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

Thursday, 21 May 2026

BBC News

• First Great British Railway branded train unveiledThe first train displaying Great British Railways (GBR) branding has been unveiled.
• Work to replace cladding at bus station beginsWork to remove and replace cladding on a city centre bus station has started.
• New station bollard is 'disorientating safety risk' say campaignersAny visitor to York in recent years will be familiar with the sights and sounds of construction work outside the city's Victorian-era railway station building.
• Plans to revamp Liverpool Central area revealedPlans to revamp an area outside Liverpool Central station have been revealed by the city's council.
• Rail strike still on after no talks breakthroughTSSA says it is seeking parity with other unions on rest day pay ahead of action this week.
• Children in England to be offered free bus trips this August Chancellor Rachel Reeves is to reveal a £100m fare-free bus scheme designed to relieve cost-of-living pressures.
• Services and discounts could face cuts under Translink savings plans Cuts to services across Metro, Ulsterbus and NI Railways are being explored under the proposals.
• London bus driver dies after assault on bridgeSergei Krajev, 64, was taken to hospital after he was found critically injured on Monday.
• The cycle lane row splitting a town centreAlmost 1,000 people have signed a petition against the two-way lane on Greenock's West Blackhall Street.

Department for Transport

• Full steam ahead for Great British Railways as first branded train unveiledFirst Great British Railways‑branded train unveiled as services move into public ownership, with new branding rolling out across England's rail network.
• Cost of living boost with free bus travel for children and targeted food tariff cutsChancellor to announce 'Great British Summer Savings' - a UK wide scheme to help families enjoy this summer

Financial Times

• Reeves cuts food tariffs and children's bus fares in cost of living planChancellor Rachel Reeves will on Thursday announce cut-price baked beans, free summer bus travel for children and £400mn of help for motorists and hauliers

The Guardian

• Reeves to promise free summer bus rides for children and food tariff cuts in living costs packageChancellor launches 'Great British summer savings scheme' after Keir Starmer postpones fuel duty increase
• Murder inquiry launched after fatal assault on London bus driverPolice say 64-year-old was attacked after confrontation near Battersea BridgeA murder investigation has been launched after a bus driver died after an assault on Battersea Bridge in London, police said.Sergei Krajev, 64, died in hospital on Tuesday after the incident in the early hours of Monday morning.

The Independent

• HS2 cost increase is 'terrible news', says rail bossThe boss of the HS2 rail project has admitted the budget has doubled in five years, calling the increase in costs 'terrible news'.
• First look at new Great British Railways train ahead of move to public ownershipA Southern Class 387 train in Brighton was given the makeover ahead of the operator's services entering public ownership on May 31

The Telegraph

• Heavy rain risks even more delays to HS2 [subscription]Summer downpour could scupper track-laying schedule, admits boss of project already a decade overdue
• ADHD shouldn't give automatic right to Blue Badge, says Transport Secretary [subscription]Heidi Alexander warns misuse of parking permit 'undermines' disabled people

Times Online

• Rain could delay £100bn HS2 even further, admits boss [subscription]The aim of laying the first piece of track for the high-speed train line in 2029 could be hit by bad weather, MPs have been told

City AM

• New HS2 budget to blow £33bn hole in public finances The government will need to find as much as £33bn in additional cash from tax and spending measures or from other departments to fund its revamped plans to deliver HS2. According to a City AM analysis, the Department for Transport's updated proposals for the rail line require between £18bn and £33bn of additional public money

Daily Express

• Free bus travel for one group and cheaper chocolate and biscuits in £100m Reeves giveawayRachel Reeves is to unveil free bus travel for one group in August and tariff cuts on biscuits, chocolate and nuts, saving families more than £150m a year.

Daily Record

• Lorry wedged under Edinburgh railway bridge halts rush hour trains to GlasgowRail services between Edinburgh and Glasgow were suspended and roads gridlocked after an over-height lorry struck a bridge near Haymarket.

The Mirror

• Up to 23 million car journeys expected over bank holiday - the routes to avoidA combination of a long overdue warm spell, the half term and the end of the Premier League season means this weekend's getaway could be especially packed on the roads

Belfast Telegraph

• Heathrow link from Belfast International Airport 'would add 329m in tourism spending'Belfast International is one of five UK airports most likely to gain a Heathrow connection if the hub's third runway is built, a report said today.

Birmingham Mail

• Blue Badge rule change could strip permits from drivers with common conditionTransport Secretary has led the criticism of the blue badge scheme, amid fears it is being 'exploited'

Birmingham Post

• New CEO for Siemens UK & Ireland vows to 'build on strong foundations' at global giantBrian Holliday has worked at Siemens for more than 32 years
• Third runway at Heathrow Airport could lead to new Cornwall flight routeNewquay is one of five UK airports that have been identified as likely to benefit from the expansion
• Jet2 issues up-beat statement on fuel suppliesThe firm has been in talks with suppliers

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Leeds station to host rail customer engagement eventRAIL passengers can meet with senior rail leaders next week to discuss their journeys.

Bristol Live

• Bristol e-scooter expansion slammed 'Safety, parking and policing all need attention'

Daily Post (North Wales)

• When 20mph speed revisions on 18 sections of road in Conwy will take placeCampaigners have questioned why it's taking so long compared with other areas
• Planned fuel duty rise axed amid high pump pricesPrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told MPs the 5p per litre fuel duty cut would be extended

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Government will adopt North East Mayor's Kids Go Free bus initiative Chancellor Rachel Reeves has now announced free travel on buses for children this August

Northern Echo

• Teesside International Airport linked with potential Heathrow routesTeesside International Airport has been named among the UK airports most likely to gain from restored links to Heathrow once a third runway is built.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Stephen Flynn gets top transport job in new cabinet and is already facing pressure on A96 duallingFirst Minister John Swinney put the newly elected MSP in a crucial role for Aberdeen and the north, and returned Aberdeenshire East's Gillian Martin to his new-look top team.

Wales Online

• Free bus travel and cheaper food in Rachel Reeves' new cost of living planThe full list of food which could see prices drop is expected to include biscuits, chocolate, dried fruit and nuts

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Plans for third runway at Heathrow could lead to direct flights between Leeds Bradford Airport and LondonNew research identifies Leeds Bradford Airport as one of five UK airports most likely to gain Heathrow connections

Yorkshire Post

• West Yorkshire mass transit could be built a year quicker with approval powers handed down to mayorsIt is hoped in particular this could speed up the tram line that has been slated to go through south Leeds to Elland Road.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Sizewell C construction work is big blow for rail passengersConstruction work for Sizewell C is preventing the extension of new rail services through a county.

Other Regional Press

• Lake District: Warning over summer rail cuts in CumbriaRail cuts threaten to derail summer tourism in the Lake District, an MP and an aspiring mayor have warned.
• MP: 'Serious lack of investment' in rail north of ManchesterA FURTHER delay to HS2 has reignited calls for long-overdue rail investment in the north. Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, said that a 'serious lack of investment' north of Manchester is holding back the region
• New Transport Minister Stephen Flynn to oversee harbour workSCOTLAND'S new Transport Minister has been revealed as MSP Stephen Flynn. And near the top of his agenda will be seeing through the redevelopment of Ardrossan Harbour.
• Popular London bus route 310 to remain after consultationThe route 310 bus will continue to run through north London after a public consultation.
• UK airline falls into administration as flights cancelled and jobs lostZenith Aviation Limited no longer operates leaving 41 jobs axed
• First Great British Railways train unveiled by Swindon MPThe first train branded under the new Great British Railways (GBR) identity was unveiled as part of wider national rail reform and the transition to public ownership.

New Civil Engineer

• Overhaul will reveal 'hidden' corner of one of south London's busiest stationsA project will begin next month to deliver a package of improvements at London's Peckham Rye station.

Rail Advent

• GBR appears set to continue former operators' namesA Class 387 unit operated on Southern by Govia Thameslink Railway was being unveiled in Great British Railways livery at Brighton on Thursday.

Rail Magazine

• £548 million Enterprise contract signed as Stadler secures cross-border orderA contract for a new fleet of eight tri-mode trainsets for the Belfast-Dublin Enterprise service has been formally signed at Belfast Grand Central Station.
• Government intervenes on Old Oak Common stalemate that could have delayed HS2Network Rail has been granted permission to build a new temporary lineside compound at the HS2 Old Oak Common site, to support construction of a new station on the Great Western Main Line (GWML).

Railnews

• Welsh protests in wake of HS2 'reset' Wales says it is being short-changed by the ‘reset’ of HS2, which has been announced by transport secretary Heidi Alexander. She is cutting the maximum speed to 320km/h in a bid to save money, but the Welsh Government has accused ministers at Westminster of denying Wales a ‘fair share’ of funding.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• First Bus Solent noted in Clean Air South reportFirst Bus has celebrated the success of a fleet electrification programme in the Solent after a new report highlighted the role it played in improving air quality.
• Wrightbus wins £7 million Hong Kong order for 6x2 StreetDeck ElectrolinerCitybus order for 20 triple-axle battery-electric double-deckers is first global deal for the new variant and will be fulfilled from Wrightbus's Malaysian manufacturing facility
• Sian Leydon is named Go-Ahead Group Chief Operating OfficerNewly-created position is filled by former Arriva mainland Europe chief with remit across group
• Free bus travel for children in England to be offered across AugustVoluntary scheme sits within over £100m funding that includes support for bus routes, DfT says

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow expansion could open the door to five additional UK routes, according to new researchNew research identifies Belfast International, Cornwall Airport Newquay, Leeds Bradford Airport, Liverpool John Lennon and Teesside International Airport as most likely to gain Heathrow connections through expansion