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

Wednesday, 18 February 2026

Government

• Prime Minister announces seven new stations and major rail funding commitmentA generational UK Government commitment to modernise Welsh rail is set to support 12,000 jobs across Wales.

BBC News

• Council to curb airport parking problem in villageA local authority has said it will take steps to prevent holidaymakers parking in a village close to a busy airport.
• New train stations part of £14bn UK government rail funding promiseSir Keir Starmer said the funding covers a list of Welsh railway projects, including seven new stations.
• Police assessing Stansted Airport private flights over Epstein tiesEssex Police says it is assessing information in relation to private flights into and out of the airport.
• Rail operator apologises for station lockoutThe train operator says a staff rota mix-up led to commuters arriving to find the station locked.
• London pedicab regulations target 'rip-off fares'TfL is proposing a list of new requirements for drivers, including regulated fares and safety checks.

Financial Times

• China’s high-speed rail network accelerates world’s largest human migrationLunar new year travel is taking place faster than ever
• European airlines call for scrapping of Qatar deal after top official’s dismissal Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and SAS raise concerns after EU civil servant sacked over corruption allegations

The Guardian

• Developers will only bring us more car-dependent sprawl | LettersJon Reeds on low-density developments, plus a letter from Richard EltringhamIt is disappointing to see the huge urban sprawl at Gilston, north of Harlow, described as rejecting “carcentric models” (A new town for the 21st century?, 9 February). Big, ultra-low-density developments like this, far from rail-transit networks, are inevitably car-dependent, despite claims by their promoters. It takes more than building the primary schools necessitated by such schemes to get people out of their cars, especially as walks to school are extended by the very low densities
• Police probing claims that Epstein trafficked women through UK airportsMoves come after Gordon Brown’s claim that files show that US sex offender used Stansted airport in Essex to ‘fly in girls’ British police have expanded their interest in the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s links to Britain, by admitting for the first time they are looking at claims he used dozens of private flights into UK airports to traffic women.
• TfL Facebook ad banned for negative stereotype about black menAd was part of campaign to encourage Londoners to intervene if they witness sexual harassment or hate crime. A Transport for London (TfL) ad featuring a black teenage boy verbally harassing a white girl has been banned for “perpetuating the negative racial stereotype about black men as perpetrators of threatening behaviour”. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said the “irresponsible” ad – which was the subject of a complaint – featured a “harmful stereotype”.
• Boost to British Steel as Turkey places high-speed rail order‘Eight-figure agreement’ made to supply new line between Ankara and Izmir– but questions over plant’s future remain.

The Independent

• 'For goodness sake, just get on with it': Heathrow expansion must happen now, says Dubai airport bossThe UK desperately needs more aviation capacity and should start building more runways now: that is the view of Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports.

Local Government

• Kent County Council welcomes arrival of Dover's first fully electric bus fleetKent County Council (KCC) is pleased to announce the introduction of Dover's first fully electric buses on the Dover Fastrack network, marking a significant development in modernising public transport for residents, businesses and visitors.

Bristol Live

• Broadmead trees axed for road scheme as locals plead 'find another option'Three silver maple trees outside St James' Park will be removed by the end of February as the first step in the council's £19.4m plan to transform Union Street's junction with The Haymarket, Lewins Mead and Rupert Street

Daily Post (North Wales)

• New North Wales railway station backed in £500m investmentUK and Welsh governments unveil list to benefit from station investment in the country

Liverpool Echo

• All buses cancelled in part of Merseyside due to 'antisocial behaviour'There has been a wave of ASB incidents directed at buses and bus drivers across Merseyside in the last month

Nation. Cymru

• Transport for Wales to sponsor heritage awardsThe biggest event in the heritage railway world is heading for Llandudno, and Transport for Wales is set to be the headline sponsor.
• Plans announced to 'transform' railways in WalesSir Keir Starmer has announced plans for seven new railway stations as part of a UK Government investment in Welsh rail.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Long-awaited Blyth Relief Road funding set to be agreed as part of budget proposalsCouncillors will decide on the budget on Wednesday

Wales Online

• 'Rail in Wales has been a woeful tale. No more fanfare it's now time to deliver'Political editor Ruth Mosalski casts her eye over tonight' major announcement and asks what do the big numbers actually mean and when will the new stations be built

Yorkshire Post

• Rail upgrades are pointless if trains don't stop at stations - Yorkshire Post LettersThe present improvements being made on the Trans Pennine railway routes and any in the future associated with the Northern Powerhouse railway upgrades are rather pointless if passengers cannot actually board trains running on these lines.

Other Regional Press

• MP presses for bus funding in Hastings and Rye after meetingResidents have raised concerns about their experience with local public transport, prompting calls for urgent improvements.
• Tatty Cornwall bus station to close for four weeksSeveral large areas of the station are in need of repairs after years of heavy use
• Air Cargo Movements seeks HGV licence at Bournemouth AirportAir Cargo Movements Limited is seeking permission to use Building 104, Aviation Park West, Bournemouth Airport, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 6NW as an operating centre.
• Tilbury3 expansion of Port of Tilbury set for approvalA MAJOR expansion of a south Essex port has been recommended for approval and could see it become one of the largest port developments in the country.
• Rail overhaul to transform Slaithwaite and Marsden stationsSlaithwaite and Marsden railway stations are set to be overhauled as new plans are unveiled as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).
• Kier Starmer confirms Deeside Industrial Estate railway station planA new railway station serving Deeside Industrial Park has been included in UK Government plans for seven new stations across Wales.

Coach and Bus Week

• Wrightbus prepares to deliver Electroliners to PulhamsWrightbus recently welcomed members of the team from Go-Ahead-owned Oxford Bus Company to its factory in Ballymena to view and sign off their latest vehicle order, four 528kWh GB Kite Electroliners and seven 442kWh StreetDeck Electroliners destined for the company's Pulhams Coaches operation.
• Truronian goes to Go-AheadAlthough initially expected to remain with First Bus, it was subsequently announced that Go-Ahead had acquired the Truronian Coaches business from First Bus, along with the Truronian depot in its namesake Truro, which will now continue to operate the Truro park & ride.
• Getting the basics rightJonathan Welch concludes his report from the CPT's annual conference in London

Construction News

• DfT denies UK steel snub for Lower Thames CrossingThe Department for Transport (DfT) has pushed back against claims that domestic steel will not be used on the £10bn Lower Thames Crossing. A spokesperson for the department said procurement for steel had not started, dismissing claims made in The Times over the weekend.

New Civil Engineer

• MPs decry 'woefully inadequate' local road maintenance funding despite 'record' settlementMPs have called out the UK Government for 'woefully inadequate' sums of road maintenance funding being given to local authorities despite claims from ministers of 'record money' for fixing roads.
• Preparation and cooperation prove vital in £60M operation to replace West Coast Main Line bridge over M6Replacing the railway bridge that carried the West Coast Main Line (WCML) over the M6 at Clifton, near Penrith in Cumbria, was a project identified as a necessity by Network Rail years before it happened.

Rail Magazine

• GWR battery train set for passenger use six days a week in next stage of testsGreat Western Railway is looking to operate its battery-electric Class 230 on Greenford branch services six days a week.
• "An accumulation of failings": West of England Line problems laid bareThe newly merged South Western Railway and Network Rail Wessex Region have been accused of an 'accumulation of failings' by a frustrated passenger group.

Railnews

• Electrification to start on Borders RailwayThe Borders Railway will be closed over three weekends next month, so that parts of the line can be electrified.

Railway-News

• Scotland: Major Work Begins to Electrify Borders RailwayNetwork Rail has announced that it will begin the first stage of electrification on the Borders Railway on Saturday 21 February.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Groups react to latest DfT floating bus stops guidanceAuthorities should listen to passengers on designs for floating bus stops rather than adhere only to minimum guidelines, says Bus Users UK
• Idea for publicly-owned bus company in London questionedA proposed publicly owned bus company in London would not give Transport for London (TfL) further powers to improve the network, believes former TfL Director of Buses Mike Weston.
• Compass Travel Enviro400 pair are its first new double-deck busesOperator builds on Enviro200s with its new arrivals for college, rail replacement and event work

The Business Desk

• Swindon in line for economic boost after minister supports direct trains to OxfordCouncil leaders in Swindon have welcomed the Rail Minister's 'positive response' following confirmation that the Government is to support a direct rail service between the town and Oxford.
• Latest phase of planned railway line improvements unveiledPlans have been published for significant improvements to the railway line between Standedge and Gledholt, near Huddersfield.

Aviation Industry

• Leeds Bradford Airport supports inclusive travel with opening of new multi-faith roomLeeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has marked the opening of a new multi-faith room, providing a dedicated space for prayer and quiet reflection for passengers, colleagues and business partners travelling through the airport.

Other News Sources

• Strongest new bus and coach market for 17 years but HGV registrations dipNew heavy goods vehicle (HGV) registrations declined during 2025, according to the latest figures, but the bus and coach market recorded its strongest performance since 2008.
• Hunter praises SNP's Prestwick Airport recordScottish entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter has praised the Holyrood government's intervention in saving Prestwick Airport, saying he does not normally support ministers running businesses.
• Plea to reopen historic Tiptree railway link shelvedA Colchester councillor wants an unused railway line reopened to improve connections.
• Northern line upgrade could bring a new train depot to a former horse hospitalA long-term aspiration to run more trains on the Northern line could see a new depot being built on the site of a former railway horse hospital in North London.