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

Wednesday, 04 February 2026

BBC News

• Rail lines to stay closed 'until further notice'Rail lines damaged in south-west England during a storm will remain closed "until further notice". Network Rail and Great Western Railway (GWR) said engineers had been working on lines serving Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple, Exeter St Davids to Okehampton and Liskeard to Looe after Storm Chandra damaged tracks.
• Plan to move Stranraer rail station away from old ferry terminalProvisional plans have been unveiled for the potential development of a new railway station in Stranraer.
• Long wait for station lifts could be stalled againA long-running campaign for lifts at a railway station has suffered a setback after a council said it could withdraw its financial contribution.
• Bus and tram station opening delayed to autumnThe long-awaited scheme will not be open in Dudley before September, it has emerged.

ITV News

• Government accused of 'charade' over to keep Manchester mayor Andy Burnham happyThe Government has been accused of keeping up a 'charade' that Northern Powerhouse Rail will happen to 'keep mayors of the north happy'

Manchester Evening News

• Major update in plans for underground travel in Greater ManchesterA detailed feasibility study into plans to build a network of tunnels for Metrolink trams and trains to run through is to be carried out in a major step for underground public transport in Greater Manchester.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Inside LNER's 'next generation' trains as Newcastle travellers promised 'improved experience'The 10 upcoming East Coast Main Line vehicles are said to be 'state-of-the-art', as the latest images of the carriages' interior show

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• New trains bought for the West Midlands could end up being moved to other parts of the country - Wolverhampton ToryNew trains bought to serve the West Midlands could end up being used in other parts of the country under nationalisation, a leading Conservative has claimed.
• New trains bought for the West Midlands could end up being moved to other parts of the country - Wolverhampton ToryNew trains bought to serve the West Midlands could end up being used in other parts of the country under nationalisation, a leading Conservative has claimed.

Cambridge News

• Cambridge South station 'still aiming' open this yearThis follows two previous delays last year that pushed back the opening

Other Regional Press

• Dorset station upgrade funding to be withdrawnBCP Council is set to withdraw £2.6million of funding from the Pokesdown Station improvement project.
• Plans for accessible footbridge at Par Railway Station moves closer to realityLONG awaited plans for the installation of an accessible foot bridge at Par Railway Station could be one step closer to completion after an application to Cornwall Council was made by Network Rail.

Construction News

• Northern Powerhouse Rail won't be procured before design completedThe transport secretary has promised to fully design Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) before tendering for contractors. Heidi Alexander pledged in the House of Commons on Monday (2 February) to finalise the scope of works for the relauched £45bn project first ...

New Civil Engineer

• Northern Powerhouse Rail plan dubbed 'castle-in-the-air' but DfT says HS2 lessons learntThe Northern Powerhouse Rail plan is criticised as unrealistic, but the Department for Transport claims lessons have been learned from HS2.

Rail Advent

• London North Eastern Railway to install seat sensors.New sensors are being introduced on London North Eastern Railway's Azuma fleet to help passengers locate available seats.

Rail Magazine

• East Coast Main Line digital signalling project hit by delays and cost pressuresCompletion of the East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) is set to be delayed, RAIL understands.
• Cancellation of Midland Main Line electrification could alter EMR's new train plansEast Midlands Railway has not ruled out diesel options for a new fleet of trains, following last year's cancellation of the Midland Main Line electrification project.
• 'It was never mentioned': frustrated MPs seek answers over Access for All snubsFrustrated MPs have said the lack of third-party funding was never raised, before being told their local stations will not progress in the Access for All programme.

Railnews

• New contractor replaces TfL Oyster manager Cubic The contractor which has been running Transport for London’s Oyster and other contactless payment systems has been replaced, less than two years since a major cyber attack in September 2024 in which the names and contact details of up to 5000 TfL customers were reported to have been compromised.

Other News Sources

• Northern Powerhouse Rail £45bn plan: scope and HS2 lessons for rail engineersThe government's £45bn Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) pledge is facing scepticism from opposition MPs, with the scheme branded 'castle-in-the-air planning' amid a lack of detailed route, phasing or funding breakdown.