Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Wednesday, 18 March 2026

BBC News

• Funding approved for new railway stationMore than £71m of funding has been approved to build a new railway station in West Yorkshire.
• East Sussex transport links to get £31m boostA package of potential transport and road safety investment totalling almost £31m has been agreed for East Sussex.
• Coventry's tram plan backed by transport secretaryPlans for Coventry to deliver its own tram network using new light rail technology have been described as "pioneering" by the transport secretary.
• Fair fares petition gets 2,000 signaturesMore than 2,000 people have signed a petition calling for fair pricing for a town's railway stations.
• Glasgow Central Station partly reopens after Union Street fireGlasgow Central Station has partially reopened 10 days after a large fire destroyed a neighbouring building.
• Train station 'needs more investment as demand soars'Campaigners are calling for more investment into a town's train station as demand increases.
• Work to turn 'eyesore' into transport hub imminentWork to transform an "eyesore" building into a new £3.2m transport hub is set to begin imminently, a council has said.
• Potholed roads are a 'national disgrace'A new study shows only 46% of roads were in a good condition.
• Arran ferry services suspended after MV Glen Sannox hit by new faultA warning light for one of the ship's main engines means sailings have been cancelled since Monday afternoon.
• More than 200 jobs at risk at carmaker BentleyThe news comes as financial results for 2025 show a seventh consecutive year of profitability.
• Mayors to gain more spending power under Reeves tax plansThe chancellor sets out the government's plan for economic growth, which also includes closer ties to the EU.

Financial Times

• US airlines say demand for travel is booming despite the war in IranDelta, United and American point to robust bookings among deep-pocketed travellers even as conflict boosts prices
• Iran conflict turns shipping market into ‘wild west’Containers are being dropped off at far-flung ports while freight rates have soared
• Europe’s airlines eye opportunities from Iran war falloutWith services of dominant Gulf rivals disrupted, there is a brief window to provide direct flights that avoid the region’s hubs

STV

• Glasgow Central high-level to partially reopen following devastating fireGlasgow Central station's high-level is to partially reopen this week following a devastating fire on nearby Union Street.

The Guardian

• Glasgow Central main concourse to partly reopen after fire disruptionScotland's busiest station to run reduced trains timetable after estimated 953,000 passenger journeys affected so far

The Herald

• Spanish low-cost airline to launch new Edinburgh routeA low-budget airline is to launch a new connection between Spain and Scotland.

The Telegraph

• First European airline cancels flights as jet fuel prices soar [subscription]Scandinavia's largest airline has become the first major carrier in Europe to scrap flights because of surging fuel prices triggered by the US-Iran war.

Times Online

• Locals fear Lime bike dumps at zone borders after Richmond ban [subscription]The London council has approved its contract for only Forest bikes to be parked and hired within the area
• Heathrow needs the airlines on board for its third runway [subscription]Carriers' warning that £49 billion plan is unaffordable raises doubts that the government's flagship growth project will ever get off the ground

Daily Express

• Major airliner scraps all flights as fuel prices surge - full listThis airline has become the first major European carrier to cancel flights because of the Iran war's fuel price surge - and experts warn it may not be the last.

Local Government

• South Yorkshire transport refresh pledges to prioritise peopleA new South Yorkshire People's Network has been launched to enhance the region's transport system.
• More 'express' buses planned for Uxbridge RoadTransport for London is set to run more SL8 buses on Uxbridge Road but decrease 207 frequency

Sky News

• Glasgow Central station to partially reopen after devastating fire - but it will 'look different'Network Rail said Scotland's busiest railway station will partially reopen on Wednesday, allowing a return of some ScotRail and cross-border train services.

Belfast Telegraph

• Frustrations as Tarka Line set to close againA rail service in north Devon which has already been closed for 24 days in 2026 is due to undergo more disruption due to engineering works.

Liverpool Echo

• Date set as tickets go live for new Liverpool train service direct to Welsh seaside townLiverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram said connections between the North West and North Wales is a key part of his transport and economic plans

London Evening Standard

• Glasgow Central station partially reopening after vape shop fireA number of services will return, though some will operate on a reduced capacity.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Newcastle Airport accused of 'smoke and mirrors' by climate campaigners over expansion plansOpponents of plans to almost double passenger numbers at Newcastle Airport to nine million per year by 2040 fear it could help 'derail' efforts to reach net zero

Wales Online

• The £115m package to improve local transport across WalesSignificant money is to be injected into projects across Wales with the aim of helping people 'get around more easily'

Chester Standard

• Chester City Transport name lives on thanks to enthusiastsAN ICONIC name from Chester's public transport history has been secured for the future, after two bus enthusiasts formed Chester City Transport Ltd.

South Wales Argus

• Cwmbran passengers unhappy at bus shelters unrepaired for 2 yearsPassengers are being left 'soaked and freezing' as they wait for buses in broken shelters that have sat unrepaired for two years.

Other Regional Press

• Transport chiefs confirm commitment to Leeds Bradford Airport parkway stationRegional transport chiefs have re-iterated their multi-million pound commitment to a new parkway station for Leeds Bradford Airport.
• Funding confirmed for bus service improvements and bus infrastructure in West SussexWest Sussex County Council's programme of improvements to bus services across the county will be extended following a £32.7million grant from the Department for Transport (DfT).
• Jobs lost at Oxford Mini Plant in row over electric carsA 'significant' number of jobs have been lost at Oxford's Mini Plant and it's over electric cars, it has been claimed.
• British Airways cancels all flights to Dubai until June amid Iran attacks on UAEBritish Airways has cancelled all flights to Dubai until June as the UAE continues to be targeted by Iran in missile attacks

Train Operators

• Avanti West Coast to resume services at Glasgow CentralAvanti West Coast to resume services at Glasgow Central station as high-level station partially reopens.

Bus-News

• South Yorkshire Public Transport Services Branded 'People's Network'Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard has announced a new public transport brand for the region alongside a long-term strategy to improve local services.

Business Live

• South Yorkshire mayor outlines major vision for transport upgradeOliver Coppard wants the South Yorkshire People's Network to bring together improved buses, trams and trains under one unified branding
• Cardiff Airport sees rise in passengers but still behind pre-pandemic levelsIts ability to accelerate passenger numbers will hinge on the outcome of legal challenge by Bristol Airport over Welsh Government £205m subsidy support plans
• South Yorkshire mayor outlines major vision for transport upgradeOliver Coppard wants the South Yorkshire People's Network to bring together improved buses, trams and trains under one unified branding
• Gloucestershire Airport sale collapse sparks fears over council’s financial recovery planCouncil chiefs unable to accept terms for proposed deal from Horizon Aero Group

New Civil Engineer

• Delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail, the right wayLabour's revival of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) and promise to spend up to £45bn in building it, was a shining light for the North as we kicked off a new calendar year.
• Millions shut out of travel as inaccessible stations undermine UK transport, engineers warnThe report, En route to inclusive public transport, describes inaccessible infrastructure as a nationwide transport failure hiding in plain

Rail Business Daily

• Hull Trains named 'Operator of the Year' at the Spotlight Rail AwardsOpen access operator Hull Trains is celebrating being crowned 'Operator of the Year' at the Spotlight Rail Awards in London.

Rail Magazine

• South Yorkshire Mayor The Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard,has unveiled a "once-in-a-generation" transport vision, rebranding the region's network as the South Yorkshire People's Network (SYPN).

Railway-News

• Patchwork to Network: A Seismic Shift in Rail MonitoringThe images from the November 2025 Shap derailment in Cumbria, UK, served as a sobering reminder of the power of nature. At Shap, a passenger train traveling at 83 mph struck debris from a landslip triggered by intense rainfall. While we are fortunate there were no fatalities, the incident exposed a systemic vulnerability in how the industry monitors earthworks. Crucially,this failure occurred on a slope that was already monitored.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• 'Mini-Switzerland' approach pushed for rural public transportThat better integration of different modes of transport would be beneficial to the economy and society seems to be universally agreed. Turning that consensus into reality is another challenge altogether.
• National driver training programme launched to combat VAWGA new coach and bus Driver CPC module aimed at tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) was launched by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) in Basildon today.

Sustainable Bus

• With electrification, bus fleets become energy assets and reshape the system. A contribution by First Bus Isabel McAllisterContribution by Isabel McAllister, Chief Sustainability & Compliance Officer, First Bus The UK has become comfortable talking about electrifying transport. Electric vehicles are now a familiar part of the net-zero conversation, framed largely as a cleaner alternative to petrol and diesel.

Other News Sources

• Bus and coach industry launches national training programme to help tackle violence against women and girlsThe UK bus and coach industry has today launched a new national driver training programme designed to help tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) and strengthen passenger confidence on public transport.
• eBikes integrated in South Yorkshire's 'once in a generation' transport visionLast summer, 12 local Mayors across England pledged to create a national active travel network to boost walking, wheeling and cycling in the country and now South Yorkshire's Mayor Oliver Coppard has been fleshing out the detail of a 'once in a generation' vision for transport in the region.
• Five-year major funding announced for CCR transport schemesA major funding agreement has been announced by the Welsh Government for the first 12 months of the five-year Regional Transport Plan which includes the long-term development of local transport infrastructure within Cardiff Capital Region (CCR).The first year of funding amounts to £48.5m via the Welsh Government's Regional Transport Fund.

News from Europe

• EU unveils new transport rules to supercharge green rail and shipping projectsThe European Commission has published updated LMTG and TBER rules to simplify state aid for rail, inland waterways, and multimodal transport, making it faster and easier to fund greener transport projects across the EU
• Spain considers a new rail terminal near Algeciras portSpain is considering building a new rail terminal just outside its largest port in Algeciras to accommodate the current demand growth. Rail services at the port are currently limited by the 350-metre train length limit at some of its terminals and the lack of sufficient sidings for rail maneuvers, the ministry of transport said.