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

Saturday, 17 October 2026

BBC News

• Government may support 'crucial' Heathrow linkA Jersey minister says an all-year British Airways link to London is essential to the island's economy and the government will consider using public money to make sure it is maintained.
• Politician calls for fast track on asbestos fixA politician has called for proactive rather than reactive action, after firefighters vacated their base due to asbestos being found in a vehicle bay.
• Government names Great British Railways chairThe chairman of Barclays Bank UK, Sir John Kingman, has been appointed chair of Great British Railways (GBR), the government has announced.
• Residents say planned road changes 'a nightmare'Residents say council plans to make major changes to roads and transport across busy Sheffield neighbourhoods will be "devastating" and "a nightmare".
• Third runway at Heathrow Airport would drive growth, Healey saysIt comes after the prime minister refused to say whether he backed expansion.
• Labour calls for M4 relief road, seven years after axing the planSeven years after the party axed the project, Labour says the Welsh government should build the road.
• Ship attack reports near Hormuz reach record high as oil exports slowBBC Verify analysis of data from a UK maritime agency shows 12 vessels were struck in a week.
• Watch: Did Tesla really just unveil a flying car?Tesla CEO Elon Musk showcased the vehicle at a facility owned by his SpaceX company, which helped develop the model.

Department for Transport

• Sir John Kingman appointed as Great British Railways ChairAppointment marks a defining moment in government's mission to put passengers first and rebuild Britain's railways.

The Guardian

• 'We should all be worried': calls grow to limit London rollout of robotaxisProtest planned at Wayve HQ as Uber drivers fear for their future and city's politicians demand TfL should have power over licences
• Healey backs pro-growth case for Heathrow third runway after Burnham ducks issueChancellor says government will study responses to public consultation, with airports being ‘big part of jobs and growth’John Healey has said there is a pro-growth case for going ahead with a third runway at Heathrow despite the prime minister declining to back it.Healey’s predecessor as chancellor, Rachel Reeves, put approval of the long-planned runway at the heart of her “growth speech” last year, saying it would “make Britain the world’s best-connected place to do business”. Continue reading...

The Telegraph

• The Government is investigating hated airport drop-off fees will it make a difference? [subscription]The UK Government is to investigate airport drop-off fees, which have risen sharply over the past year including the cost of a kiss-and-fly journey to Gatwick or Stansted rising from 37 to £10 earlier this year. Ministers say the review will take a year and will look at affordability, the effects on how passengers reach the airport and how the money is being spent. But will it make a difference?

Times Online

• PM should stop being parochial and back Heathrow third runway [subscription]An expanded airport means an expanded British economy, yet Andy Burnham is refusing to commit himself to the project
• Chancellor backs Heathrow third runway despite Andy Burnham's hesitation [subscription]John Healey said the case for growth was still strong after the prime minister refused to give his support for the expansion of the airport

Daily Express

• 'Supertanker' carrying 2 million barrels of oil struck by mine in Strait of HormuzIran has managed a chokehold on the waterway since the war started.

i News

• The worst charge in rip-off Britain involves the airportIt was the consumer rights champion Martin Lewis who first raised the idea that, if government wanted to find a way to connect with its citizens and improve the everyday life of the nation, it had to sweat the small stuff. So forget about global insecurity, climate change and macroeconomics for a minute and 'find a hundred small things that piss people off' and fix them 'in a way that people can see they're fixed'

The National

• Glasgow Airport bosses give major update on renaming proposalGLASGOW Airport bosses have set out why they have 'no plans' to change its name after the subject was recently debated by councillors.
• New Citylink bus service between Glasgow & Edinburgh Airport launchesA NEW bus service between Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh Airport is set to launch next week.

Birmingham Post

• Newcastle Airport to talk with alternatives airlines after Loganair cancels two UK routes Loganair has cancelled its Newcastle flights to Southampton and Exeter from 24 October

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Jet2 extends new Leeds Bradford Airport route amid demandThe airline said it had put more seats on sale after strong demand from customers booking early and late-winter holidays.

Derby Telegraph

• Big decision due on major A38 plan as Transport Secretary issues updateThe Government has proposed to cancel major upgrades to the busy Derby road

London Evening Standard

• London bus fares to rise next month in cost-of-living blow to millionsCost of using buses in the capital to rise for first time in more than three years

Sheffield Star

• Doncaster Sheffield Airport to be bought by South Yorkshire Mayor in shock moveThe South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is close to signing a deal to purchase Doncaster Sheffield Airport from the Peel Group, it can be revealed.

Yorkshire Post

• Oliver Coppard to purchase Doncaster Sheffield Airport from Peel Group in shock moveThe South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is close to signing a deal to purchase Doncaster Sheffield Airport from the Peel Group, it can be revealed.

Other Regional Press

• Decision on A46 and A38 by end of year says Transport SecretaryThe Transport Secretary expects a big decision on the future of the A38 to be made by the end of the year.
• How much cash councils have raked in from Manchester Airport GroupCouncils across the region have still raked in £318m from Manchester Airport Group despite major payments stopping during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Norfolk bus station could undergo £1.25m refurbishmentA bus station used by 96,000 people every year could undergo a £1.25 million refurbishment as part of a bid to create a modern travel hub.

Construction Enquirer

• Kier on board for Manchester tram stop upgradeKier has been appointed by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to lead improvements to Heaton Park Metrolink stop in Prestwich, Greater Manchester.

Modern Railways

• Sir John Kingman is GBR's first ChairSir John Kingman will be the first chair of Great British Railways, starting in his role immediately.

New Civil Engineer

• The road schemes 'quietly' cancelled by Department of TransportThe Department for Transport (DfT) has told stakeholders that more than 20 road schemes, which were being considered as recently as July 2025, have been cancelled.

Rail Magazine

• Sir John Kingman named as first Great British Railways ChairSir John Kingman has been named as the first Chair of Great British Railways (GBR).

The Business Desk

• Birmingham Airport records busiest September as low-cost flights take offBirmingham Airport has recorded its busiest September, with 1,386,372 passengers passing through its terminal, up 2.9% on the same month last year.

UKTram

• Coventry Very Light Rail wins Innovation Impact AwardCoventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) has been recognised at the British Construction & Infrastructure Awards, with Colas Rail and Coventry City Council jointly winning the Innovation Impact Award for their work on the project.

Aviation Industry

• How to resurface one of the busiest runways in the worldWhen a road needs to be resurfaced, it is cordoned off with access restricted. However, resurfacing an entire airport runway is a much more complicated engineering affair, with challenging logistics. The Northern runway at London Heathrow (LHR) is currently being replaced during the night, around the 1,300 combined take-offs and landings, in order to remove embedded aircraft tyre rubber. The project will be completed over three months, by 230 specialist workers, using around 130 different maintenance vehicles.

Other News Sources

• The European cities with the best public transport, according to thousands of localsEurope took half of the world's top 20 spots for public transport, but one hilly Scottish city beat them all
• Archibald announces £15m investment in zero-emission transport and energy innovationBelfast Harbour is to become a live environment for testing the next generation of zero-emission transport and energy systems through a £15m investment announced by Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald.
• Newcastle Airport to talk with alternatives airlines after Loganair cancels two UK routesBosses at Newcastle Airport are preparing to hold talks with alternative carriers to revive axed routes after Loganair announced it is scrapping two of its regular services. The Scottish airline confirmed this week that it is withdrawing flights between Newcastle Airport and Southampton and Exeter, as part of efforts to "support the long-term resilience of the airline".
• Euston extends deadline for assurance partnerThe Euston Delivery Company (EDC) has extended the deadline for responses to its preliminary market engagement notice seeking a Programme Challenge and Assurance Partner (P-CAP).
• HS2 works begin near Crewe after major rail project cancellationGround investigation remediation works are taking place on land near Crewe, as part of efforts to reverse preparatory work carried out for the cancelled HS2 rail project.
• ' I want to help to build a simpler, more unified railway', says first Chair of Great British RailwaysAnnouncing the appointment on October 16, the Department for Transport said Kingman would begin his duties the same day, and play a critical role in shaping the design of the new organisation and driving industry readiness for the transition to GBR. Once GBR is formally established in 2027, he will lead 'the third biggest public sector organisation in Britain'.