make journeys in the area smoother and…
Cheshire Scientific drop box opens at Big Yellow on Gelderd Place, Leeds
Focusing on Leeds! Getting your water samples to a lab from Leeds just got simpler. We’ve opened a Cheshire Scientific drop box at Big Yellow on Gelderd Place, just off the M621 and a couple of minutes from the ring road. Leeds keeps a lot of people busy, a business district that’s grown quickly, two…
Net Zero and the Road We’re Not Ready For
The route to net zero is a complicated road for me. I believe in net zero targets, and I understand the importance of continued investment in sustainable energy to support our overworked national grid. But I cannot pretend it is an ambition I fully support, not in its current form, and not at the pace…
PlanBEE Rail apprentices celebrate landmark graduation at National Railway Museum
The first-ever graduation ceremony for the PlanBEE Rail apprenticeship programme took place on Wednesday 15 July at the National Railway Museum in York, marking a milestone moment for the scheme and celebrating the achievements of its inaugural cohort, with seven of the graduates moving into permanent roles across the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) and its wider partners. TRU is a…
Mirfield station gets a makeover from young local artists
A new collection of artwork created by local students has been unveiled at Mirfield station, as part of TRU’s First and Last Mile scheme. Earlier this year, Mirfield became the second station on the TRU route to realise the benefits of the multi-billion-pound railway programme, with enhanced customer facilities and a brand-new footbridge with lifts…
CCF Summer Event
On 9 July 2026, the Cold Chain Federation brought its members together at the Celtic Manor Resort in Monmouthshire for its annual Summer Party. This member-only event is designed to be friendly, inclusive and enjoyable for all members of the cold chain community. Why events like this matter There is a version of running a…
Delivering more than solutions – building lasting partnerships
Strong business relationships are often built through shared values, trusted service, and meaningful connections — something clearly reflected in the growing relationship between Same Day Solutions Limited and Sound Leisure. Both businesses connected through the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, demonstrating the power of local networking and how Chamber members can successfully support…
TRU celebrates successful Community Fund projects across route
The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is showcasing some of the organisations from its 2025 Community Fund round, who have used their grants to improve local spaces and places. Launched in 2024, the TRU Community Fund aims to help local community groups, schools and charities to create or enhance community-focused facilities across the 70-mile route. The second iteration in 2025 saw 35 successful applicants offered small, medium and large…
Why the UK needs an essential user fuel rebate
While the UK government has largely stayed quiet on fuel support for commercial operators, the rest of the world hasn’t been as passive. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) published a breakdown of how other countries are responding to the current fuel crisis, and the contrast with the UK is hard to ignore. Whilst the World…
Night works see progress on Station Gateway highway works
Councillors will receive an update on the Station Gateway project at a meeting next week (7 July). Executive will hear the latest on the project, including its financial position, as part of the Capital Programme Monitor which provides details around the delays to the project which have increased the spend on the programme by £5.4m….
28 days of TRU improvement works completed in West Yorkshire
Major improvement works modernising the railway between Morley and Dewsbury in West Yorkshire have taken the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) a step closer to delivering faster, more frequent trains on a more reliable and greener network across the North. Work began on Saturday 30 May and ran until Saturday 27 June. During this period, teams…
Frozen Food Temperatures: The Impact of Three Degrees
The -18°C standard for frozen food storage was set over 100 years ago and hasn’t changed since. Technology has evolved. Food science has advanced. Customer expectations have shifted. And yet, that temperature of -18°C has remained steadfastly the same. What’s more surprising is that the standard is rooted in 0°F (-17.8°C), not in any precise…
York leads the way as air quality targets met for second year running
As Clean Air Day (Thursday 18 June) approaches, City of York Council has confirmed that the city has met national air pollution targets for the second consecutive year. New monitoring data for 2025, presented at the Combined Executive Member Decision Session on 2 June 2026, shows that the significantly lower nitrogen dioxide levels recorded in 2024…
Council shares transport information as York Station Gateway Highway works set to complete
City of York Council has published travel information for residents and visitors to assist them to get to the city centre and station in advance of upcoming road closures around York Station. Work to finish the carriageway surfacing around York Station will start on 1 June and be carried out in four stages. Details for…
The Link Between Fuel and Food
When people talk about the cost of living, they talk about energy bills, mortgages and wage stagnation. Rarely does the conversation land on fuel. And almost never does it land on the cold chain that moves food from producer to plate. That invisibility is part of the problem. I want to make the connection explicit,…
Final push on York Station Gateway highway works
Contractors John Sisk & Son have confirmed the programme for their final works on the highways part of the York Station Gateway project. Once they are finished the new permanent road layout will be in place along with continuous safe cycle lanes and footways, plus the new bus stops and fresh new public space for…
Details of York City FC National League Civic Celebration Parade
York is gearing up for a momentous celebration on Thursday 7 May, as York City Football Club marks its return to the English Football League (EFL) with a victory parade. Hundreds of fans are expected to line the streets of York on Thursday as the city comes together to celebrate York City FC’s victory parade….
York supply specialists secure seven-figure public sector contract with Bolton Council
Following a competitive tendering process, York-based supply specialist, PPS, has been awarded a seven-figure contract with Bolton Council for the supply and delivery of chemicals and consumable goods for services across schools. The three-year agreement will see PPS responsible for supplying a comprehensive range of cleaning and hygiene products to approximately 90 schools across the…
Fuel duty regulations
The Cost of War on Transport As a small business, we pride ourselves on flexibility and stability of service. We know that things can be unpredictable for our customers, and that is exactly why we work hard to be a dependable partner for their transport needs. That reliability, however, is deeply compromised when the government…
Highways maintenance plan dedicates £16.5m across York
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…
Public consultation on proposed rail upgrades between Standedge and Gledholt (Huddersfield) extended
The public consultation on proposed rail upgrades between Standedge and Gledholt has been extended, giving communities in and around Huddersfield more time to share their views. The consultation, which opened on Monday 16 February 2026, has been extended until Friday 24 April 2026. The extension provides a further opportunity for residents, businesses and stakeholders to…
50,000 tonnes of ballast, 11.5km of track, 5,515 sleepers: the numbers behind TRU’s next series of major upgrades
Throughout May and June, Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) teams will take another huge step in delivering faster, more frequent trains on a greener railway across the North, through a series of engineering works between Huddersfield and Leeds. From Saturday 2 May until Monday 25 May, 56 engineering trains will be deployed along this stretch of…
20 years and 180 million miles: TransPennine Express marks milestone for Class 185 fleet
TransPennine Express (TPE) has marked 20 years of its Class 185 trains with a special celebration at Siemens Mobility’s Ardwick depot in Manchester. The event recognised two decades of an award-winning fleet that has become a backbone of rail travel across the North, travelling almost 180 million miles – the equivalent of circling the earth…
Work underway on new £100m TrainCare Centre in Shipley
The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) has this week welcomed Leader of Bradford Council, Susan Hinchcliffe, Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw and Councillor Liz Rowe to its Shipley site, where the programme is investing over £100m in the construction of a new TrainCare Centre. The rail depot will initially be used to house and maintain Northern’s fleet of…
Make sure you have your say about car parking charges in Bishopthorpe Road, Heworth, Micklegate and The Groves
Residents and businesses are being reminded that the online and paper consultation over car parking charges in Bishopthorpe Road, Heworth, Micklegate and The Groves/East Parade ends on Friday 27 February 2026. Traders and residents in these four areas initiated a challenge to parking charges under the Traffic Management Act 2004. This followed the authority’s decision to increase charges for…