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

Friday, 13 March 2026

Government

• Regulation reset to fast-track homes, transport and clean energyMajor boost to sustainable development, as ?100 million invested to speed up planning approvals

BBC News

• £92.7m to replace city's buses with electric fleetMore than 180 zero-emission buses are set to be introduced to the streets of Sheffield at a cost of nearly £93m.
• County gets fleet of electric buses in £2.2m boostA new 17-strong fleet of greener and quieter electric buses are set to replace older diesel vehicles following a £2.2m investment from the government.
• Railway lines reopen after signalling faultServices resume after several hours of disruption.
• No Sunday King's Cross to Peterborough LNER trainsEast Midlands Railway (EMR) services to and from St Pancras are expected to be busier than usual.
• Mayor to consider new charges for SUVs in LondonThe plan is part the mayor's strategy to eradicate death and serious injury from London's roads by 2041.

Financial Times

• ‘Sitting ducks’: oil tankers trapped in Gulf as Iran widens attacks on shippingOperators face growing risks whether they stay or flee through Strait of Hormuz
• HS2 rail executives in last-ditch talks to renegotiate contractsProject’s managers hope to reach new deal with suppliers to peg back runaway costs of high-speed scheme
• Stranded travellers charter private jets to return to Europe War in the Middle East has prevented tens of thousands of people in Asia from getting home
• The illicit Iranian oil hiding in plain sightShipments provide a vital source of income for Iran and allow China to stock up large reserves

The Guardian

• SUV drivers could face extra charges for driving in LondonTfL are also poised to increase 20mph zones and cut speed limits on the capital’s fastest roads later this yearOwners of SUVs could face charges to drive in London, after the mayor and transport authorities said they were reviewing the increased danger posed by larger, heavier cars.Proposals to clamp down on the biggest vehicles could come later this year, with Transport for London (TfL) also poised to increase 20mph zones and cut the speed limits on its fastest roads from 50mph to 40mph to tackle road deaths. Continue reading...

The Independent

• Smelly tube station ice cream advert sparks nausea complaints from commutersA new "multi-sensory" advertisement for Magnum ice cream, which emits a strong chocolate scent, has sparked complaints from commuters and staff at a major London Underground interchange.

Times Online

• How is the airline industry weathering the storm over the Gulf? [subscription]The world's carriers are exposed to the higher price of jet fuel and closure of airspace and passengers' reluctance to fly amid Iran war
• Plan to end sales of new diesel and petrol cars 'is a fantasy' [subscription]Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, says no one in the industry thinks the government will meet its EV target
• HS2 'dithering' damaged my business, says dog trainer suing for £8m [subscription]Matthew Wiggins claims that four years of uncertainty affected his company's ability to train 'perfect pets'

City AM

• Oil surges again as industry faces ‘largest disruption in history of the market’The global energy body has warned the current oil crisis triggered by the war in the Middle East marks the “largest disruption” in history of the commodity’s market.

The Mirror

• Ed Miliband's top-tip for drivers to find the cheapest fuel prices amid Iran war fearsOn Wednesday, the RAC reported that diesel prices had climbed by almost 9% since 28 February. Petrol prices had increased on average 6% over the identical timeframe

Network Rail

• Work underway on new £100m TrainCare Centre in ShipleyThe 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.
• Safety work progresses around Glasgow Central Station after Union Street fireWork towards reopening Glasgow Central Station high‑level is continuing following the fire at a building on Union Street on Sunday 8 March.

Birmingham Mail

• How Wales and London are influencing speed limit cuts on West Midlands roadsRoad safety commissioner Mat MacDonald says expanding 20mph speed limits in Wales has had a positive impact

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Progress on construction of new Shipley traincare centrePROGRESS has been made on a new rail project set to serve as a future home for Northern's electric train fleet.

Bristol Live

• Bristol’s transport boss refuses to rule out supporting plan to build road on old railwayLocal councillors want to turn the railway cutting into a greenway like the Bristol to Bath Railway Path

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Legal order to change Wrexham road system after pilot successExperimental Traffic Regulation Order around school will be policed and supported with signage.

Sheffield Star

• Politicians welcome Sheffield £33m government investment in zero-emission busesThe announcement of more than 180 new zero-emission buses for Sheffield and South Yorkshire has been welcomed by leading local politicians as a real boost that will tackle air pollution.

Other Regional Press

• Rail ticket new changes dubbed 'baffling and complicated'Didcot and Wantage MP Olly Glover has dubbed new rail ticket rules as "baffling and complicated" as he calls for the Government to reconsider.
• 'Town is leading the way' - transport secretaryA GOVERNMENT minister says Barnsley is 'leading the way' thanks to a trailblazing scheme which has transformed travel for youngsters.
• Lumo's Stirling to London launch date, timetable and fares revealed with £30 train tickets availableThe new Stirling to London train service is expected to begin in May.
• Wheelchair user 'disregarded' over multi-million-pound Kent footpath diversionThe council said the choice was between providing a stepped bridge or no bridge at all
• PBH Rail in York appoints new director amid expansion plansA York-based rail engineering firm has appointed a new director to support a £2 billion project.
• Call for public support as petition pushes for Wrexham to London rail linkShropshire Council is urging residents to back a petition calling for the reinstatement of direct rail services between Wrexham and London.
• MP tables Westminster motion on re-opening of railway lineSOUTH Antrim MP Robin Swann has intensified his campaign to reopen the Antrim to Lisburn (Knockmore) railway line by tabling an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons, calling on the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to prioritise the project.
• MOD Police take to Barrow train station for operationPolice from the Ministry of Defence took to Barrow train station as part of one of its major nationwide projects.
• ‘Fixing our waterways won’t be quick - we should not pretend otherwise’MP Sojan Joseph says more work is needed to push for improvements to the infrastructure of our waterways.
• UK petrol station imposes £45 fuel limit amid Middle East crisisThe limit has been introduced a £45 limit on fuel purchases amid increased demand linked to the Middle East crisis
• Kirklees takes over Cooper Bridge scheme despite funding concernsA decision was made during a Full Council meeting
• West Midlands families 'torn apart' as 21 pedestrian deaths reported in 2025West Midlands Road Safety Commissioner has presented alarming data showing pedestrian fatalities made up almost half of all road deaths in the region last year, with Birmingham seeing three quarters of identified clusters.

New Civil Engineer

• Wales urged to overhaul transport network with third Menai bridge and rail reopeningsA report setting out priorities for Wales's transport system says the country needs major investment in roads, rail and airports to address long-standing connectivity problems between north, mid and south Wales.

Rail Advent

• Avanti West Coast recognised for cutting cancellations at Golden Whistle AwardsAvanti West Coast has been recognised for improving the reliability of its services after winning a Silver Whistle at the Golden Whistle Awards.

Aviation Industry

• AirportsUK urges government to help increase competitivenessAt last night's AirportsUK Annual Dinner, senior aviation executives and politicians were given an insight into the size of the prize if government worked with the sector to increase competitiveness.

Other News Sources

• Transport minister Keir Mather says EV commitment is 'iron clad'Speaking at the SMMT Electrified event today, transport minister Keir Mather has said the UK Government's commitment to the EV transition was "iron clad".
• Arriva announces 3340m investment in UK bus fleet and depot renewalArriva Group has announced a £340m investment programme to transform and modernise its UK bus operations, with communities in West Yorkshire the first to benefit from brand-new lower-emission buses.