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

Monday, 17 August 2026

Government

• Full steam ahead to fast-track more homes near stationsThousands of quality homes to be built closer to stations, cutting commute times and helping families live closer to work, school and transport

BBC News

• Virgin takes step towards running Channel Tunnel rail servicesVirgin's plans to run rail services between London and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam have moved closer after it was granted track access by the UK regulator.
• Track closed for 10 days as derailed train removedThe railway between Lewes and Haywards Heath will be closed for at least another 10 days while a derailed train is recovered and track repairs carried out.
• Passengers face major disruption to train servicesMajor disruption to multiple rail services across the country is expected throughout the day due to damage to overhead wires.
• Railway told to replace 'flagmen' at road crossingsA heritage railway is getting rid of its volunteers who hold "stop" flags where trains cross public roads and replacing them with flashing lights.
• Ferrari's first ever electric car sold for record $40m at auctionThe Luce's launch drew backlash from some commentators who said it broke from the brand's signature dramatic styling.

The Independent

• Major rail disruption as overhead wire damage causes chaos at London King's CrossLNER advised customers to defer travel where possible due to the incident

The Telegraph

• Rail line where train derailed to stay closed for 10 more days [subscription]Two 125-ton cranes will be needed to lift carriages from embankment near a river with limited access

Times Online

• Speeding drivers dodge tickets because of unfixed camera faults [subscription]Thousands have escaped fines or points as police have not been issuing penalties to motorists caught by cameras identified as faulty last year
• Historic buildings can help to solve this housing crisis [subscription]Unlike newbuild developments, these homes already have infrastructure around them: transport links, shops, schools
• Penalties for rogue cyclists should be enforced and increased [subscription]Unless power-assisted electric bikes are better regulated, cycling will be seen by many as a nuisance rather than a smart form of urban transport
• Rail link is needed to help Manchester airport take off, PM told [subscription]Lord O'Neill of Gatley, an economic adviser to Andy Burnham, says the Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme would nearly treble the hub's public transport catchment
• How China aims to bring down the unrivalled kings of aircraft [subscription]The grip of Airbus and Boeing on commericial arline travel may be upset by Comac, whose C919 made its first international flight from Beijing to Mongolia

i News

• The areas near rail stations where new homes could be built on green belt landThousands of new homes are set to be built near train stations around England under new planning rules that will pave the way for the major expansion of commuter villages.

Mail Online

• London mayor Lord Khan rakes in £750 every hour from bus lane fines after cash he's netted from them rockets 400 per cent to £6.6million, sparking fresh accusations of a Labour 'war on motorists'Lord Khan, the Labour mayor for London, is raking in more than £750 an hour from bus lane fines after the cash he's netted from them rocketed 400 per cent.
• Hundreds more trains turning up with fewer carriages than scheduled on first line re-nationalised by Labour, figures revealOfficial data shows 6,191 South Western Railway (SWR) services turned up with fewer carriages than they were supposed to during the first year under state control. By contrast, in the year before re-nationalisation, just 5,017 trains did.

Conservative Home

• Richard Holden: All aboard Labour's failing railwaysWhen Kemi asked me to become Shadow Transport Secretary, I made it clear that I'd be doing all I could to ensure that my team did not just obsess over railways, but reflected how people travel and businesses transport goods.

Network Rail

• Lewes to Haywards Heath line to remain closed for at least ten days as major train recovery operation beginsThe railway between Lewes and Haywards Heath will remain closed for at least another ten days while teams recover the derailed train and begin repairs to the railway.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Campaigners demand change in law to tackle dangerous e-bikesLabour MP for Carlisle Julie Minns has proposed a ban on sales of illegal e-bikes and conversion kits, calling for them to be designated as unsafe products under UK law

London Evening Standard

• Sadiq Khan slams Heathrow runway plan after noise reduction spending cutThe airport's proposed spending on noise reduction has been severly cut from £241 million to just £52 million
• Tower Hamlets bridge outrage: Council spends £2.3million consulting on new dock crossing that may be scrappedThe dock crossing was meant to be completed in 2024 but building costs have now ballooned to £25 million
• Angela Rayner tears up planning rules to encourage new homes boom near Tube and rail stations in London'Minimum density expectations' will also make it easier for developers to build upwards to tackle the housing crisis in the capital and other cities

Manchester Evening News

• More major Metrolink works as all trams cancelled between Oldham and Rochdale for two weeksNo trams will run between Oldham and Rochdale for almost two weeks as more major works take place on the Metrolink lines.

Wales 247

• Rail replacement buses planned as TfW faces train shortageTransport for Wales has announced it will be making service amendments across the Wales and Borders network this week due to a shortage of available trains.

Hull Daily Mail

• The quiet revolution taking over Hull as new age of public transport dawnsPublic transport in Hull has taken another major step forward, in terms of comfort, reliability, safety and environmental impact, with a new fleet of ultra-modern electric buses now taking passengers around the city. Stagecoach East Midlands' fleet of 42 electric buses come with the promise of modern and reliable services, as there are fewer working parts to maintain electric buses only need to be serviced every six weeks, rather than every four weeks for diesel buses.

Oxford Mail

• Surge in road casualties involving vulnerable usersThe proportion of road casualties involving vulnerable road users has risen sharply.

South Wales Argus

• Newport M4 junction closures not ruled out by ministerMotorway junction closures could be on the table as part of plans to tackle long-standing congestion problems, as the Welsh Government refuses to rule out any closures.

Wrexham.com

• Passenger warned of rail disruption as major engineering works get underwayRail passengers in Wrexham are being urged to plan ahead as two weeks of major engineering works get underway.

Other Regional Press

• Colour-coded system aims to give cylists and walkers directionThe routes are designed to link residential areas with key services such as schools, shops and visitor attractions.
• ZetTrans' new Shetland bus timetables take effect from today, Monday, 17th AugustTransport partnership ZetTrans announced changes to the bus network last month with the aim to improve accessibility, increase travel opportunities, and better support the needs of current and future bus passengers.
• LNER 'do not travel' warning after King's Cross disruptionLNER has advised passengers not to travel due to damage to overhead wires between Peterborough and Stevenage, which has blocked some lines and caused widespread delays and cancellations.
• Finish line in sight for three HS2 viaducts in SolihullEngineers working for HS2's construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI, have been installing the structures in Balsall Common, Marsh Farm and along the River Blythe.
• Why London's buses are perfect for summer days outThere is nothing more enchanting than seeing London from the top deck and watching the city unfold in front of you.

Railway Gazette

• Rail-specific recommendations strengthen fight against human traffickingINTERNATIONAL: The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the International Union of Railways have issued recommendations to help governments and operators prevent, detect and respond to human trafficking across rail networks.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Leicester bus partnership illustrates route for SME electrificationLeicester's renewed bus partnership promises a fully electric network by 2027. It also demonstrates how government can help SMEs overcome risk and complexity in the energy transition
• Small operators need help with bus franchise bidding processBus reregulation poses a problem to SMEs, and they need help with franchise bidding, says one
• Bus industry must celebrate its good news and winning momentsResponse to return of England's £2 fare cap in 2027 has been muted, Zemo Partnership muses

Aviation Industry

• Emirates' Oldest Airbus A380 Is Nearly 21: See The Routes It Still Flies TodayEmirates is widely known for being the world's largest operator of the Airbus A380, and the only carrier to have truly made the double-decker widebody quadjet work on a large scale.

Other News Sources

• London Gatwick Aviation Academy helps over 100 people towards employmentSince it's launch in February this year, London Gatwick's Aviation Academy has helped participants develop skills and qualify from its course, whilst supporting them in accessing aviation employment opportunities.
• Rubbish collection on the Elizabeth Line goes high techThe Green Block has been awarded a five-year Transport for London contract to provide waste management services across the Elizabeth Line, which it says is one of the most significant contract wins in the company's history and will introduce a 'fundamentally different approach' to managing waste within a complex multi-tenant environment.