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

Thursday, 08 October 2026

BBC News

• PM challenged over Manchester to Whitby train timeThe government has responded after Andy Burnham was challenged to travel by rail from Manchester to Whitby and back.
• The 'little piece of post-war history hiding in plain sight'An "important" bus shelter thought to be one of four of its kind in England has been given Grade II-listed status.

The Herald

• CalMac cancels Campbeltown ferry service for fifth yearA CalMac ferry link from Campbeltown to Ayrshire has been cancelled for the fifth year in a row after being promised to return, as the community it was due to serve says they were blindsided by the news.
• John Swinney defends minister Stephen Flynn over criticismFirst Minister John Swinney has defended one of his ministers amid accusations he is 'not on top of the issue'. Stephen Flynn was appointed Transport and Economy Secretary immediately after being elected to Holyrood earlier this year, following his high-profile stint as the SNP's leader at Westminster.

Times Online

• Rogue Pilots Have Become One of the Biggest Threats to Airline Safety [subscription]FlyDubai security incident spotlights industry struggle over deliberate pilot crashes that have brought attention to cockpit technology and mental health
• Blow for EV drivers in conservation areas who need pavement cables [subscription]Last-minute government amendments will exclude some 100,000 electric car owners without driveways from automatically being allowed to use cables

City AM

• Sadiq Khan: Run international trains from Stratford instead of expanding HeathrowWith three times more Brits supporting increasing international rail services over expanding airports, connecting Stratford to Europe is a no-brainer, writes Sadiq Khan

The National

• Campbeltown CalMac ferry service cancelled for 2027 amid backlashA POPULAR Scottish ferry route has been cancelled for another year, prompting anger from the community it serves.

Local Government

• £1.8m investment delivers safer walking, wheeling and cycling routes across West Sussex Residents across West Sussex are benefiting from a series of upgrades making walking, wheeling and cycling safer, more accessible and more attractive for everyday journeys, thanks to close to £1.8 million of funding from Active Travel England.
• First look at plans for 'once in a generation' transformation of Stockport Railway StationA consultation will take place over the next six weeks detailing the proposed plans for Stockport Railway Station

Network Rail

• Plan ahead: Essential Island Line improvement works begin this autumnImprovement work to keep the Island Line running safely and reliably will take place this autumn. South Western Railway (SWR) and Network Rail Wessex engineers will renew ageing track and signalling infrastructure across the Island Line.

Office of Rail and Road (ORR)

• ORR rejects new West Coast services over capacity constraints and risk of worsening delays for passengersProposals for new train services between London and Wrexham, Rochdale and Blackpool have been rejected by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) after its assessment found adding more trains to the West Coast Main Line would likely increase delays and cancelled trains for passengers.

Sky News

• The Department for Transport is to hire advisers to assess the financeability of Britain's longest-delayed and most controversial infrastructure project, according to a document seen by Sky News.Ministers are lining up advisers to assess the affordability of Heathrow's £49bn third runway plan amid growing expectations that it will miss its 2035 completion deadline by four years.

Holyrood

• Swinney on the spot: A solemn FM brings his serious face to MSP grillingIt had been a polite enough session, but then, in the dying minutes, it was Willie Rennie's turn. 'You should have serious concerns about Mr Flynn's competence,' he told the first minister.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• First stage of £46m Leeds station revamp opens as finishing touches madeThe first stage of works to the new entrance at Leeds City Station have been completed.

Yorkshire Post

• Huddersfield Railway Station to close for more than a month over festive periodHuddersfield Railway Station will be closed for 38 days over Christmas and well into the new year, as its £70m makeover gears up for completion.
• Government responds to challenge over Whitby rail linksThe Government has responded after Andy Burnham was challenged to travel from Manchester to Whitby and back by train in a row about poor rail connectivity.
• £1m rail investment at risk if major Station Gateway plans are rejectedA £1 million investment in Scarborough's railway station could be jeopardised if a planned redevelopment is refused, councillors have been warned.
• I'm leading efforts to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport - here's why the project will succeed: Christian FosterOver the past year or more, we've started to build something special at Doncaster Sheffield Airport. While the roots of this reopening project can be traced back to late 2022, the decision made by SYMCA at their September 2025 board meeting, was the springboard for activity to really ramp up.

Oxford Mail

• Cotswolds bus shelter gets Grade II listed status after 74 yearsThe shelter in Hillesley, Gloucestershire, was designed by leading modernist architect Berthold Lubetkin and built to celebrate the Festival of Britain in 1952

Other Regional Press

• Yorkshire seaside station makes 'difficult decision' to shut toilets for goodToilets at a Yorkshire seaside railway station have been shut permanently after another incident of extreme vandalism.
• Campaigners call for return of two Sussex train linesThe proposals, put forward by the British Regional Transport Association (BRTA), focus on reopening the former Guildford to Horsham railway via Cranleigh, which closed in the 1960s as part of the Beeching-era cuts.
• Phase two of Thornton rail electrification work beginsWork to replace the bridge over the railway line at Thornton, to allow for line electrification, is progressing to the next stage. From Monday 19th October the bridge will be closed to all traffic for around six months.
• Dorset bus services set for 700 new journeys under planA major expansion of bus services is on the way, with 700 new journeys planned across Dorset.
• Council brings forward transport meeting after school bus issuesSchool transport planning in Oxfordshire is set to begin four months earlier than usual next year to avoid disruption.
• Wage War Against Motorists: Welsh Conservatives Blast Proposal to Close Key M4 Junctions Around NewportNEWPORT Protests are mounting over the Welsh Government's new M4 congestion strategy following revelations that officials are considering closing major motorway junctions around Newport - a move opposition politicians warn will create complete chaos for local drivers
• Wellington station clearance could start before ChristmasWork to clear the site of Wellington's new railway station could start before Christmas, the town's MP has confirmed.
• Pacer train donated to defunct charity Platform 1 at Huddersfield Railway Station has been broken up and scrappedThe Pacer train that became a base for the defunct mental health charity Platform 1 inside Huddersfield Railway Station has been dismantled and scrapped.
• Hillingdon reaffirms 'unwavering' opposition to Heathrow expansionHillingdon Council has reaffirmed its 'unwavering' opposition to Heathrow expansion following the national Conservative Party's announcement this week that it supports plans for a third runway.
• MPs urged to back aviation ombudsman for airspace changesAn independent aviation group is urging MPs to support greater protections for communities affected by airspace changes.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• New Higer Azure 9 8.9m bus launchesHarris Bus & Coach is launching the new 8.9m Higer Azure 9 city-bus, which will make its official UK debut at Euro Bus Expo at the NEC in November.

Business Live

• Welsh Government proposals to ease M4 congestionAll options are back on the table to ease congestion on the M4 around Newport, the Welsh Government has said. Wales ' transport minister Mark Hooper announced an 18-month review to look at options for the traffic hotspot.

Rail Business Daily

• Penrith railway station opens new community gardenThe Mayor of Penrith, Councillor Val Bowen, has officially opened a new community garden at the town's railway station.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Leger Shearings Group MBO sees duo take full ownershipLeger Shearings Group has announced that Chief Executive Liam Race and Chief Financial Officer Andrew Oldfield have taken sole ownership of the business following a management buyout (MBO) of the remaining shares.
• Blackpool Transport makes dual promotions to director teamJamie Swift is named Commercial Director and Steve Staley as Tramway Director by municipal
• CPT and UKCOA join forces to form Coach UK representative bodyThe Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) and the UK Coach Operators Association (UKCOA) have joined forces to create a new Coach UK body that will represent businesses in the sector.
• Edwards Coaches expands MPRS platinum to Bristol and SwanseaEdwards Coaches has taken to three the number of its depots that have achieved the highest platinum accreditation from the Maintenance Provision Rating Scheme (MPRS) after operating centres in Bristol and Swansea gained that status.
• Mellor begins rollout of 33 AccessBus vehicles in West YorkshireBritish-built Strata Plus buses join West Yorkshire's door-to-door transport service
• Higer Azure 9 diesel small bus set for UK debut at Euro Bus ExpoCummins engine and Voith gearbox for 8.9m model, which promises a seating capacity of 28

Aviation Industry

• AEF supports call for independent ombudsman for airspace changeAEF is supporting 20 community groups calling for an independent ombudsman on airspace design decisions. With UK airspace undergoing a complete redesign, a fair, transparent and credible right of appeal
• Night flights in Europe: Trends, impacts and policy responsesAEF recently produced a report on night flights for UECNA, the umbrella organisation for people overflown by aircraft across Europe. The report goes into detail on night flight restrictions in Europe:

Other News Sources

• More toll roads proposed by new Government billPrivate firms could soon be able to charge for using roads which they have invested into and issue fines to drivers who refuse payment
• Paddle Steamer Waverley Celebrates 80th AnniversaryThe world's last seagoing paddle steamer made a passage through London's Tower Bridge shortly after 9.30am on 2 October as part of a special anniversary sailing on the River Thames. She continued downriver, visiting Gravesend and Southend before undertaking a cruise of the historic Thames Forts.
• How to keep outcomes at the heart of rail infrastructure deliveryWith the UK continuing with large scale investments in rail enhancements in the coming years, Alistair Geddes, Rail Sector Director at Costain, explores how enterprise models and an outcomes-led mindset will be crucial in enhancing infrastructure delivery
• Believ Supports Ayrshire to Drive EV Uptake in Scotland with More than 614 New Charging SocketsEV charge point operator (CPO) Believ has partnered with East, North and South Ayrshire Councils to deliver more than 600 EV chargers at approximately 300 locations across Ayrshire in southwest Scotland. The rollout will support residents and visitors across the region, including those without access to a driveway or the means to privately charge their vehicle.
• Senedd Members reject Reform bid to scrap 20mph speed limitsSENEDD Members have rejected a Reform motion calling for the Welsh Government to scrap default 20mph speed limits. The proposal was defeated by 51 votes to 37 following a debate in the Siambr.
• Living Streets calls for ban on delivery robots as trials spreadLiving Streets has called for an outright ban on delivery robots on UK pavements as London, Stockton-on-Tees and Nottingham prepare to join the rollout.
• Peel Ports investment to open up one million ft of network spacePeel Ports Group has announced plans to make a multi-million-pound investment in new warehousing to create one million ft of additional capacity.