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

Friday, 05 June 2026

BBC News

• Exclusive access: Testing London's next-generation Piccadilly line trains BBC London has been given exclusive access to the testing of the trains on closed sections of the Piccadilly line. Transport bosses say these are in technological terms some of the world's most advanced trains. Does the reality live up to the hype?
• PM says 'let's get on' with building tram networkSir Keir Starmer has said he is determined a tram network in West Yorkshire "does happen and happens quickly".
• Plaid demands talks with UK government to address 'unfair' rail fundingPlaid Cymru's new transport minister has asked for talks with the UK government to demand better rail funding for Wales.
• Could this 'tram-like' bus be part of Aberdeen's transport future?The Aberdeen public gets a glimpse of vehicles aimed at raising capacity and improving reliability.
• Tube strike usage higher than Tuesday, TfL saysMembers of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union walked out on Thursday for a second day of strike action.

Department for Transport

• Thousands of seafarers across the Channel set for better pay and protections under new government proposalsThe new laws will extend and strengthen seafarer protections beyond UK territorial waters.
• PM meets mayors in drive to get Britain building and take on blockersMayors from across England will meet with the Prime Minister today (4 June) as the government accelerates its drive to kickstart growth and deliver for working people.
• Global cooperation brings breakthrough on first international Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) CodeMaritime and Coastguard Agency plays leading role in delivering regulatory confidence for industry.

Financial Times

• Letter: HS2 consultants are blindly leading the UK into a ditchYour article on HS2's consultancy spending (Report, May 26) invites a deeper question. The Katha Upanishad warns: Like the blind led by the blind

The Guardian

• Scramble for biofuel as oil prices rise ‘could push world closer to food crisis’Experts say increased use of crops for fuel is ‘dangerous game’ that could send food price inflation soaring. Demand for biofuels is likely to leap by nearly a third this year, which could send food price inflation soaring further and push the world closer to a global food crisis.More countries are opting to increase biofuel use as the price of oil has jumped to nearly $100 a barrel after the US-Israeli attacks on Iran and the closure of the strait of Hormuz.

Times Online

• British Airways owner sets £1bn profit goal for loyalty division [subscription]IAG Loyalty, which operates the Avios frequent flyer scheme, will attempt to double membership numbers using high-speed Starlink wifi as an incentive
• New car registrations in UK hit highest level since before Covid [subscription]Growing demand for electric cars and rising imports of Chinese brands drive the market to its best performance this decade

Reuters News

• EU sees no jet fuel shortage amid price surge, transport chief saysBRUSSELS, June 5 (Reuters) - There are no signs of jet fuel shortages in Europe in the coming months despite the energy ‌shock from the Iran War, though high prices are prompting airlines to cut uneconomic routes, the European Union's transport chief told Reuters.

City AM

• Electric Rolls-Royce Spectre Series II: More power, longer range Rolls-Royce has revealed an updated version of its electric Spectre, less than three years after the original car was launched. Last year, the Spectre retained its position as the British marque’s second best-selling vehicle globally.

GB News

• Labour pledges almost £50m for 'flying taxis' that could be seen across UK skies in 2028Labour has committed almost £50million towards the flying taxi and drone industry, amid hopes that these vehicles could be seen across the skies within years.

Birmingham Mail

• Department for Transport issues update over calls for new law for drivers who hit catsA petition on the Parliamentary website has racked up a staggering 60,000 signatures - sparking a government response.

Birmingham Post

• Private hire vehicle firm Veezu acquires strategic stake in Cab9The Cardiff headquartered business is the UK's fastest-growing taxi business
• Cornwall Airport to launch charter flights to Tenerife in 2027The South West transport hub will offer two direct departures from Newquay
• Nissan's Sunderland factory could build Chinese cars under new partnershipThe Nissan UK automotive deal would see Chery vehicles manufactured at the Sunderland plant under a new partnership agreement

Bristol Live

• A38 road to Bristol Airport to be moved as part of new town plans'Transport hubs will be provided at the heart of the scheme'

Daily Post (North Wales)

• 'Crazy' Eryri overnight car park ban set to be dropped in U-turnEryri National Park Authority has ordered a re-think after a backlash from motorhome owners and sunrise seekers

Nation. Cymru

• Valleys cycling path completeThe last section of a new 10km walking and cycling route in the Valleys has now opened. The section of the Rhondda Fach active travel route between Ferndale and Tylorstown is now open to the public.

Wales Online

• Drivers warned as Severn Bridge roadworks to take two months The work will be carried out using a mixture of overnight closures, and there will be a temporary contraflow and reduced speed limit on the A48 bridge
• Work to refurbish town centre bus station to beginIt will be funded through its public realm programme

Yorkshire Post

• Consider the societal cost of cuts to home-to-school transportNowhere is the impact of changes to home-to-school transport being felt more acutely than in North Yorkshire.

Bucks Free Press

• New Misbourne Greenway route celebrated in Great MissendenResidents and officials have gathered to celebrate a new traffic-free route linking communities in Buckinghamshire.

Lancashire Telegraph

• Rossendale and Darwen MP calls for more town/village transport helpA Lancashire MP says people in smaller towns must see real transport improvements using important new funds and powers, and local councils and London civil servants must back them.

Oxford Mail

• Funding for new station entrance boosts East West Rail planMillions of pounds of funding has been allocated to create a new entrance at a railway station on the East West Rail route, which will eventually link Oxford and Cambridge.

Plymouth Herald

• London Overground-style 'Plymouth Metro' could launch within two yearsPlymouth MP Luke Pollard has gauged the views of residents on his plan for a new Plymouth Metro service which would run between Ivybridge and Bere Alston with new rail stations at Laira and Plympton and connect to Tavistock in the future.

Other Regional Press

• Long-term plan to improve transport in Dorset taking shapeA draft of the Dorset Local Transport Plan, covering 2026 to 2041 and developed jointly by Dorset Council and BCP Council, was reviewed by Dorset Council's Place and Resources Overview Committee on June 4.
• Aberdeen Rapid Transit bus unveiled as public invited to view future mass transit vehiclesThe vehicle, which has been loaned to Nestrans from Irizar e-mobility, has been branded in ART project colours and will visit locations across the region over the next eight days.
• South Western Railway: MP hits out at railway service - and says commuters 'get a worse deal than before'An MP has pulled zero punches after airing her thoughts on a 'worsening' train service.
• Cargo airline collapses in blow to Teesside International AirportEarlier this year, European Cargo Limited had signed a deal to operate weekly flights to China from the airport
• Stockton and Darlington Railway bicentenary events 'touched the lives of over a million people'Organisers of a year-long events festival say it delivered a £17m boost to the North-east economy and reached 2bn people worldwide
• 'Absolute chaos' fears as Op Brock to return over 'very, very busy summer'Kent's roads face a “chaotic” summer with Operation Brock and possible delays caused by new border checks, councillors fear.
• Major Nuneaton train warning ahead of HS2 worksIt will impact services between Nuneaton and Birmingham New Street over the next two weekends

Modern Railways

• Hendy opens Porterbrook's Long Marston test siteRail Minister Lord Hendy formally opened Porterbrook's electrified testing loop at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre on 4 June.

New Civil Engineer

• Transport Scotland launches £1.94bn procurement for remaining A9 dualling workTransport Scotland has published a £1.94bn contract notice inviting firms to bid for a delivery framework to complete the five remaining sections of the £4bn A9 dualling programme.

Rail Business Daily

• £6m Far North Line upgrade to begin this weekendNetwork Rail is reminding passengers that it will begin major engineering work on Scotland's Far North Line this weekend.
• Weekend engineering work in Birmingham for HS2 project takes place this weekendPassengers are being reminded about changes to trains between Birmingham New Street and Coleshill Parkway over the next two weekends while major HS2 work takes place in the Saltley and Washwood areas of Birmingham.
• Rail Minister launches UK's first electrified testing loopThe Rail Minister Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill has officially opened Britain's first electrified testing loop at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre in Warwickshire.
• PM meets mayors in drive to get Britain building and take on blockersMayors from across England have met with the Prime Minister as the Government accelerates its drive to kickstart growth and deliver for working people.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Bold rolling stock strategy set out at TransCityRail Scotland 2026At TransCityRail Scotland 2026, Jon Newton delivered a compelling keynote on one of the most consequential challenges facing the rail sector today: rolling stock decisions that will shape performance, passenger experience and operating costs for decades.

Rail UK

• LNER Azuma Carries Out Additional Midland Main Line TestingAs part of ongoing work to keep customers moving during significant engineering work when parts of the East Coast Main Line (ECML) are closed, LNER is currently exploring options to potentially divert services onto other routes.

Transport Scotland

• £1.94 billion A9 investment to boost jobs, skills and economic growth along the Perth to Inverness corridorTransport Scotland has taken a further step forward today to deliver the A9 Dualling Programme with the publication of a £1.94 billion Contract Notice inviting contractors to bid for a new Framework Agreement to deliver the remaining approximately 58 miles (93km) yet to commence procurement.

Other News Sources

• Government 'aware of challenges' facing logistics sectorThe Government has paid tribute to the work of the logistics sector, saying it hears 'loud and clear' the issues facing fleet operators.
• Arbroath celebrates completion of transformative active travel projectMembers of the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust team recently joined partners and local representatives in Arbroath to celebrate completion of a major new project making walking, wheeling and cycling possible for more people in the town.
• Fatigue is Maritime’s Inconvenient TruthAdam Parnell, Director (Maritime) of voluntary near-miss reporting scheme CHIRP Maritime, says fatigue is the maritime industry’s inconvenient truth.In recent months, CHIRP has received a number of reports in which fatigue was a factor, so Parnell has prepared a special report.

News from Europe

• French city overhauls public transport with electric bus and trolleybus networkThe Moovéo programme will introduce battery-electric buses and next-generation trolleybuses across two new rapid transit routes by 2030