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

Tuesday, 03 November 2026

BBC News

• Airport plans to expand passenger terminalAn airport could be expanded to handle planes carrying almost three times as many passengers under new plans. Southampton Airport has drawn up plans for an 800 sq m (8611 sq ft) extension to its passenger terminal in Mitchell Way, Eastleigh, alongside changes to the internal layout.
• Airport bosses back plans for parkway stationAirport bosses and West Yorkshire's mayor have backed calls for a proposed railway station at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA).
• How is Oxford Street one week into pedestrianisation?While shoppers have welcomed the calmer atmosphere, concerns over journey times and bike use remain.
• Ryanair says it may freeze workers' pay and raise airfaresThe airline says fuel prices may rise by €2bn in 2028 unless there is an end to the US-Israel war with Iran.

Department for Transport

• Building transport resilience - Written statement to ParliamentThe transport resilience strategy sets out the government's approach to strengthening the resilience of the UK transport system over the next 5 to 10 years.
• Everitt Review transport capacity and capability terms of referenceThe government is committed to devolving power, funding and accountability from Whitehall to mayors and local leaders, as set out in the Rewiring the State Cabinet Statement, published on 31 July 2026.

Financial Times

• Alstom shares tumble 26% after train maker cuts profit forecastAlstom shares plunged as much as 28 per cent on Monday after the French train maker cut profit and cash flow forecasts for the second time since April

The Herald

• Why is it only Calmac that is in the ferries line of fire? [Letter]Alan Simpson's article on transport ("No surprise that SNP ministers don't want a probe into Calmac", The Herald, November 2) is fine as far as it goes, but, like so many of your columnists, the only quango he mentions is Calmac.

The Independent

• Outrage after airport self-service checkout asks for 18% tipThe internet is up in arms over the tipping prompt, with one social media user saying, Wish they had negative tip option for irritating me
• Major London train station to shut for seven monthsA major London rail station will close for seven months to replace its escalators.

Times Online

• Ryanair boss: 'idiot' Musk gave us $40m worth of free publicity [subscription]Michael O'Leary says he has no intention of 'making up' with X and SpaceX tycoon in feud over reluctance to adopt Starlink on budget airline's flights
• Alstom shares tumble after new boss reveals cash crisis [subscription]Martin Sion tells investors that operations at French train maker are 'challenging, to say the least' as he reveals it has burnt through £1bn in cash

Local Government

• Progress made on north west Bicester strategic link road projectA major transport project that will improve travel connections around Bicester and support future homes, jobs and sustainable journeys is moving forward. Preparations for obtaining planning permission are getting underway for the next stage of the north west Bicester strategic link road.

Network Rail

• Railway reopens between Leeds and York after nine days of TRU upgrades completed in North YorkshireMajor improvement works delivered by the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) in Church Fenton have taken the programme a significant step closer to delivering faster, more frequent and more reliable rail services for customers travelling across the North.
• October half-term railway upgrades completed between Staines and WindsorImprovements were completed on South Western Railway's (SWR) route and Network Rail Wessex route between Staines and Windsor this October.
• Oxford station masterplanner announced to design new gateway to the cityNetwork Rail appoints architects and masterplanners HawkinsBrown with 5th Studio to design a long-term solution for Oxford station

Birmingham Post

• Ryanair plans AI push and pay freeze to offset €2bn jet fuel cost hikeRyanair CEO Michael O'Leary warns European airlines face significantly higher jet fuel costs next year

Bolton News

• 'Feal fears' over safety at Farnworth floating bus stops"Floating bus stops" have drawn complaints over safety, cycling lanes and delays to journey times.

Edinburgh Evening News

• FlixBus boosts coach services from Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Dundee with 16 new daily busesLong-distance coach brand FlixBus is increasing services from Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Dundee later this month.

Manchester Evening News

• The estate where bus drivers are too afraid to goCadishead Estate saw a spate of anti-social behaviour incidents over the weekend.

Kent Online

• Opinion: Dartford MP Jim Dickson on making cross-Thames crossings work properlyIt was 35 years last week since that overcast autumn day when the late Queen cut the ribbon on Dartford's iconic QE2 Bridge and ushered in a new era for the Dartford Crossing.

Other Regional Press

• Council may face judicial review over Royal Victoria Park cycle laneThe organisers of a campaign against a new cycle lane through Royal Victoria Park say they are taking steps to seek a judicial review of the way Bath & North East Somerset Council has made decisions.
• Southampton Airport plans expansion to welcome bigger planes carrying almost three times as many passengersSouthampton Airport could be expanded to handle planes carrying almost three times as many passengers.
• 'Disappointment' as Isham bypass decision legal challenge refused but roads minister agrees to visit villageIsham Parish Council's legal challenge to a decision unlinking the A509 bypass plan from an application for Wellingborough's Glenvale Park housing estate has been refused.
• Heritage railway near Northampton launches £25,000 appeal for major station transformationA heritage railway near Northampton is hoping to transform its main station with permanent buildings after receiving a substantial legacy that could help turn decades-old ambitions into reality.
• Airport chief backs 'once in generation' parkway station proposalA report commissioned by the airport claimed a new parkway station would be 'transformational for the region'
• Fratton Station Footbridge closed for a week for refurbishment a year after reopeningA footbridge that was closed for five months last year has once again been shut has refurbishment works are carried out.
• Renovation works at Bury St Edmunds railway station approvedIt includes the refurbishment and replacement of ground floor windows and doors and the demolition of a loading dock at the site, on Station Hill.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• West Yorkshire to buy five major bus depotsWest Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has agreed a deal to purchase five major depots from FirstGroup. The sale is part of preparations for the region's publicly-owned bus network. Five sites, in Bradford, Bramley, Halifax, Huddersfield and Hunslet, will help to house the fleet of Weaver Network buses, set to take to the region's roads in 2027 and 2028.
• Custom Denning electric bus to be sold by TSUKTemsa coach sales specialist, TSUK, is to sell Australian manufacturer Custom Denning's Element 2.2 bus. The partnership is to see TSUK bring the battery-electric single-deck bus to independent and private operators across England, Scotland and Wales.

Construction News

• Tier ones among 20 firms picked for £600m airports frameworkVolkerFitzpatrick, Galliford Try and Bam's facilities management (FM) arm have been named among 20 contractors selected for a construction framework covering three UK airports. Manchester Airports Group (MAG) appointed the firms to its Small to Medium Construction Works Framework, covering Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports.

Highways Magazine

• National Highways has appointed Marshel Weerakone as chief of staff for the Lower Thames Crossing.Mr Weerakone has spent over seven years at National Highways, having started at the beginning of 2019 as a project manager for the strategic road operator.
• DfT publishes national Transport Resilience StrategyThe Department for Transport (DfT) has published a national Transport Resilience Strategy, setting out the Government's approach over the next five to 10 years.

New Civil Engineer

• Mag Airport LimitedManchester Airports Group (Mag) Ltd has appointed contractors to a £600M construction framework covering building, civil engineering and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (Mep) works at Manchester, East Midlands and Stansted airports.

Rail Advent

• Step-free access at London station reaches major milestoneWork to provide step-free access at Wandsworth Town station has reached a major milestone, with the completion of sinking piles for the station's new lifts.

Rail Magazine

• Great British Railways begins search for CEO as job listing advertisedGreat British Railways (GBR) has begun advertising the role of Chief Executive as it gears up for its expected establishment next year.

Railway-News

• Icomera Appoints Jeremy Noble as SVP, UK & APACIcomera has appointed Jeremy Noble as Senior Vice President, UK & APAC, as the company continues to expand its role in delivering onboard connectivity and digital platform solutions for rail operators across the United Kingdom and Asia-Pacific regions.

The Business Desk

• Royal Daffodil sails into service, maintaining 800-year River Mersey historyThe £26m Royal Daffodil Mersey Ferry enters service today (November 3), continuing more than 800 years of ferry links on the River Mersey.

Aviation Industry

• London Heathrow Splits Delta and Virgin Atlantic in 2028 Terminal Shake UpLondon Heathrow has decided to move Delta Air Lines out of Terminal 3 in 2028, separating the American carrier from its joint venture partner Virgin Atlantic.

Other News Sources

• Delta Heathrow Terminal 4 move prompts CEO Ed Bastian to vow a fightEd Bastian has condemned the Delta Heathrow Terminal 4 relocation, which splits the US airline from Virgin Atlantic and will reshape transatlantic connections for UK business travellers.
• What will make electric ferry deployment commercially viable?Electric ferry technology is proven. The investment case varies by route and market.
• DfT Launches Everitt Review of Strategic Authority Transport CapabilityThe Department for Transport and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have published the terms of reference for the Everitt Review, an independent examination of transport capability within England's strategic authorities.
• Rail Minister says freight will thrive through a partnership of private and public investmentReflecting on the state of the rail freight industry, Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said 'I was told in parliament the other day that the rail freight companies are, quote, 'not in the most organised shape to drive growth' and I disagree.'
• Euston station redevelopment takes step forward with scheme formally beginning planning processFull application expected next year with project set to cover 650,000sq m of mixed-use space
• Redhill railway station to close for two weeks this Christmas for major rail improvement schemePassengers are being warned to check before travelling this Christmas in Surrey