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

Saturday, 31 October 2026

BBC News

• Campaigners welcome rail bridge maintenance switchCampaigners have welcomed plans to take the management of 3,000 railway bridges, tunnels and viaducts away from a government department accused of "cultural vandalism".
• Bus drivers on six routes get temporary toiletsSix bus routes in London have had temporary toilet facilities installed for drivers at the terminus.
• Police to destroy electric bikes and scooters seized in crackdownOfficers confiscated 99 e-bikes and 43 e-scooters during Operation Overlap, which ran between 19 and 25 October.
• Engineer shortage blamed for new delay for Turkish-built CalMac ferryThe handover of MV Loch Indaal, being built at the Cemre shipyard, is put back to November while it awaits regulator approval.

The Guardian

• Avanti West Coast paid out £20m in ‘delay repay’ passenger refunds this summerIntercity train operator’s compensation bill likely to top £70m this financial year amid rise in claims across networkAvanti West Coast paid out more than £20m to passengers in just three months this summer in refunds for disrupted journeys on Britain’s main intercity rail network.The intercity operator paid out almost as much in a four-week period to 25 July – £9.3m – as its annual profits for each of the past two years.
• The cursed cruise: how the dream of never-ending luxury at sea became a nightmareThe MV Odyssey was billed as the ultimate escape from Donald Trump. Instead, the oil shock caused by his war has left passengers unceremoniously dumped in CambodiaThe idea was a never-ending retirement at sea, a continuous voyage around the globe. The promise to the passengers of the MV Odyssey cruise ship – many approaching the autumn of their lives – was that on the open seas they could cut loose from the troubles of the world. But the world had other ideas.The end came in an announcement as stark as it was brief: they had seven hours to get off.

The Mirror

• New Ryanair '20-minute rule' to affect millions of passengersRyanair passengers checking in luggage will have less time to reach the airport desk under a new deadline

Birmingham Post

• National Express owner Mobico agrees £308m Spanish takeover dealAutobuses de Leon deal values the transport group at around £2.3bn when its debt is included
• Lockheed Martin's 500-job NETPark satellite factory closer after £20m investmentAerospace giant Lockheed Martin and its public sector partners have invested £20m in a County Durham site as the company bids for a Government contract to build a new satellite factory at NETPark, Sedgefield, that could create 500 jobs in the North East.

Nation. Cymru

• First Minister hails progress on more fiscal powers for Wales following Burnham talksRhun ap Iorwerth has welcomed progress towards greater financial powers for Wales following talks with Prime Minister Andy Burnham, while insisting that decisions about devolving power within Wales belong solely to the Senedd.

Carlisle News & Star

• MP calls for later London to Carlisle train servicesA Cumbrian MP has called for later trains between London and Carlisle, arguing that the West Coast Main Line should receive the same level of service as the East Coast.

South Wales Argus

• Chepstow station funding bid to be considered at reviewTransport Secretary Heidi Alexander says funding to make Chepstow station fully accessible will be considered at the next spending review.

Other Regional Press

• Deeside station target unchanged despite UK Budget rail funding rowThe new railway station at Deeside Industrial Park is still due to open by the end of 2027, the Welsh Government has said, despite a row over rail funding in this week's UK Budget.
• Caroline Nokes MP: Broughton and Mottisfont new electric busIt was a pleasure to join the Broughton and Mottisfont Community Bus team earlier this month to celebrate the unveiling of their new electric bus, alongside the charging points installed to support its operation.
• Joe Robertson MP raises ferry group concerns with Maritime MinisterJoe Robertson MP has spoken in Parliament following the first two Cross-Solent Transport Group meetings. Set up by the Department for Transport (DfT), the remit of the meetings is to look at prices, timetables and reliability, however, the Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East raised concerns that they were at risk of becoming a talking shop.
• £160m Northern Rail depot creating 100 new jobs hits major milestoneThe Shipley TrainCare Centre is a major development set to create up to 100 jobs in West Yorkshire.

Coach and Bus Week

• Autobuses de Léon reaches agreement on Mobico acquisitionThrough its subsidiary Leita Mobility, Spanish group Autobuses de Léon, part-owned by the CMC Group (which itself is owned by Mobico's largest shareholder the Cosmen family) has announced that it has reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer to acquire National Express parent company Mobico, at a price of 46 pence per share. The acquisition values Mobico's shareholding at approximately £308 million and represents a premium of approximately 55.1% to the closing price of 29.7 pence per Mobico Share on 20 October.

New Civil Engineer

• Hendy confirms Historic Rail Estate will move from National Highways to Great British RailwaysA plan to transfer responsibility for the UK's Historical Railways Estate (HRE) from National Highways and the Department for Transport (DfT) to Great British Railways (GBR) has won support in the House of Lords.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Lakeside Coaches sees £3.5m investment since joining First BusVehicles and depot facilities are the beneficiaries of honoured spending and further investment
• National Express parent Mobico set for sale to Autobuses de LeonNational Express parent Mobico Group and suitor Leita Mobility, which is part of Autobuses de Leon, have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer for Mobico that values the business's issued share capital at £308 million.

TaxiPoint

• Government 'working hard' on new enforcement powers as north east MP presses for action on cross-border private hire licensing Perry RichardsonLocal enforcement officers will be able to suspend any taxi or private hire vehicle licence being used in their area if immediate safety concerns arise, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood told MPs.

Other News Sources

• Meeting told a parkway station for Leeds Bradford Airport is 'absolutely critical' for the regionCouncillors from across West Yorkshire have voted to move ahead with plans for a rail station that would serve the airport