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

Saturday, 17 January 2026

BBC News

• Rail passengers excited for town's new stationRail users have told the BBC they are excited at the prospect of a new station opening as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail investment.
• Seized tanker moored in Scottish waters will be taken to the USThe US has accused the Marinera of breaking its sanctions by carrying oil for Venezuela, Russia and Iran.
• Section of East Coast rail line closes for nine daysNetwork Rail says electrification work requires complete closure of the line west of Edinburgh until 25 January.
• North coast parking charges income lower than expectedThe charges at four seafront car parks in Ballycastle and Portrush ran from April to September of last year.

The Independent

• Voices: ‘Diesel vehicles last’: Why readers say electric won’t replace fuel any time soonAfter a report claimed diesel could disappear from some London forecourts, our community explained why they think many will still turn to diesel and petrol over EVs for everyday use

Times Online

• Musk and Ryanair boss swap insults over airline refusing Starlink [subscription]Outspoken company leaders call each other idiots after Michael O'Leary rejected adding satellite internet to his planes on cost grounds

Mail Online

• Everyone under 22 should be able to take the bus for free, Green Party saysThe push comes despite the Labour government's U-turn on the policy last October after they found the proposed free trial for young adults was simply 'unaffordable'.
• Elon Musk and Ryanair CEO erupt in war of words over airline's refusal to install Starlink on boardElon Musk and Ryanair's Michael O'Leary traded insults after O'Leary rejected Starlink internet for his fleet. The airline boss cited concerns over fuel efficiency, drawing sharp words from Musk.
• Zipcar ends UK operations leaving 650,000 members without access to vehicles - as Sadiq Khan is condemned for ignoring warnings the car-share service would leave LondonThose watching the firm's decline had called on Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to do more to support car clubs. It had also begged for relief from the Congestion Charge.

This is Money

• Electric cars will overtake number of diesels on our roads by 2030, says new analysisThere are just 1.7m EVs on the road today compared to 9,9m diesels. But a new report estimates there will be almost 2m more battery cars than oil burners by 2030.
• Used EV price crash: Some lost a quarter of their value in 2025 - here are the 10 biggest fallersElectric car owners saw even more value fall out of their vehicles last year as used prices continued to plummet due to sizable new model discounts, increased supply and limited demand.

Birmingham Mail

• Commuter satisfaction with rail and Metro services in the West Midlands improvesThe number of passengers happy with service punctuality and value for money has increased
• Labour slammed over 'inaccurate' and 'unfortunate' shake-up to roads in EnglandSuffolk Highways says it "will meet with them urgently to highlight those concerns."

Bolton News

• Calls for Manchester Airport to end 'unfair' drop-off chargesBolton MP Yasmin Qureshi calls for reform of airport drop-off charges after complaints of unfair fines at Manchester Airport. Debate urges clearer payment systems and fairer penalties

London Evening Standard

• London Overground: Sadiq Khan gives new branch line in west London the signal to proceedThe West London Orbital would link Hounslow and Hendon via Old Oak Common
• London Overground: Sadiq Khan gives new branch line in west London the signal to proceedThe West London Orbital would link Hounslow and Hendon via Old Oak Common

Manchester Evening News

• The 2.7-mile stretch of road touted as the answer to Greater Manchester town's traffic chaosReducing congestion is the ultimate aim
• Double travel alert issued as roadworks expected to clog Greater Manchester townTwo town-centre roads will be affected by works

Wales Online

• Mobile speed cameras will now be on all these roads in Wales - full list They can be found all across Wales

Cambridge News

• Spending rises by £55m on delayed Cambridge South station projectIt was initially planned to open in 2025 before being knocked back twice

Other Regional Press

• UK's first pilotless helicopter takes flight for the first timeThe UK's first pilotless helicopter, which was built by Leonardo in Somerset, took flight for the first time.
• Fears of 'total gridlock' as car park to housing scheme moves forwardThere are fears of "total gridlock" in an Oxfordshire town as a controversial development, converting a car park into housing moves forward.
• Oxford congestion charge judicial review rejected by High CourtThe judicial review against Oxford's congestion charge has been rejected by the High Court.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Major update on Northern Powerhouse Rail and future Manchester–Birmingham routeThe government has published an update on its Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) programme and confirmed its intention to develop a new rail line between Birmingham and Manchester. The Treasury has clarified that this line will not be a reinstatement of the HS2 Phase 2b extension cancelled in 2023. Instead, the proposed Birmingham-Manchester route is planned to follow the completion of NPR as a separate long-term project. With a total funding cap of £45 billion, the programme is expected to deliver: A new Liverpool-Manchester route via Warrington and Manchester A...

Railnews

• Network Rail job cuts predicted following review Up to 2,000 jobs are reported to be at risk at Network Rail because of financial pressures, reducing the total workforce by almost 5 per cent. Staff in junior managerial grades are said to be the most likely to be affected. Network Rail has yet to confirm any reductions, but the company has confirmed that a review has been taking place.

Other News Sources

• 100 more bus routes in Wales and £2 fare cap?Labour has pledged an enhanced bus offer for Wales if it wins this May’s Senedd election, but will this be matched funding? Rhodri Clark reports Welsh bus fares for adults aged 22 to 59 would be capped at £2 Labour has pledged 100 more bus routes in Wales and a £2 single fare cap if it wins the Senedd election in May. Operators have welcomed the move but say it will need “hard cash”. Transport secretary Ken Skates told Passenger Transport last autumn that Labour would make buses “an election issue” (PT347). His buses pledge is the...
• NPR rail improvements ‘will actually happen’More than a decade after the Northern Powerhouse Rail project was first proposed, the government has unveiled a three-phase plan for its delivery; The plans would see Manchester Piccadilly expanded A three-phase plan for the long-promised Northern Powerhouse Rail project was unveiled by the government this week. The project was initially proposed by former Conservative chancellor George Osborne in 2014, but promised investments were scaled back. The current chancellor, Rachel Reeves, told the BBC that she “totally gets the cynicism” as passengers in the North &...
• New train line, 1000s of homes and £54m black hole - Hounslow's leader outlines 2026 prioritiesCllr Shantanu Rajawat sat down with the Local Democracy Reporting Service to discuss the year ahead