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

Tuesday, 28 July 2026

BBC News

• EMR boss to leave role amid ongoing train problemsThe managing director of East Midlands Railway has stepped down following problems with a new fleet of trains.
• Rail disruption fears after track soil shrinkageA main rail line is expected to introduce timetable changes and reduced speeds due to the dry weather.
• Canal users worried by drought threatCanals across the region have seen closures and falling water levels because of the hot weather.

Financial Times

• Germany's Friedrich Merz sacks transport minister in turbulent cabinet shake-upFriedrich Merz has sacked his transport minister in a week-long cabinet reshuffle that drew criticism from within the German chancellor's own party

The Guardian

• PM urged to uphold climate pledges made as mayor and ban new North Sea oil drillingExperts who helped Burnham draw up Manchester carbon neutral pledge say backtracking would send wrong message amid wildfires and heatwavesLeading climate scientists who created Greater Manchester’s carbon neutral by 2038 commitment are urging Andy Burnham to unequivocally reject new drilling in the North Sea.In a letter to the prime minister they said he, as mayor of Greater Manchester, had unveiled one of the UK’s most ambitious local climate programmes that tackled housing, green growth and public transport.
• Train drivers in Great Britain consider strike action over lack of toiletsUnions say basic needs still not being met a year after regulator told operators to improve facilities. Train drivers are considering strike action over a lack of toilets, with unions saying basic needs are still not addressed a year after the rail regulator told operators to provide more facilities and breaks.Aslef said it was “putting the industry on notice”. The train drivers’ union added that companies had failed to deliver adequate toilets and reduce maximum driving times without a toilet break.

The Telegraph

• Network Rail blames dried-up soil for slowing down trainsDrought to cause speed restrictions and reduced services in East Anglia and South West

City AM

• Robotaxi rules row drives Waymo-Uber rift ahead of London launch A row over how robotaxis should be regulated has become one of the main reasons relations between Waymo and Uber have deteriorated, sources familiar with the matter told City AM, as the companies prepare to launch rival autonomous taxi services in London.
• Expanding London airports will help growth take off Extra runways at Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton are not just lucrative transport infrastructure projects that will create construction jobs and supply chain benefits in the short-term. They are key to getting overseas visitors into the UK to spend money, says Alex Challoner

Daily Express

• New 'Project Sunrise' megaflight almost breaks world record before maiden voyageThe incredible test flight, which is en route on its return to Europe, had made history before it had even left the ground

i News

• 16-18-year-olds could get cheaper bus fares to help them into workPupils aged 14 will also be offered technical courses that will help them find jobs in their local area

Local Government

• Work begins to install speed cameras along one of "most dangerous roads in Hampshire"Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin has welcomed the confirmation of installation date for the Portsdown Hill cameras despite repeated delays,

Office of Rail and Road (ORR)

• ORR seeks views on railway licence changes to prepare for rail reformThe Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has published a discussion document setting out how it proposes to ensure railway licences are updated and ready for the reformed railway.

Birmingham Mail

• Campaign to save historic Digbeth Warehouse from demolitionThe Warehouse in Allison Street faces demolition as part of plans to create new rail infrastructure to increase train capacity in and out of Birmingham under the Midlands Rail Hub proposals

Bristol Live

• Major changes to bus routes through Bristol as dozens of bus stops moved It's in preparation for thousands of new homes, shops, and leisure spaces being built in the coming years

Derby Telegraph

• New M1 junction touted in bid to beat congestion 'misery' around Junction 25Plans to improve congestion issues off the M1 including a potential new junction in a bid to alleviate residents' misery are to be assessed by officials.

London Evening Standard

• Ministers urged to give TfL final say on driverless taxis as London rollout loomsChair of the London Assembly Transport Committee says the government has stepped in on London's devolved powers

Wales Online

• New £12m system in Cardiff designed to speed up trains in WalesRail services across Wales are often cancelled due to maintenance issues with the trains, however a new piece of equipment costing £12 million has been installed at a rail depot in Cardiff with the aim of getting faulty trains repaired and in service faster.

Yorkshire Post

• Skipton-Colne rail line: Re-opening of rail line would be 'huge boost'A top Bradford councillor has said the re-opening of a rail line would be a huge boost for Keighley and Bradford.

Doncaster Free Press

• Airport campaigner reflects on four year fight to re-open DSAA campaigner battling to re-open Doncaster Sheffield Airport has reflected on his four year campaign to get it back in business, describring it as 'exhausting, frustrating and emotional' - but he is determined to keep up the fight.

Hull Daily Mail

• It is a fitting tribute to a woman who has achieved so much - Hull champion of transport Louise Cheeseman is honoured with a blue plaque'On behalf of the council and the city, we'd like to congratulate Louise on being recognised for the incredible work she has done'

Oxford Mail

• Stagecoach has unveiled a major ticket machine upgradeStagecoach West is introducing new high-tech ticket machines to improve bus journeys and passenger experience.

Other Regional Press

• Further repairs needed on CalMac's MV Isle of IslayCALMAC'S newest vessel has departed Greenock following a series of repairs but the ferry will require to undergo further works.
• Cheshire MP fighting for new HS2 line given new junior backbench assistant positionLabour MP for Crewe & Nantwich, Connor Naismith, has been appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Transport.
• Liverpool John Lennon crowned best UK airport in Holidu rankingsManchester Airport has been rated the UK's worst airport again, while Liverpool John Lennon Airport has been rated the best.
• York Community Energy backs renewable rail power projectA new project could see the East Coast Main Line powered by community-owned renewable energy.
• New on-demand bus scheme expands across Cheshire WestAN expanded on-demand bus service is being launched to improve public transport in rural areas.
• Somerset bus services could move to Manchester-style franchising modelSomerset's bus services could take a leaf out of Manchester's book and move to a centrally-franchised system in the coming years.
• First Bus revenue protection officers could be axedNorwich's biggest bus company could scrap its controversial ticket inspectors as it confirms their jobs are at risk.
• Simon Lightwood MP appointed Minister for Equalities by new PM Andy BurnhamFollowing his entry to 10 Downing Street last week, Mr Burnham selected Simon as the new joint Minister for Equalities alongside MP for Southampton Test, Satvir Kaur. He was also re-appointed as the Minister for Transport.
• Crewe & Nantwich MP appointed key Department of Transport roleMP for Crewe & Nantwich Connor Naismith has been appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Transport, it was announced today.

Highways Magazine

• Greenwood leaves DfT in Cabinet shuffleTransport minister Lilian Greenwood has left the Department for Transport in the latest Cabinet reshuffle.

New Civil Engineer

• Heathrow can show British infrastructure still delivers - Crawford BurdenHeathrow can show British infrastructure still delivers. Britain's infrastructure challenge is no longer deciding what to build it is proving that we can still build it.

Rail Business Daily

• East Midlands Railway MD leaves with immediate effectEast Midlands Railway (EMR) Managing Director, Will Rogers has left his post with immediate effect. Will joined EMR in January 2020, just before the global COVID pandemic, and successfully led the business through multiple lockdowns, ensuring colleagues were kept safe whilst supporting key workers to travel safely to their workplaces.
• New Rail Innovation Centre opens its doorsThe Derbyshire Rail Industry Innovation Vehicle (DRIIVe) in Barrow Hill has been officially opened and is ready to welcome businesses, researchers and learners. It is a flagship destination for the rail industry offering modern classrooms and training areas, specialist research and development facilities including a digital laboratory, and high-quality commercial workshop space.
• Bruton Knowles provides specialist advice for £250 million railway projectA national chartered surveyor has provided specialist advice for the development of a new £250 million Government-funded railway station.
• ORR seeks views on railway licence changes ahead of rail reformThe Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has published a discussion document outlining how it plans to ensure railway licences are updated and ready for the reformed railway.

Rail Magazine

• Alliance Rail resubmits modified Marchwood planAlliance Rail has resubmitted its plan to run open access services along the Waterside Line to Marchwood in Hampshire.

Railway-News

• Rail Simulation Software for Infrastructure Planning and Cost ScenariosRail simulation software is most useful when it helps teams make better planning decisions before work moves forward.
• UK: Muse to Lead Bletchley Regeneration Ahead of East West RailMuse has been chosen to lead regeneration efforts at Central Bletchley, with plans set to include the construction of a new mixed-use neighbourhood surrounding Bletchley railway station as the town prepares for the arrival of East West Rail.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• 'Immediate improvements' for St Helens in LCRCA bus franchisingNew buses and services and upped frequencies, says Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

Trafnidiaeth Cymru [Transport for Wales]

• Transport for Wales launches 'TfW Protect' to help tackle cable and metal theft across the railway networkTransport for Wales (TfW) has launched TfW Protect, a dedicated anonymous reporting service designed to help tackle cable and metal theft across the rail network.

Aviation Industry

• Aviation has lost the human side of customer servicePeter Cross argues airlines have swapped hospitality for algorithms, chatbots and cost-cutting
• Heathrow enhances operational resilience with real-time geospatial platformHeathrow Airport has gone live with Heathrow Explorer, a new mapping and data platform to modernise workflows and strengthen operations at Europe's busiest airport. A core component of Heathrow's digital transformation strategy, the system provides a real-time, single view of infrastructure and assets, enabling teams to make faster and better decisions.

Other News Sources

• The economic impact of a third runway at HeathrowExamining the national and regional costs of airport expansion
• Plans for a joined-up transport network take huge step forward with Mayor announcing immediate improvements as St Helens bus services come back under public controlMore evening and weekend services, extended routes and a brand-new express link to Liverpool John Lennon Airport will operate from Day One when the St Helens bus network comes back under public control in September.
• Bulwell and Sherwood retain prestigious safer parking accreditationsNottingham City Council have successfully retained the prestigious Safer Parking accreditations for a number of car parks following a recent assessment by the Police Crime Prevention Team.

News from Europe

• Rail loses ground in European freightA new European freight report shows road transport dominating inland freight, while the combined share of rail and waterways has fallen by 4.1 percentage points over the past decade.