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

Friday, 08 May 2026

BBC News

• Weekend rail disruption during track replacementWork to replace the track on a section of South Yorkshire's railways will cause disruption over two weekends in May.
• Mousehole bus stop move 'only option', boss saysA bus company boss said he was "regretful" about moving a bus stop out of the middle of a village, but has insisted it was the only option.
• Metro rail project 'best service since steam days'A £50m project to improve rail links to Newquay has been hailed as "the best service since the steam days".
• Journey times for some Belfast - Dublin trains could be cut to under two hoursA new £548m Belfast to Dublin Enterprise train fleet is due for delivery from late 2028.
• Portugal and Italy will not suspend digital border checks for BritsReports had suggested the countries were set to follow the example of Greece, which effectively suspended biometric checks for UK nationals.

The Guardian

• Trains in southern England disrupted after fault in radio systemLondon Waterloo services particularly hit after radio network problem prevented communication between drivers and signallers
• Dawn airport drinkers call out Ryanair boss on proposal to ban 'holiday ritual'Stansted passengers disagree that stopping airports serving alcohol before early flights will reduce bad behaviour
• ‘At a crossroads’: will piling-up crises force Europe to put brakes on SUV culture?Bigger cars including electric can cause multiple harms, yet resistance to rise of US-style vehicles has had mixed support. On a brisk winter’s evening in Europe’s automotive heartland, a cyclist who had pushed for safer streets went out on his bike for a final time. Andreas Mandalka had documented dangerous driving and shoddy cycling infrastructure for years, measuring the margins at which cars zipped past him and posting videos of blatant violations.

The Independent

• Trump claims doubled gas prices are 'way down' as his transport chief tells Americans to take road tripsSean Duffy boasted that oil prices had dipped below $100 a barrel after Trump's war in Iran caused the cost of gas to more than double

The Telegraph

• Banning the 6am airport pint would kill off a noble British tradition [subscription]Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary's bid to prevent booze-fuelled bad behaviour on planes would deprive us of our fundamental civil liberties

Parliament

• The health impacts of airports on local residentsResidents near airports can experience elevated air pollution and aircraft noise. How do these affect health, and what are the opportunities to mitigate the effects?
• King's Speech 2026: TransportThis briefing explores what announcements the government could make in the King's Speech on 13 May 2026 about transport.

Transport Committee

• Skills for transport manufacturing report: Govt publishes responseThe Government has responded to the Transport Committee's report on skills for transport manufacturing without fully committing to any new measures focused on sector-specific recommendations.

The National

• Glasgow train chaos this weekend as lines axed by ScotRailGLASGOW train passengers are being warned to expect major disruption this weekend, with key services between Central and Motherwell cut back, diverted or replaced by buses on Saturday and Sunday.

Local Government

• Final push on York Station Gateway highway worksContractors John Sisk & Son have confirmed the programme for their final works on the highways part of the York Station Gateway project.

Network Rail

• £6m upgrades on the Far North Line over three weeks in JuneNetwork Rail is set to carry out major engineering work worth £6m on the Far North Line next month to help improve journeys on one of the Highlands' most important transport routes.

Birmingham Mail

• Transport Secretary issues update over summer holidays after 120 UK flights axedHeidi Alexander, the Labour Party cabinet minister, has spoken out to reassure UK holidaymakers and tourists.

Leicester Mercury

• 'Absolute chaos' say Leicestershire villagers who hit out at Arriva bus service woesResidents living on a Leicestershire village road say it's "absolute chaos" since a new bus route appeared on their doorsteps.

Northern Echo

• Durham railway station set for spruce up after litter concernsDurham railway station - one of the city's most recognisable gateways - is set to receive renewed focus after concerns were raised about litter around its approaches.
• Tanfield Railway plans biggest Spring Gala weekend yetA popular County Durham steam train attraction is preparing for its "most ambitious" event yet.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• New longer platform unveiled at Severn Valley Railway's busy Kidderminster station to improve safetyThe 65-yard platform extension at Kidderminster Town station will enhance the busiest of all the Severn Valley Railway sites.

Yorkshire Post

• Peel has opportunity to seize goodwill on Doncaster Sheffield AirportThe Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) reopening saga has rumbled on long enough. It is clear that the site presents a huge opportunity to supercharge South Yorkshire's economy. While at the same time the risks associated with the project are also apparent.

Cambridge News

• Residents in one of best places to live in Britain say the public transport is 'terrible'Cambridge residents had plenty of positive and negatives to say about life in the city

Get Surrey

• Abandoned Surrey airport opens again after 67 yearsThe airport is known to be the birthplace of the 'Mayday' emergency call. Croydon Airport has reopened its doors to the public after remaining closed for 67 years. Once Britain's main international airport, it ceased operations permanently in 1959 and has stood empty ever since.

Other Regional Press

• Bournemouth Airport workers facing 'financial uncertainty'AIRPORT workers are said to be facing reduced hours, potential 'financial uncertainty' and temporary layoffs following a reduction in cargo operations.
• Coventry Airport final flights confirmed as countdown begins on permanent closureCoventry Airport will close permanently on June 11, 2026, with all flights ending on May 9 as the site makes room for the Green Power Park regeneration project

Train Operators

• GWR's new timetable set to unlock further economic growth across the South West and WalesNew services launch this may, and a new station later this summer, taking the number of destinations served by Great Western Railway to 200 for the first time.

Railnews

• GWR announces new route for Class 175sClass 175s will be running on a Cornish branch line from later this month. The units, built by Alstom some 25 years ago and cascaded to GWR from Transport for Wales, were already planned to be used on services on the Devon and Cornwall main line, and also on the branches to Barnstaple and Okehampton.

Aviation Industry

• The only way is Essex: London Southend Airport grows most in the UK with 161% passenger surgeAcross the UK, airports welcomed nearly 300 million passengers in the year ending January 2026, with London Southend emerging as the standout growth story. Edinburgh and Manchester also outperformed growth at the UK's primary hub London Heathrow.
• Virgin Atlantic Says Goodbye To More U.S. Routes Until Next Year Due To Virgin Atlantic has been scrapping popular routes left and right. Recently, the U.K.-based carrier confirmed that it's temporarily suspending one of its routes connecting London Heathrow with the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

Other News Sources

• New ferry operator launches route between Ireland and FranceStartup ferry operator Hibernia Line will launch a year-round ferry service connecting Ireland through the Port of Ringaskiddy in Cork with Boulogne-sur-Mer in France.
• DfT funding boost secures continued support for UK light rail sectorRenewed funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) will enable two organisations at the heart of the UK's light rail sector to continue their vital work. The Light Rail Safety and Standards Board and UKTram have both welcomed an agreement that will see them share a total of £4.5 million over the next three years.
• POLICE SEIZE CARS AND REPORT DOZENS OF DRIVERS IN STANSTED AIRPORT TAXI SAFETY STINGPolice seized two uninsured cars and reported 28 drivers for various offences during a major safety operation at Stansted Airport.
• Electric avenue: The decarbonisation of UK bus depots Operators around the UK, helped by specialists in decarbonisation technology, are working hard to install the necessary charging infrastructure at bus depots to support the expanding number of zero emission buses.
• Katie Day takes lead role at Transport for the NorthLytham St Annes based Katie Day will become the new interim chief executive for Transport for the North (TfN). After nearly five years leading TfN, Martin Tugwell will be stepping away from his role as chief executive to take a career break.
• Closure of key Surrey rail routes in May and June will impact Gatwick travelRail replacement buses are set to be in place while teams complete engineering work

News from Europe

• Leonardo realizes Cross Belt Technology for Hamburg AirportLeonardo continues to expand its presence in the airport automation sector with the award of a contract for the refurbishment and expansion of the baggage handling system at Hamburg Airport, a major international hub that is investing heavily in upgrading its services. The project, scheduled for the three-year period 2026-2029, will improve operations at Terminal 1 and the Plaza area, ensuring a reliable sorting capacity for all the passengers who use the German airport each year.
• Where is intelligent transport headed next?Last week's 17th ITS European Congress in Istanbul united thousands of transport authorities, policymakers, technology companies and researchers to discuss the future of intelligent transport systems.
• French town slashes public transport costs by 60% in response to fuel crisisA one-way bus ticket in Laval, in the Pays de la Loire region, is set to cost €0.50 instead of €1.30