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

Thursday, 14 May 2026

BBC News

• Rail reopening rejected by regulatorPlans to reinstate passenger rail services on a line in Hampshire have been rejected by a government regulator.
• Thames crossing will be built at pace, says KingKing Charles III has told both houses of Parliament that the government will "enable roads to be built at pace including the Lower Thames Crossing".
• No support for firms to cover freight charge riseThe Isle of Man government has ruled out stepping in to help firms cover a rise in the cost of transporting goods by ferry.
• Rail firms brought under single leadership teamRailway firms in the East of England have been aligned under one leadership team as part of the government's nationalisation project.
• E-gate access to be expanded at UK airports to include younger childrenChildren aged eight and nine returning to the UK from abroad will be able to use e-gates from 8 July.
• Thousands of Waymos recalled after robotaxi swept into a creekThe voluntary recall follows an incident on 20 April where an empty Waymo car entered a flooded road in San Antonio, Texas.
• Hundreds of bus drivers balloted over strike actionUnite says Go North West pays its drivers less than other Bee Network operators in Greater Manchester.
• 'We don't know why these roadworks are happening'Some locals say they are causing "chaos" but the council says it is to create greener and safer travel.
• Bird-snagging netting is 'an expensive death trap'Residents and wildlife experts in west London say a recently installed safety net on a TfL depot is trapping and killing wild birds.
• Higher Europe air fares 'inevitable', says industry headFlying by air will get more expensive as oil prices remain high after the US and Israel's conflict with Iran.

ITV News

• Customers in limbo as data centre fire leaves them unable to book with Brittany FerriesSome customers and tour operators have been left unable to make bookings through Brittany Ferries' website and over the phone for nearly a week after a major data centre fire in the Netherlands.

The Guardian

• EU proposes end to 'five tabs, three apps and a prayer' for cross-border train bookingsNew rules would enable single-ticket bookings across multiple rail operators throughout Europe
• Camden Highline, London’s answer to New York park, is scrappedProject organisers say high costs and energy crisis have scuppered green route from Camden to King’s CrossThe Camden Highline, a multimillion-pound effort to transform a disused rail line into a greenery-filled walking and cycling paradise, has been all but scrapped.Nearly a decade since it was conceived as London’s answer to New York’s fabled High Line, the project has fallen victim to high costs and the energy crisis. Continue reading...

Times Online

• British Airways owner warns of £2bn hit as Iran war bites [subscription]IAG reports 77% rise in first-quarter profits but cautions that the cost of jet fuel will weigh on the bottom line
• Edinburgh airport's arrivals hall not up to standard, admits boss [subscription]Gordon Dewar said the hall which has been the subject of scathing criticism on social media had been done in a hurry
• Golfers get rough deal as train firm refuses to carry bags [subscription]Lumo Trains, which runs services from London to Edinburgh, is accused of hampering environmentally friendly travel to St Andrews, the 'home of golf'

Daily Express

• Major airline cancels flights to 6 popular European destinations this yearAir India is scaling back flights to six European cities through August, as soaring jet fuel prices and airspace restrictions cause problems

Mail Online

• Drivers now being breathalysed for 'laughing gas' amid growing Snapchat trend of youngsters getting behind the wheel high on nitrous oxideHampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police are trialling the world's first 'laughing gas' breathalyser following a sharp increase in youngsters abusing nitrous oxide while driving.
• That won't help the post-holiday blues! Dozens of cars parked at Heathrow Airport are submerged by floodwatersAt a particularly deep section, it appeared that several cars had their front tyres entirely submerged, with some headlights covered, too.

Local Government

• Continued investment helps support growing bus use in WrexhamWrexham Council's continued investment in local bus services is helping to support increased passenger numbers and improve access to public transport across the county borough.

Network Rail

• Unified leadership team launched to deliver a more joined-up railway for passengers and freight across AngliaThe railway in Anglia has reached a major milestone, with a new unified leadership team now in place to bring together c2c, Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia, aligning track and train more closely to deliver a more joined-up and reliable railway for passengers in the East of England.

Birmingham Post

• Vertu delivers solid results as it urges Government to fast-track review of 'distorting' EV targets'New vehicle market conditions were heavily influenced by the Government’s ZEV mandate, which continued to distort manufacturer behaviour'
• ‘A significant moment for the North’: Leaders welcome King’s Speech boost for Northern Powerhouse rail plansScheme would improve links through Manchester Airport and across the North

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Hadrian's Wall in line for £5m to 'unlock immense potential' with new cycle link and more upgradesA new cycleway between Roman sites along Hadrian's Wall and improved waymarkers are part of plans to turn the World Heritage Site into a more “coherent, integrated and high-quality” attraction

Other Regional Press

• Concern after Gosport bus route is axed and combined with another serviceCaroline Dinenage has express concern over the withdrawal of the service from Fareham to Gosport which takes a slightly different route to the 9 service through Rowner. The 9A travels via Rowner Road, Grange Road and Nimrod Drive which the 9 takes St Nicholas Avenue.
• Swindon MP's and senior councillor's praise for direct Swindon-Oxford rail linkThe restoration of a link has been the subject of extensive campaigning in recent years, including by Swindon Borough Council, Swindon South MP and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Swindon North counterpart Will Stone.
• Transport for Wales gift new Welsh sign to Handforth StationHandforth Station's latest addition is a sign reading 'Rhydymaen', a Welsh phrase meaning 'a ford of stone', which appeared alongside the southbound platform earlier this month.
• ‘Forget about the one in Sydney’: Teessiders’ views on future of Transporter BridgeThe much-loved Tees Transporter Bridge has been out of action since 2019

Train Operators

• 150 Years of the Settle & Carlisle RailwayAll aboard the Settle & Carlisle Railway as we celebrate 150 years of one of Europe's most scenic train journeys. To celebrate this epic milestone, we're releasing fifteen thousand £1.50 tickets so more of you can soak in the views as you roll through the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria countryside.

New Civil Engineer

• King's Speech: Bills put forward to unlock airport expansion and infrastructure constructionKing Charles has given his annual speech for 2026 in which several bills have been put forward to support both airport expansion and the construction of transport infrastructure.

Rail Business Daily

• King's Speech: Northern Powerhouse Rail and Great British RailwaysKing Charles has mentioned Great British Railways and Northern Powerhouse Rail in his speech to the House of Lords outlining the Government's law-making plans for the coming year.

Railnews

• 'We are not asking for a miracle', say EWR campaigners Campaigners in Aylesbury are calling for a section of the former Great Central main line to be upgraded to passenger standards, so that their town will be connected to East West Rail. The Aylesbury Action Group says the Aylesbury spur from Claydon Junction is not merely a proposal for a future railway, but 18km of ‘shovel-ready’ infrastructure that remains the ‘vital missing link’ in the East West Rail project.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Cross-party cooperation needed on bus policy in Scotland, says Bus Users UKWith the Scottish National Party (SNP) emerging as the largest party, though failing to gain an outright majority in the Scottish elections last week, bus policies will be among those requiring cross-party cooperation this coming parliamentary term, Bus Users UK has highlighted.
• Weekend unlimited day bus travel in London for £1.75 fare this summerPassengers in London will be able to make unlimited bus and tram journeys throughout the day for a single fare over the six weekends of the school holidays this summer.

TaxiPoint

• Government funds and slashes red tape for electric vans but black cab drivers ask, where's our support? Perry RichardsonMinisters have announced new MOT exemptions and financial backing worth thousands for electric vans, but the taxi industry is again questioning why public hire wheelchair accessible vehicles remain excluded from meaningful EV transition support.

Transportxtra

• Legalisation of e-scooters missing from King's SpeechCoMoUK's Richard Dilks urges government to provide clarity and direction

Other News Sources

• King's speech gives hope to Manchester Piccadilly being the King's Cross of the NorthIn his speech today, King Charles III highlighted the importance of the Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill, which underpins plans to improve rail connectivity across the North of England.
• TSSA responds to transport measures in King's Speech Rail union TSSA has welcomed the intention in the King's Speech to further build capacity on the railways with a Northern Powerhouse Rail Bill but said timing and delivery of the projects would be key.
• Alstom reports record orders but acknowledges issues with some train contractsAlstom reported record orders in fiscal year 2025/2026, but acknowledges that the execution of certain rolling stock contracts continues to impact margins and cash flow. The French group announced new orders worth EUR 27.6 billion, up 39%, and an order backlog of EUR 104.4 billion, but the financial results also show pressures related to production and certain rolling stock projects.
• Evesham bus users voice concerns at transport forumCALLS for better publicity, promotion and improved real time information to help safeguard the future of existing services were among chief concerns voiced at a public transport forum in Evesham last Saturday (May 9).
• Government changes electric van MoT rules to cut costs for businessesE-vans weighing between 3.5 and 4.25 tonnes will now be moved from heavy vehicle testing requirements to Class 7 MOT rules, meaning less strenuous tests, more flexibility, and savings of up to 60% on MOTs.
• Nottingham's first pop-up transport hub encourages active travel and access to workNottingham residents will soon be able to enjoy a free programme of active travel activities at the city's first pop-up mobility hub.
• London Transport Museum marks 120 years of the Piccadilly line with a season of public eventsLondon Transport Museum is marking 120 years of the Piccadilly line with a season of special events celebrating the history, design and cultural impact of one of London's most iconic Underground lines.
• Mayor launches transport safety surveyA North East transport initiative aimed at improving safety for women and girls is seeking public feedback to help shape future investment and policy decisions.

News from Europe

• One journey, one ticket, full rights: Simplifying train travel in EuropeEurope-wide train booking and travel is about to get a lot easier and passenger rights will get a welcome boost too. The Commission has proposed new rules that simplify planning and booking for regional, long-distance and cross-border travel, particularly for rail journeys involving multiple operators, while better protecting passengers.