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

Sunday, 18 January 2026

BBC News

• Five key things expected for Birmingham in 2026A major sports event, new rail stations and fortnightly bin collections are set to enliven the city.
• 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.
• Rising ferry fares for Strangford and Rathlin servicesOn 1 February, fares on the publicly-funded ferry routes between Strangford–Portaferry and Ballycastle–Rathlin Island will rise by approximately 4-7%.

The Guardian

• Royal Navy shipbuilder in limbo owing to cash shortage at Liberty Steel plantCall for UK state to step in after Gupta-owned Dalzell works in Scotland unable to produce metal for three new warshipsA shipbuilder for the Royal Navy faces an uncertain wait for the steel to build three warships because of a shortage of cash at the Scottish steel mill that has won the contract.Liberty Steel Dalzell in Scotland has been unable to start production in earnest because there is “no cashflow to buy slab”, despite an order to supply 34,000 tonnes of metal plates to build fleet solid support (FSS) ships for the navy, according to two sources with knowledge of the situati...

The Herald

• Inside the CalMac boss pay-off secrecy rowEx-First Minister Humza Yousaf and the current transport secretary Fiona Hyslop were warned in advance that CalMac's chief executive was to be removed and that this could result in a sensitive severance deal requiring ministerial approval, the Herald on Sunday has revealed
• Landmark Scottish location chosen for new EV charging hubA major electric vehicle (EV) charging hub has been installed at the landmark Scottish location

The Independent

• After new car prices hit record high, Trump admin says it’s working to lower costsAverage new car transaction prices reached a record $50,326 in December, driven by consumer preference for pricier trucks and SUVs

City AM

• 'He's an idiot' Musk and Ryanair boss trade insults in Starlink row A spat over in-flight Wi-Fi has spiralled into a verbal brawl between Elon Musk and Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary. The clash tumbled into the open after O'Leary dismissed Musk and his satellite internet business Starlink in a radio interview on Ireland's Newstalk, calling him 'an idiot' The verbal row widened to O'Leary telling listeners [...]

Daily Record

• Scottish Government facing fresh shipbuilding row over new contract delaysMinisters published a notice in June outlining a potential deal to replace the ageing Minna and Scotia vessels which carry out fisheries research and protection work.

Mail Online

• Sales of Toyota's EV stall as furious drivers say 'impossible to fuel' cars have landed them in debt nightmareThe Toyota Mirai was billed as a revolutionary sedan that only emits harmless water vapor and has none of the downsides of traditional battery-powered EVs.

Bolton News

• Railway station to undergo multi-million pound revampHindley station in Greater Manchester will receive a £6.5 million upgrade to improve accessibility for all passengers

Northern Echo

• North East council hailed for approach to fixing potholesMiddlesbrough Council has earned national recognition for its proactive pothole management, receiving a green rating from the Department for Transport.

The York Press

• MP 'disappointed' that major York rail scheme not included in government plansRail Ministers have refused to confirm whether a “necessary” scheme to improve train connections between York, Harrogate and Knaresborough will be axed.

Wales Online

• Multiple M4 road closures to hit drivers in Wales this week Drivers are being warned to plan ahead due to disruption on the motorway across Wales

Blackpool Gazette

• Avanti bids to revive lunchtime weekday train from Blackpool to LondonTrain operator Avanti West Coast has made a new bid to bring back an extra weekday London service for Blackpool after controversial cuts to the operation.

North Wales Live

• Fears grow over 'death-trap' Merseyside motorway left 'pitch black' at nightMotorists have said the visibility is so poor at night that driving along the route has become a 'guessing game'

Other Regional Press

• Stroud railway station step-free access plans pausedPlans to install step-free access at the Stroud station through the Government?s Access for All (AfA) programme will not be progressing at this point, along with similar plans at 18 other stations, it was revealed this week.
• 'Compelling case' for pedestrian/cycle bridge across River Tees between Redcar and HartlepoolPhilip Chisholm says it would be an alternative to a vehicle-focused tunnel previously mooted by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen
• Charging for roadworks on Hampshire's busiest roads moves a step closerPlans to charge operators for road closures on Hampshire’s busiest roads have moved a step closer, with the controversial “lane rental scheme” potentially set for submission to the Department for Transport (DfT).
• A2 roadworks: Five years, one-third under conesDrivers using a stretch of the A2 have had to contend with road works for a third of the time over the past five years, new data has revealed.

Other News Sources

• 'Essential' rail works will see major Surrey line shut on weekends in February Buses will replace trains on three weekends next month