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

Thursday, 02 July 2026

BBC News

• Roman coins among finds along East West Rail routeRoman coins, a Late Iron Age vase and pottery are among the finds uncovered along the proposed route of East West Rail (EWR).
• HS2 extension did not have permission, court rulesThe Court of Appeal finds the tunnel extension did not benefit from existing planning permission.
• E-scooters being advertised for commuting despite UK road banA Press Association investigation found major retailers advertising e-scooters for "commuting" and "urban riding".
• Mayor angry as East Midlands road upgrades shelvedMajor schemes in Derby and Nottinghamshire are due to be axed as money is diverted to defence.
• Hammersmith Bridge car plans axed over £300m costHammersmith and Fulham Council now plans to focus on repairs to maintain walking and cycling access.
• CalMac's newest ship needs dry dock repairs 15 weeks after entering serviceThe Turkish-built MV Isle of Islay has been unable to use its bow doors since mid-May.
• Don't expect trackers to save your stolen car, experts sayKia told the BBC UK law prevented its location tracking function being used to live track vehicles.
• Diesel sees biggest monthly fall in 26 years. What's happening to fuel prices?When the US-Israel war with Iran began, fuel costs jumped, but they are now plummeting as hope of lasting peace grows.

The Guardian

• Cycling Scotland’s lost highways and byways: a two-wheel odyssey in the wilds of SutherlandIn his new book, Jack Thurston cycles the quieter roads and forgotten hill tracks of Scotland, exploring Britain’s most remote and rugged terrainThere aren’t many roads in Britain where you can pull over to cook breakfast and finish it without seeing a single car. While my friend Ben got the stove going, I wandered around the ruins of Dun Dornaigil, an iron age broch (stone roundhouse) more than 2,000 years old. Above us, low cloud drifted across the dark cliffs of Ben Hope. This was exactly the kind of lost lane we’d come to Sutherland to ride.Our journey had begun the day b...

The Independent

• 'Spectre of HS2' hangs over Burnham-backed Northern Powerhouse Rail, MPs warnCommittee say 'clear risk' major scheme to boost rail connections cannot be delivered within £45bn funding cap

Times Online

• Chinese carmaker BYD says VW job cuts expose Europe's EV crisis [subscription]As Volkswagen plans to axe up to 100,000 jobs, BYD sales have nearly quadrupled in a year. Its special adviser criticises 'useless' efforts to stem Chinese imports
• Hammersmith Bridge won't reopen to cars after repairs deemed too costly [subscription]Plans to open Hammersmith Bridge to motor vehicles have been shelved after a council report admitted it would cost £300 million to restore the structure.

Birmingham Mail

• Andy Burnham urged to introduce new rule for all bus passengers in England when he becomes PMThe new Labour Party MP for Makerfield has been told to bring in drastic changes when PM.

Birmingham Post

• Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems shares surge on UK defence spending plansThe sector rallied as investors backed the main beneficiaries of Britain's £15bn Defence Investment Plan
• Humber Hydrogen project could unlock 50,000 jobs and £17bn economic boost, research showsThe Government is drawing up plans for the UK's first regional hydrogen transport and storage network, with one industrial region poised to receive £500m in funding to make it happen

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bradford Council responds to rail scheme overspend fearsBRADFORD Council bosses say a major transport scheme that will include a rail boost for Bradford will 'balance benefits to communities with cost to the public purse.'

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Historic bridge on 'important road link' set for major repair workConwy County Council said the work was needed to maintain the 'structural integrity' of the bridge

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Travellers warned of five-hour airport delays as plea made to halt new EU rulesUK holidaymakers travelling to Europe this summer are being warned of airport delays of up to five hours due to new EU border checks. Aviation industry leaders are now asking for the Entry Exit System (EES) to be suspended ahead of peak summer periods.

Yorkshire Post

• Green Book changes expected to boost Northern Powerhouse Rail fundingNorthern leaders have long argued the Treasury calculations have to be reformed, saying they currently favour investment in wealthier areas, such as London, as they focus on short-term gains.

Carlisle News & Star

• Farron challenges minister over West Coast Mainline upgradesTim Farron has accused the Government of 'years' of delay to a major upgrade of the West Coast Main Line, warning that the stalled TriLink scheme may have contributed to a near‑fatal freight train derailment at Shap earlier this year.

Other Regional Press

• Farnborough Airport names new chief executive in leadership shake-upFarnborough Airport has announced a major leadership change with a new chief executive set to take over from September.
• Manchester Airport and London Stansted group sees drop in passenger growthThe owner of Manchester and London Stansted airports has revealed a sharp pull-back in passenger growth amid pressure on air travel over the Iran war.
• New Acton hub helps residents find HS2 jobs and trainingA new recruitment hub has opened in Acton to help local residents find jobs, apprenticeships and training linked to HS2 and major regeneration projects around Old Oak Common.
• Council's HS2 Judicial Review Appeal victory over Birmingham extensionThere has been a long running dispute regarding works in Water Orton

Construction Enquirer

• Lendlease and The Crown Estate finalise £24bn development JVLendlease and The Crown Estate have completed their long-awaited £24bn regeneration joint venture, paving the way for construction to begin on a pipeline of major housing and commercial developments in London and Birmingham.

Modern Railways

• Agreement takes West Yorkshire closer to an integrated networkA Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the rail industry designed to create a more integrated, reliable and customer-focused railway in the region.

New Civil Engineer

• PAC warns of 'clear risk' NPR cannot be delivered within £45bn funding capA major parliamentary inquiry from the Public Accounts Committee (Pac) has raised doubts that the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) programme can be delivered within the government's £45bn funding cap.

Rail Business Daily

• New HS2 recruitment hub to support job seekersA new one-stop-shop has been opened for job seekers looking for opportunities on major infrastructure schemes as part of the HS2 programme.

Rail Magazine

• Alternative freight route to Channel Tunnel to close a year after startingA new rail freight alternative to the Channel Tunnel, launched only last summer, is to lose its principal cross-channel route.

Railway Technology

• Landmark rail agreement to accelerate integration ahead of GBRMayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with key rail industry partners, signalling a major shift towards a more integrated, reliable and passenger-focused railway network across the region.

The Business Desk

• Revenues raised at Manchester Airports Group as transformation of T2 completesManchester Airports Group (MAG) has posted revenues of £1.5bn, up 12.8% on last year for the financial year to the end of March 2026, and pre-tax profits of £227.4m, up from £217.7m last year.

Aviation Industry

• Birmingham Airport Cuts Carbon Emissions by 11% as Passenger Numbers Reach Record 13.7 MillionBirmingham Airport has reported a further reduction in its carbon emissions, with greenhouse gas emissions reducing by 11%.

Other News Sources

• Mayor signs landmark rail agreement to accelerate integrated transport visionThe Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, has signed a landmark agreement with key rail partners, marking a major step towards creating a more integrated, reliable and passenger-focused railway across the region.