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

Tuesday, 24 March 2026

BBC News

• EasyJet base returns to Newcastle AirportAirline easyJet has reopened its base at Newcastle International Airport, more than five years after it left the site amid Covid-era cuts.
• ICE agents deploy to major US airports as security queues stretch for hours US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have deployed to major airports across the country, helping to fill the void as thousands of security staff who are going without pay refuse to work.
• 'Isolation' in village with no Sunday busesResidents in a village where no buses run on Sundays or bank holidays have said the provision leaves some people isolated and feeling "tied to the village".
• Trains withdrawn from service after 43 yearsSouth Western Railway has withdrawn its 43‑year‑old Class 455 trains after the final units made their last passenger journeys on Friday.
• New £19m Jura ferry given the go-aheadThe ferry route goes between Port Askaig on Islay and Feolin on Jura.
• Irish government to cut excise duty on diesel and petrolDuty on diesel will be reduced by 20 cent and petrol will be cut by 15 cent from midnight on Wednesday.
• Rail scheme delay may impact Gatwick and UniversalThe Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme was paused in 2022 and has not been reinstated, ministers hear.
• Glasgow Central Station to fully reopen after Union Street fireNetwork Rail said all ScotRail and cross-border routes would be restored at Scotland's busiest railway station.
• HS2 trains could run slower than planned to save moneyThe government is looking at ways to make much-delayed London to Birmingham railway line cheaper to deliver.
• Funds committed to explore more rail expansionMoney has been allocated to develop plans to extend a popular rail route reinstated 15 months ago.

Department for Transport

• Transport Secretary tasks HS2 with reducing construction time and cost to taxpayersThe government is exploring options to cut HS2 costs, reduce delays and deliver the benefits of increased rail capacity and faster journeys earlier.
• HS2 6-monthly report to Parliament: March 2026Review of High Speed Two (HS2) including: update on the programme reset, delivery progress, community impacts, land and property.

The Guardian

• Ministers tell HS2 to consider slower train speeds to cut costsMinisters have told High Speed Two to consider running its trains at lower speeds, in an attempt to rein in the spiralling budget and begin operations as soon as possible.

The Independent

• HS2 trains could run slower to cut costs on embattled projectTesting the trains at their maximum speed of 360kmph would involve sending them to China, delaying the project even further

Times Online

• Glasgow Central station to fully reopen after devastating fire [subscription]All train services will resume from Wednesday from the high-level part but a small exclusion zone will remain as demolition work continues
• Toyota's struggling Derby factory gets a green makeover [subscription]As car production at the Burnaston plant falls, the giant carmaker has set up a breaker's yard to turn a profit from recycling metals and engines
• EasyJet?s new slimline seats will offer 2 inches more legroomAs budget airlines try to squeeze more and more passengers onto flights, it can feel as though the seat in front gets slightly closer every time you step on a plane.

The Mirror

• Huge update to HS2 plans with train speeds set to change to cut costsHigh Speed 2 - known as HS2 - was originally commissioned to run at 360km/h, which would have made its trains the fastest conventional high-speed trains anywhere in the world

The National

• It's good to see £3m of UK funding for Rosyth ferry terminalIT is good to see that the government in London is putting £3 million into the development of the Rosyth ferry terminal to pay for 'Border Force' and customs facilities. It was votes south of our Border that took Scotland out of the EU, creating boundary issues between Scotland and France that have been a stumbling block holding back the development of this route. It is only right that the government south of the Border pays to address the issue that it created.

Local Government

• Improvements to the Borough's rail services bring tangible benefits for local passengers Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has welcomed improvements in Northern's rail performance, following months of direct engagement with the Council to address the disruption experienced by local passengers.

Network Rail

• Railway sculpture finds new home in Springburn after years in storageA celebrated railway sculpture that has been stored away for over two decades has been given a new lease of life at the heart of Springburn.
• Major engineering work delivered at Glasgow Central during emergency closureNetwork Rail engineers seized the rare opportunity of the closure of Scotland's busiest station to deliver an extensive package of maintenance and renewals that would ordinarily have taken around ten months to complete.
• Railway reopens after major upgrade to improve reliability for passengers in South WalesThe railway between Newport and Cardiff reopened on Monday 23 March following a week of vital track renewals to support more dependable journeys on the South Wales Main Line.
• All platforms to reopen at Glasgow Central on Wednesday 25 MarchNetwork Rail will reopen platforms 1-6 at Glasgow Central on Wednesday 25 March, restoring all train routes through the high-level station following the Union Street fire.

Sky News

• HS2 trains could run 16% slower than planned to save billions, minister saysThe head of HS2 Ltd will report by mid-July on how slowing down trains could affect the project's cost and delivery date.

Wired Gov

• DFTO takes next steps towards Great British RailwaysLaura Shoaf and Tony Poulter join the Department for Transport Operator (DFTO) board, helping to set up Great British Railways (GBR).

Birmingham Mail

• Reform UK policy costing 'billions' branded 'utter nonsense' by Andy StreetThe new Birmingham to Manchester rail link was welcomed by Andy Street but may not happen for decades

LBC

• HS2 trains could run slower than planned as UK has no bespoke test trackThe Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, is said to be weighing up options to save costs on the long-overrunning project between London and Birmingham.

London Evening Standard

• Transport Secretary mulls running HS2 trains at slower speed to keep costs downReducing the high-speed rail project from its intended speed of 360km per hour could save an amount in the 'low billions', Heidi Alexander said.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Former West Midlands Mayor Andy Street welcomes plans for new rail link between Birmingham and ManchesterFormer West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has welcomed plans for a new rail link between Birmingham and Manchester despite acknowledging some 'bad news'.

Other Regional Press

• Sandbach bus users to get a boost thanks new services making their lives easierBus users in Sandbach are set to get a boost - thanks to after Cheshire East Council announced a range of improvements to local bus services starting this weekend.
• Cheshire East Council confirms range of improvements being made to local bus servicesCheshire East Council has confirmed a range of 'positive changes' being made to bus services in the borough, starting this weekend.
• Pershore and Evesham bus users urged to help safeguard and improve services in the ValeBUS passengers in the Vale are being urged to make their voices heard at a special transport forum to be held in Pershore next month.
• Bideford rail extension 'essential' as MP highlights strategic valueWhy Sir Geoffrey Cox and Railfuture's Tim Steer believe a Bideford rail link is essential for Devon's 5,000-home housing surge

Coach and Bus Week

• Another award for Altro 'Universal Bus' conceptTransport flooring specialist Altro and customer experience design agency Neomind have been awarded two honours at the 2026 MUSE Design Awards for their joint Universal Bus design project, which highlighted the importance of inclusive design. The project achieved the Gold award in the 'Transportation - Rapid Bus' category and the Silver award in the 'Transportation - Mass Transit Systems' category.

Construction Enquirer

• Ministers delay HS2 reset plan for extra cost savingsHS2 has been ordered to hunt for more savings as ministers push the troubled high-speed line towards a cheaper and quicker finish.

New Civil Engineer

• Network Rail's Development and Design Partnership Framework (DDPF)Amey to provide multi-disciplinary services on Northern Powerhouse Rail Phase 1
• HS2 chief told to examine lowering train speeds to save 'billions' and claw back timeIn a move announced on 23 March, ministers instructed HS2's chief executive, Mark Wild, to report this summer on alternatives to the line's original.

Rail Business Daily

• New GWR-commissioned report shows stations are 'anchors for growth'A new report commissioned by Great Western Railway (GWR) suggests that stations across the UK could unlock one million jobs and deliver £79 billion in economic value by 2036.
• Grassroots rail projects transforming communities honoured at national awardsAn inspiring range of rail projects bringing communities together across Britain have been honoured at the 21st Community Rail Awards.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Lumo Unveils Refurbished Class 222 Fleet as New Preston Rail Base OpensThe modernisation programme delivered by Alstom's Widnes facility in partnership with Beacon Rail brings a refreshed exterior and upgraded interiors. Existing seats have been refurbished, with selected coaches receiving new grey‑and‑silver seating designed to improve comfort and the overall passenger experience.

Railway Gazette

• Hitachi Rail launches next-generation ticket validatorINTERNATIONAL: Hitachi Rail unveiled its BV700 next-generation validator at the Transport Ticketing Global exhibition in London, saying the design builds on on the proven performance of the previous generation BV600 units.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• NCT adds six Wrightbus StreetDeck Ultroliner buses to fleetNottingham City Transport (NCT) has introduced six new Wrightbus StreetDeck Ultroliner buses for its Pathfinder 26 service between Nottingham and Southwell.

Aviation Industry

• easyJet opens new base at Newcastle AirportThe new base at Newcastle Airport will be home to three easyJet aircraft, supporting around 1,200 jobs, including 140 direct roles for pilots and cabin crew.
• London's Heathrow Airport celebrates 80th birthdayLondon's Heathrow Airport, the UK's hub and one of the busiest international gateways in the world celebrates its 80th birthday on Wednesday.

Other News Sources

• Rail investment could unlock 40,000 jobs and £11bn for Wales' says new reportRAILWAY stations across Wales could help unlock around 40,000 jobs and more than £11 billion for the economy by 2036, according to new research.
• Step free Loughborough Junction station progressLambeth Council has taken the next step in the long-running campaign to deliver step-free access at Loughborough Junction station.
• LUMO OPENS NEW PRESTON RAIL BASE IN STYLE AHEAD OF WEST COAST EXPANSIONA new rail base in Preston has officially opened in a landmark moment for the city, creating around 100 jobs as Lumo prepares to launch direct Scotland-London trains.
• Universal Studios Bedford plans could depend on Croydon rail upgradePlans to build a large Universal Studios theme park in Bedford could require a major upgrade of the railways in south London, which is very far from the theme park.
• 'Speed was never the primary objective' - says HS2 in 'reset' after years of disruption in BanburyshireAfter years of torment for villages on the HS2 route near Banbury the train may not be as high-speed as first planned.
• TSSA says HS2 must run at full speed TSSA - the union representing staff directly employed by HS2 (High Speed 2) - has described as 'very unwise' the suggestion trains could run at slower speeds once the line is up and running.
• Cost of HS2 tops £43bn as contractors brace for criticism over spiralling budgetDetails of expected construction cost and opening timetable due by summer, government promises