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

Monday, 16 February 2026

BBC News

• 'The genie's out of the bottle' - new e-scooter laws planned New rules to regulate e-scooters are set to be introduced by the government, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander admitting that the "genie is out of the bottle" when it comes to their use.
• Engineers protect wildlife while rebuilding tracksEngineers from Network Rail who have been working on a line which closed following a landslip said they have also been protecting wildlife as they carried out the works.
• Bee, bug and bird homes created at train stationsHabitats for bees, birds and bugs have been installed at more railway stations across the South East in a bid to improve biodiversity.
• Are self-driving cars the next big thing?Driverless cars could be hitting the streets of London by the end of the year.

The Independent

• Singapore sets first ever sustainable aviation fuel levy, as Southeast Asia's fuel industry growsSingapore is piloting the world's first sustainable aviation fuel levy

City AM

• Carmakers swallow $65bn EV hit as UK bucks slowdown A $65bn (£51bn) rethink of electric vehicle strategies by global carmakers is colliding with a very different picture in the UK, where EV uptake continues to climb despite new taxes and policy scrutiny. Manufacturers across the US, Europe and Japan have booked tens of billions in writedowns over the past year as demand undershot expectations

Mail Online

• Over two thirds of cyclists run red light at traffic lights where elderly nurse, 81, died crossing the road after being hit by a bike - as her son says stretch is 'being treated like a racetrack'The Daily Mail investigated one of three new red-light crossings on Regent's Park's Outer Circle, a near perfect 2.7-mile-long circular road in Westminster, at 8am on a Wednesday.
• £24million taxpayer-funded green power network at port has never been used as it is too costly to runThe Sea Change project in Portsmouth was completed last year to enable ships to switch off their engines and plug into the electricity grid when berthed to cut emissions and boost air quality.

Birmingham Mail

• The route travelled by the 'most dangerous' bus in the West MidlandsA bus service named as the 'most dangerous' travels through a significant chunk of the West Midlands every day.
• Pay-per-mile car tax 'will expand to everyone else' as well as EVs soonIt’s not a temporary measure, it's not a trial

Manchester Evening News

• Network Rail issues update as Manchester Piccadilly mostly closed for nine daysWork is well underway on a 'once-in-a-generation' project which has seen most of Manchester Piccadilly station close for nine days.

Bucks Free Press

• Rural business concerns shared with Wycombe MP inTurvilleWycombe's MP has met with rural business owners to discuss concerns, including flooding and transport.

Lancashire Telegraph

• Hyndburn MP says that rail services aren't good enoughAn East Lancashire MP has said that rail services in the region aren't 'good enough' after serving on a committee scrutinising the Government's new Railways Bill.

Other Regional Press

• MP Yuan Yang hails extension of late-night train services to Reading and WokinghamAN MP in Reading has celebrated improvements which are set to be made to late-night travel services between the town and London.
• Skipton-Colne rail group will hear about successful campaignThe first phase of the Northumberland Line, which links Newcastle and Ashington, was reinstated in December 2024 after a successful campaign by the South East Northumberland Rail User Group.
• Trains cancelled - Wakefield Westgate landslip causes long delaysNational Rail has issued advice to customers, warning that various routes are affected. Some lines have been closed and the incident is set to cause "major disruption" for the rest of the day. LNER trains are said to possibly be delayed, diverted, cancelled or revised.
• Airport officers object to 279-home bid in Thorpe MarriottAirport officers worry solar panels which could be installed as part of a massive housing scheme will distract pilots and air controllers.
• Taunton 'park and bus' facility finally open to publicTaunton's new 'park and bus' facility, serving a major housing development on the A38, is finally open to the public.
• Major 'transport vision' would need massive development of Green BeltBuses were a political pawn for him to use for votes. That is no longer the case
• New funding available to improve Oxfordshire cycling pathsThe Walk Wheel Cycle Trust is promoting the Love Your Network grant scheme in Oxfordshire to support volunteer groups who maintain and improve sections of the National Cycle Network.
• Flight school revived at Oxford AirportA flight school has been revived under a new brand at Oxford Airport.

Rail Advent

• Accessibility project at Hertfordshire station reaches milestoneThe accessibility upgrades by Network Rail, carried out at Hertford North station, are moving forward at pace as work continues to make the station more welcoming and inclusive for all passengers.

Rail Magazine

• HS1 owner facing large tax increase after revaluation, MPs toldThe company that owns HS1 faces a large tax increase after its most recent assessment, MPs have heard.
• Additional LNER Peterborough fast service beginsThe first of an additional weekday service from Peterborough to London King's Cross begun today (February 16).

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Who represents your operation with the relevant local authorities?Transport minister notes the importance of that interface - a point that is is hard to argue with
• Stagecoach bus driving simulators show strength for trainingNew bus driving simulators commissioned by Stagecoach are bolstering the group's training capacity and the business is considering rolling out more
• Alexander Dennis Enviro200EV plots its own course in electric busNewcomer is built around light weight and a good passenger environment, the builder explains
• Westminster Watch: 'buy British' calls linger in ParliamentAs MPs discuss the origin of our buses, has the new UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel made a difference
• A new chapter for Women in Bus and Coach as policy put in focusIncoming Chair Laura Hadzik looks at what the next steps are for Women in Bus and Coach when supporting organisations

The Business Desk

• 'Essential' Cornwall-London flights to be scrapped after council rejects subsidyAirline Skybus is to stop flying between Newquay and London Gatwick by 31 May after Cornwall Council rejected its tender to continue the subsidised route.
• Masters of their own destiny: inside Sigma Precision Components' quiet grip on global aviationFrom the outside, Sigma Precision Components looks like many other precision engineering firms dotted around the Midlands: low-slung buildings, a steady flow of trucks, a workforce in hi-vis and overalls changing shifts. Inside, however, lies one of the UK's quiet powerhouses of global commercial aviation.

Aviation Industry

• Why The Airbus A380 Is Perfect For British Airways High‑Capacity London Heathrow RoutesThe Airbus A380 is the current icon of the British Airways fleet, serving as a critical tool in the airline's strategy at London Heathrow. In an era where many carriers have pivoted toward smaller, more fuel-efficient twin-engine jets, British Airways has doubled down on the world's largest airliner. This guide explores why this 469-seat behemoth is not just a relic of the past but a vital asset for the carrier's busiest 2026 routes, balancing extreme slot constraints with a surge in premium travel demand.
• The end of the 'Baby Bus': Airbus A318 leaves the aviation stageThe Airbus A318, the smallest member of the A320 family, is nearing the end of its commercial service. The aircraft, which entered service in 2003 and was intended to fill the niche between regional jets and larger narrowbody models, never achieved the market success of its 'siblings.' Today, its retirement appears as the logical conclusion of a specific development phase in the industry.

Other News Sources

• GXO to operate Luton Airport's first airside consolidation hub and deploy STREAM monitoringGXO Logistics will operate London Luton Airport's first consolidation centre, screening all airside deliveries and handling retail, foodservice and critical operational supplies from a repurposed hangar within an £11.5m terminal refurbishment.
• Glasgow Airport staff receive inflation-beating pay riseUnite has secured an inflation-beating pay rise for Glasgow Airport staff. Around 50 ICTS hold baggage screeners covered by the deal - which has been backdated to October - will see their basic pay increase by 7% alongside overtime rates being increased to time and half.
• Birmingham Airport set for busiest February half-term everBirmingham Airport is preparing for its busiest February half-term ever with a 10 per cent increase in passenger numbers compared to the same period last year.

News from Europe

• Green transport needs tech liberty, not stricter targets, says industryStudies suggest EU-wide targets to electrify Europe's auto sector are working, but carmakers say they need more flexibility to drive the transition