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

Monday, 20 April 2026

BBC News

• Plea for more grab rails on new Metro trainsA Metro passenger with mobility issues has called for more grab rails to be fitted on to the network's new trains.
• Councils spend more than £2m on pothole compensationCouncils across the East of England have forked out more than £2m settling claims for pothole damage on vehicles over the past five years, according to research by the BBC.
• Train wi-fi upgrades will 'transform' businessesHaving reliable and high-speed wi-fi on trains could be "transformative" for businesses, an expert on rural branch lines in Cornwall says.
• Protesters say runway extension will 'wreck' commonProtesters have called Bristol Airport's plan to use a public common to accommodate its runway extension a "land-grab".
• Guernsey to Heathrow route takes offA British Airways plane has taken off from London Heathrow, marking the start of a daily, year‑round service between Guernsey and the UK's biggest airport.
• Aer Lingus cancels some flights from summer scheduleThe airline said the "vast majority of customers" are being accommodated on same-day services.
• Oil prices rise after Trump says Iranian ship seizedEnergy markets have seen wild swings since the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February.

The Herald

• The CalMac eco ferry project was a high-risk gambleThe great green ferry dream has turned into a nightmare for islanders and sunk a shipyard in the process. It really wasn't worth the risk, argues Herald columnist Alan Simpson.

The Scotsman

• CalMac ferry crisis: 'Certainty' hopes dashed after Hebrides overhaul delay causes significant knock-on impactHebrides should be back on Little Minch routes but remains docked in Leith

Daily Express

• Major airlines cancel 23 flights and delay 483 more - passengers stranded in AsiaHundreds of passengers have been left stranded across Asia causing widespread disruption at airports including Shanghai Pudong and Islamabad International.

The Sun

• Europe's biggest bus station in UK city completes mega £24m revamp after over a decadeREVAMP work has finally been completed on Europe's biggest bus station, after over a decade of construction. All areas of the award-winning travel hub, located in the heart of a UK city, are now officially open to the public.

Birmingham Post

• The transformative impact of the South Wales Metro rail projectAled Edwards of communications consultancy Freshwater says the £1.3bn Metro can be more than just a transport project but a wider economic driver
• Cardiff Airport cargo plans boosted with new board appointmentChris Bosworth is leading figure in the UK's cargo aviation sector

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Direct Llandudno to Liverpool trains start next month and this is how much it will costThe new services will take passengers straight to the city on the Mersey - and bring tourists over to North Wales

Morning Star

• Great British Railways must deliver more than warm wordsConcrete proposals are needed to bring about full integration of the rail system, with real protections for workers and an end to private operators, argues EDDIE DEMPSEY

Cambridge News

• Ryanair and British Airways flights cancelled as airport shut for 5 weeks The airport is shutting down for major works

Other Regional Press

• Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer ducks question on HS2 funding during Llandudno visitThe Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mel Stride, avoided answering a direct question on HS2 funding during a visit to Llandudno on Thursday, instead blaming Welsh Government spending - despite the UK Government funding the scheme.
• Tram-Trains move a step closer for city's South Sub rail lineMight Tram-Trains finally revitalise Edinburgh's South Suburban line

Airportwatch

• Why frustrated Uber drivers are launching a rival app [subscription]Tayfun Keskin has been a full-time Uber driver in London for more than a decade but has had enough: 'We can't as drivers make ends meet, there needs to be a solution.'

Business Live

• Cardiff Airport cargo plans boosted with new board appointmentCardiff Airport's strategy of driving cargo traffic levels has been boosted with the appointment to its board of former managing director of Airport Coordination (ACL), Chris Bosworth.

Rail Business Daily

• Go-Ahead contributes £6.4 billion to the UK economy and supports 86,900 jobsGo-Ahead delivered a £6.4 billion contribution to the UK economy in 2025, supporting almost 86,900 jobs nationwide, according to a new report by Oxford Economics.

Rail Magazine

• West Coast Railways stand-off with ORR over door locking set to endWest Coast Railways (WCR) has confirmed it intends to fit Central Door Locking (CDL) to its Mk 1 coaches, to return them to passenger use.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• A deep dive into the South Yorkshire vision for bus franchisingDirector of Bus Franchising at SYMCA Matt Goggins shares the authority's ambitions and learnings as it rapidly lays the groundwork for a new public transport network
• How does UK zero-emission bus progress sit with rest of Europe?UK is a leader on volumes - but other nations can claim top spot based on share of purchases
• Accessibility gaps risk lost tourism revenue, experts warnAccessibility emerged as both a commercial opportunity and a structural challenge during the final theatre session at the British Tourism & Travel Show on 19 March, with speakers urging operators to rethink the entire visitor journey from booking to return travel.
• The Blackburn Bus Company renews 464 with Enviro200 deliveryVehicles represent investment of around £4 million by Transdev business for high-profile route
• Launching the Women in Bus and Coach Midlands RegionWomen in Bus and Coach continues to strengthen its local connections with the launch of the Midlands Region

The Business Desk

• Bristol Airport accused of 'land-grab' on nearby common in latest expansion planProtesters are claiming Bristol Airport's expansion would wreck a neighbouring common by installing landing lights and fencing.

Aviation Industry

• The AI Nervous System Guiding Leading AirportsAirports worldwide face dueling challenges. In many markets, passenger volumes have surged past prepandemic levels while capacity remains strained because of labor shortages, new sustainability mandates, and delayed infrastructure projects.

Other News Sources

• Cordel wins £3m Network Rail contract as revenue momentum buildsCordel landed a £3m Network Rail contract to process LiDAR-based structure gauging data and clear safety-critical backlogs.
• ARF awards Siemens Mobility contract for 12 hydrogen multiple unitsRomania’s Autoritatea pentru Reforma Feroviara (ARF) has selected Siemens Mobility to supply 12 hydrogen-powered electric multiple units for passenger services.
• UK Government's Landmark Project Reach Transforming Rail Connectivity with Ultra Fast WiFi on Trains, Boosting Business Productivity, Commuter Experience, and EconomicUK rail train WiFi improvement boosts commuter productivity, powers business connectivity, and drives economic growth with government backed digital...
• Innovation for Britain's changing railwayBritain has a new strategic rail innovation body in the form of GBRX, the main objective of which is to remove the barriers to adoption of new technology such as AI, computer vision and quantum positioning. Robert Preston speaks exclusively to GBRX managing director Toufic Machnouk.
• Prestwick Airport still set to welcome RAF refuelling fleetPLANS are still on track for Prestwick Airport to welcome the RAF's Voyager A330 refuelling fleet this summer.
• Airport reduces emissions in net-zero pushNewcastle International Airport has cut its on-site carbon emissions by 46 per cent compared to 2019, putting it ahead of its target to reach net zero by 2035.