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

Tuesday, 20 January 2026

BBC News

• Calls for more train services to boost economyCalls have been made for rail services to be increased across the West Midlands to boost connectivity and the economy.
• Our local bridge has been closed for two years - it's affecting daily lifeAboyne bridge is one of more than 200 bridges in Aberdeenshire needing repairs, restoration or major refurbishment, according to a new report.

ITV News

• Community-run bus service tackles congestion and boosts rural transportUllswater Valley locals came together to create the 'Hopper Bus', which connects tourist hotspots and encourages people to take the bus rather than their car.

Department for Transport

• £43 million boost for green aviation to drive growth, jobs and cleaner flightsThe funding will go towards UK research and development projects that help deliver net zero aviation by 2050. The major investment comes as the Government drives forward plans for expansion at Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports and the Transport Secretary will today chair a meeting with prominent airlines, airports, innovators and engineering firms to discuss how cutting-edge technology will decarbonise the sector while delivering growth.
• Get that electric feeling: new campaign launched to show savings and benefits of going electricOver 50,000 UK drivers have made savings of up to £3,750 on a new electric vehicle and £1,400 a year on running costs.

STV

• Councillors to raise freezing trains on national level after pensioner 'collapsed'The route from Oban and Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street has been dubbed the 'Polar Express' due to cold temperatures onboard the service.

The Guardian

• Out of sight: spectacular HS2 tunnels offer glimmer of hope for stalling projectDespite much soul-searching over UK’s inability to build infrastructure, two sections of HS2 under Chilterns are being hailed for their engineeringSeventy metres down, in deep incognito beneath a disguised ventilation shaft in the Chilterns countryside, lies HS2’s buried treasure: two 10-mile tunnels, built to avoid an area of outstanding natural beauty, eerily spectacular in gleaming concrete.They are, laments a staffer on the high-speed railway scheme, what all of the route should look like by now: pristine, fully constructed, and just waiting for a railway to run through them. C...
• UK aviation reforms could sideline public input over flight paths, campaigners warnPlans to speed up airspace changes for Heathrow expansion could mean industry influences decisions on noise and routesAviation campaigners have warned that communities risk being locked out of decisions about new flight paths as the government accelerates reforms that will allow a third runway at Heathrow to go ahead.Airspace around the UK will be reconfigured as part of a long-running modernisation process to allow planes to fly more efficiently and minimise delays, and the London airport has said progress in this area is essential for its expansion. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Glasgow Airport flights wins to New York, Rome, Milan, Malta hailedGlasgow Airport's recent success in winning new flights, including key transatlantic and European routes, has been described as 'very encouraging' by a senior business figure.

The Telegraph

• Train fares rise despite Labour promise of freeze [subscription]Train ticket prices have risen despite Labour's pledge to freeze fares. Analysis by The Telegraph reveals that in some cases, rail travellers are paying over 40 per cent more for some journeys than they did 18 months ago, when Labour first took power.
• Lufthansa's new jet has the world's best first class.The German carrier's new Allegris suites feature 43-inch TVs, heated seats and 7ft-long beds

Times Online

• Council 'ignores' voters to force through 20mph scheme [subscription]Wokingham borough council said 'a consultation is not a referendum' after overwhelming opposition to a cycle route in Woodley and Earley, near Reading

Daily Record

• Construction of new Lanark transport interchange is set to take 16 weeksIt will create an enhanced bus facility, marking a major investment in the future of the town and the wider public transport network.

The Sun

• Abandoned UK airport reveals plans to restart passenger flights the first time in more than a decadeAN abandoned airport in the UK has revealed the newest plans amid years of talks of reopening.

Network Rail

• £3.8m track upgrade begins soon at Aberdeen StationNetwork Rail will soon begin £3.8m worth of track improvements at Aberdeen Station to help boost the reliability and performance of one of the busiest parts of Scotland's railway.

Birmingham Mail

• Dismay as key disability access scheme axed at Birmingham rail stationProject at city station will not progress because of financial concerns
• New driveway rule for all households in England will save people £1,100A new driveway rule for all households in England - after a Labour Party government tweak - is now in effect. Drivers no longer need to submit planning applications to install electric vehicle chargepoints, helping them save up to £1,100 a year.

Birmingham Post

• Avanti bids to bring back weekday lunchtime train from Blackpool to LondonMP had warned that service cuts could hit resort's visitor economy

London Evening Standard

• HS2's longest tunnel is completed - but trains still won't run for yearsNo end date has been confirmed for the high speed rail yet

Other Regional Press

• Council faces £32 million bill over halted Wixams railway stationBedford Borough Council faces a forecast £32.1 million bill after halting construction of Wixams Station, with final costs still unknown and no reimbursement expected from central government.
• Longer opening hours at Settle Railway StationA Northern Trains spokesperson said: We have extended the opening hours at Settle and Appleby stations to ensure staff are available to offer assistance to passengers with limited mobility throughout the day and help them use the barrow crossings.
• Huddersfield Station Gateway 'needs direct access from St George's Square or it's a missed opportunity'Aspirational plans to re-develop a massive warehouse next to Huddersfield Railway Station must have a direct route to it through the station from St George's Square to make it work, it is claimed.
• Liverpool Street transformation plans heavily objectedAfter a video was released showing what London Liverpool Street station could look like once after a transformation is complete, we took a look at how many people are unhappy with the proposal.
• Railway powers to be devolved to Wales under new plansThe UK Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment to the Railways Bill calling for full devolution of rail responsibilities to Wales - placing the country on par with Scotland in controlling its rail infrastructure, services, and funding.
• 'We won't be ignored': Council seeks Govt meeting over city's exclusion from £45bn rail plansHull City Council leader Mike Ross has written to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander MP seeking an urgent meeting to discuss how rail electrification to Hull can be included as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).
• Isle of Wight Council transport plan encourages less car useA transport plan representing a 'major shift' in approach, and with greater focus on encouraging more sustainable ways of travelling, could move to the next stage this week.

Business Live

• Relief road plan for redevelopment zone could solve traffic 'challenges'New Carrington to include 5,000 new homes and 350,000sqm of new employment space
• Great Western Railway strikes deal for former Royal Mail building as part of major investmentThe train operator has taken over a former Royal Mail building next to Plymouth station in the largest office deal in the city for 10 years
• New 'bridge master' to oversee major refurbishment of Clifton Suspension BridgeHe has more than 30 years' experience in civil and structural engineering

Construction News

• HS2 revives Euston spoil-by-rail planEuston Station delivery teams have been given the go-ahead to transport construction spoil from the site by rail instead of road in future, it has been confirmed.

Highways News

• A9 dualling switches to £1.9bn framework modelThe Scottish Government is switching to a framework-led approach to deliver the final five contracts on the A9 dualling programme. Until now the venture had been run along the lines of a project-by-project tender model.
• Government invests 'tens of millions of pounds' into OxaChancellor Rachel Reeves is preparing to inject tens of millions of pounds into self-driving car pioneers Oxa, as the Government gets ready to unleash autonomous vehicles on Britain's roads. The £28bn National Wealth Fund (NWF), which is backed by the Treasury, is nearing a deal to plough taxpayer cash into Oxa, the start-up founded by experts from Oxford University, says the Daily Telegraph.
• Indra wins £845m London public transport network revenue collection contractTfL has awarded Spanish technology group Indra the project to operate, develop, strengthen and expand the ticketing and access control systems of the capital;s public transport network. The near £850m contract will run until 2034, replacing the deal with Cubic Transportation Systems that had been in place since 2014.
• Drivers will learn to accept congestiom charging schemes, says Transport ScotlandTransport Scotland officials have discussed the idea of a congestion charge being introduced in some regions in Scotland, and said evidence suggested that Scots would 'accept' this, despite the controversy surrounding low emission zones, according to a report seen by the Scottish Daily Express.

New Civil Engineer

• Transport for London to pilot single decision platform for asset investment planningTransport for London (TfL) has commissioned a decision-support platform from consultancy Arcadis to consolidate its asset investment planning tools and speed up project prioritisation across the capital's transport network.

Rail Magazine

• Rail Freight Group calls for Railways Bill's "toothless" access appeals process to be strengthenedThe Rail Freight Group (RFG) has called for a stronger track access appeals function in the Railways Bill.
• Proposal to incorporate East West Rail Company into Network RailEast West Rail Company could be incorporated into Network Rail over the coming months.
• Trenitalia confident of being first operator to rival Eurostar through Channel TunnelTrenitalia is confident of being the first operator to provide competition to Eurostar before the end of the decade.

Railway Gazette

• DB Cargo UK sells surplus locomotives to Romania's GFRROMANIA: DB Cargo UK has announced a multi-million-pound deal to sell 25 surplus EMD Class 66 diesel locomotives previously used in the UK to Romanian private freight operator Grup Feroviar Român.

TaxiPoint

• Transport Committee pressed government for detail on national taxi standards plan prior to inquiry quizzing Perry RichardsonThe House of Commons Transport Committee formally challenged the Government to provide further detail on its plans to introduce national minimum standards for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, ahead of a key evidence session last week.

Aviation Industry

• Government offers £43m in bid to 'power up' green aviationThe transport secretary is due to gather industry leaders together today (Tuesday) after more than £40 million was set aside for research and development projects that help to deliver net zero aviation by 2050.

Other News Sources

• Eurostar changes when to expect new destinations, double decker trains, and 2030 plansBuilding on the record 20 million passengers carried in 2025, Eurostar is preparing to expand beyond its core hubs
• Work to begin on £3.8m delivery of essential upgrades at Aberdeen Railway StationA £3.8 million project to deliver track improvements at Aberdeen Railway Station is to get underway at the end of January.
• Renovation of the Waterloo International Terminal in London by AecomLondon's streets and buildings are full of hidden history, consistently evolving with the times. One such location is the former Eurostar Terminal at London's Waterloo Station
• AI-powered life science district could add £3.5bn to UK economy, modelled on Boston's Kendall SquareThe innovation district at the heart of Euston and King's Cross, is already home to world-leading UK life science and technology companies such as Synthesia, Autolus and Google DeepMind.
• Architect appointed to design 600-home redevelopment of housing blocks hit by HS2 disruptionStirling Prize winner named as lead architect on regeneration of buildings neighbouring high speed line's Euston site
• HS2 hits apprentice landmark - includes more than 800 in the West MidlandsHS2 has recruited its 2,000th apprentice and said the project has now exceeded its original jobs and skills target.
• Passenger numbers soar at Teesside AirportA North East airport is flying high as rising passenger demand and new routes have driven its busiest year in more than a decade.
• London Luton Airport issues 32.5m corporate comms RFPLondon Luton Airport is seeking corporate comms support including crisis comms planning and media training in a brief worth seven figures.
• Anti-Gatwick expansion campaigners prepare for High Court showdownOpponents against the opening of a second runway at Gatwick are gearing up for a High Court legal challenge this week.
• Pace of hydrogen transport tech 'putting net zero targets at risk'Hydrogen transport infrastructure is developing at half the pace of other clean tech, putting net zero targets at risk, according to research from Heriot-Watt University.
• First Bus launches first 24hr bus service in GlasgowService 77 to run round-the-clock linking city and key hospital
• Minister signals support for mandatory taxi CCTV to curb grooming gang exploitationAn article published by the BBC reports that a government minister has publicly signalled support for making CCTV mandatory in taxis and private hire vehicles. According to the piece, the proposal is being positioned as a safeguarding measure aimed at helping prevent and detect serious crimes, including grooming gang exploitation.

News from Europe

• Brussels Airport invests in green public space enhancementsBrussels Airport has announced the significant investments to be made in its infrastructure to improve public space, wayfinding and overall passenger experience.
• Europe's ambitious transport network plan going off the railsThe EU will miss the goal of completing the core of its continental transport network by 2030, according to an audit that reveals worsening delays and cost overruns for major rail, road and waterway projects.
• Key EU transport network projects set to miss 2030 targets, EU auditors sayA new report reveals the bloc's plan to build and upgrade major roads, railways, ports, and airports is well behind on its 2030 targets, undermining trade opportunities and the decarbonisation of European transport.