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

Monday, 20 July 2026

BBC News

• Ferry company withdraws discounted medical faresA decision to withdraw medical concession fares for an island's residents has not been taken "lightly", a shipping company has said.
• Merseyrail to be brought back into public controlMerseyrail trains will be brought back into public control when the current concession ends in 2028.
• Bus group rebrands to reflect network expansionA bus group has been renamed in preparation for the pending local government reorganisation.
• New early morning rail services for GatwickGatwick Express, which operates as part of the Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) network, has launched the services to help customers make early and late flight connections to and from London.
• Four London Overground bridges to be replacedFour bridges which carry London Overground trains in east London are due to be replaced in September.
• Calls for 'full investigation' of Tube train noiseThe noise level for some residents near a Tube line is equivalent in volume to a nearby helicopter taking off.

The Guardian

• Trump's rebranding of Palm Beach airport hasn't taken off as he plannedChanges inside the Florida international airport are hardly evident as state and county hold back funds for full remodel

The Independent

• EU border system triples passport control times for UK passengersPost-Brexit EU border checks, known as the Entry-Exit System (EES), have nearly tripled passport control waiting times for British travellers.

The Telegraph

• Putney residents furious over 'garish' £600k railway bridge makeover [subscription]Residents have criticised a £600,000 'garish' paint job on two railway bridges.

Times Online

• How China built more high-speed rail than everyone else combined - Christian Wolmar [subscription]My journey on the vast, flawless network shows autocracy is not the only reason Beijing gets things done. Britain has much to learn
• Boeing Needs to Shore Up Finances Before Launching New Airplane Design, CEO Says [subscription]Kelly Ortberg says company needs to get its finances and technology in place first
• Ryanair profits fall short of City forecasts [subscription]The budget airline Ryanair's first-quarter fell short of City expectations, with average summer fares set to be modestly down on last year amid uncertainty around the Iran war.

i News

• Burnham allies hint at £2 cap to bus faresThe incoming prime minister wants to build on the policy he introduced across Greater Manchester's Bee Network buses
• New HS2 farce as firm with £2bn contract builds trains that keep breaking downServices between London and the Midlands will be slashed after problems reported with trains made by Hitachi

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Elland rail station: Prep work on access package under wayPrep work is now under way on the £22.7 million access package for the new Elland Rail Station and main works will begin this month, says the contractor.

Bristol Live

• Busy junction near Temple Meads to close for over a month for upgrade worksThe closure comes ahead of the opening of the University of Bristol's massive new campus

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Rejecting Caernarfon bypass services 'unbelievably short sighted' Two rival bids to build 24/7 roadside service stations 100 metres apart on the Caernarfon bypass have both been rejected by Cyngor Gwynedd's planning committee amid fears they would divert trade from local communities

Leicester Mercury

• New group building 'strongest possible case' for Ivanhoe Line revivalA new group of government officials is building the "strongest possible case" for the revival of the "vital" Ivanhoe Line in Leicestershire.

London Evening Standard

• Mayor demands TfL transparency over 'misery' caused by London Underground track noiseLondoners in Brent, Kennington, Islington, Camden and South Wimbledon are particularly affected
• London Overground line faces year of major disruption as four railway bridges replacedNetwork Rail has confirmed that it will replace four bridges carrying London Overground trains in east London

Nation. Cymru

• Work begins on £14m River Usk bridgeConstruction has begun on a new 314 million active travel bridge designed to encourage more people to walk, wheel and cycle instead of driving.

Wales Online

• Free bus travel rules start on August 1 and 7.5million people are eligibleMillions of people across England will qualify for free bus travel from August 1 under a new Government scheme. From August 1, all young people aged from 5 to 15 will qualify for free bus travel in England. That covers 7.5million people.

Cambridge News

• Locals split as Cambridge 20mph limit could be ‘waste of time’ or change driving habitsThere are proposals to introduce 20mph speed restrictions on more roads in Cambridge

South Wales Argus

• Closing junctions on M4 in Newport would be a 'disaster' says MPClosing junctions on the M4 in Newport would be a 'disaster' according to Jessica Morden MP, as she urged residents to resit the plans.

Wrexham.com

• Wrexham Council urges Welsh Government to back direct London rail bidWrexham Council has called on the Welsh Government to back plans for a new direct rail service linking the city with London Euston.

Other Regional Press

• New rail link to provide more for residents in SomersetA NEW rail link public transport service is set to come into effect in Somerset next month.
• West Dorset MP warns county 'will become transport desert'AN MP says Dorset has been 'left waiting at the bus stop while the rest of the country moves ahead' after it was revealed the county will receive the lowest government bus funding allocation in the south‑west over the next four years.
• Stagecoach boss claims Cambridgeshire bus stop safety key to VAWG missionThe boss of a bus company in Cambridgeshire said he wants to see bus stops feel more welcoming in a bid to improve safety on public transport.
• Government minister tells Lancashire's Reform leaders to 'get a grip' over Hyndburn road closureA government minister has told the Reform UK leaders of Lancashire County Council to "get a grip" after an MP complained about a major road which has been closed for more than a year.
• Merseyrail set to return under public ownershipMerseyrail is set to be brought back under public ownership again.
• Castleford rail bridge scheme to get £5m boostPlans to build a new railway bridge in Castleford as part of a wider regeneration project is set to receive a boost of more than £5m.
• Kidderminster councillor concerns over viaduct bridgeA councillor has raised serious concerns about the potential danger posed by a neglected railway viaduct calling it an "accident waiting to happen" .
• Government launches 'Strategic Vision' for transport to an expanded Heathrow AirportWithout action, expansion will likely increase congestion on existing route and have negative environmental impacts

Construction Enquirer

• £33m race begins for Caerphilly bus and railway interchangeTransport for Wales is starting the hunt for a contractor to deliver the £33m redevelopment of Caerphilly Interchange, opening the race for one of the next major projects in the South Wales Metro programme.

Rail Advent

• Partnership between Siemens and Stadler to build new trains for BerlinA major contract for new rolling stock for the S-Bahn in Berlin, the capital of Germany, has been awarded to a consortium comprising Siemens Mobility and Stadler Deutschland.

Rail Magazine

• Leeds tram scheme's business case 'writes itself' but still no sign of movementWhat next for West Yorkshire's ill-fated mass transit system?

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• What the new Welsh Government could mean for coach and busThere is reason for optimism for the coach and bus sectors in the early moves from the new minority Welsh Government, writes Matt Williams
• Bus Centre of Excellence continues to go from strength to strengthOrganisation continues to support change in sector in England, with more planned, says its head
• Safer bus services require culture as much as standards: WiBCSupporting the launch of BSS2 last month was a natural fit for Women In Bus
• Bus Safety Standard: how London is leading the way on changeThe recent launch of phase two of the Bus Safety Standard revealed the technology and design changes set to shape London's bus fleet, as TfL continues its Vision Zero drive
• Do 'Coach Friendly' destinations get the attention they deserve?In 2003, the Kent town of Rochester was the first destination to receive the Confederation of Passenger Transport's 'Coach Friendly' status. Today, there are 43 recipients across England, Scotland and Wales. Being 'Coach Friendly' appears to be a win-win situation for both operator and destination, so why aren't there more?
• Latest PSVAR policy for coaches gives greater forward clarityThe latest exemptions to July 2030 have been detailed and come with stipulations
• The rise of micromobility: threat or opportunity for bus sector?With micromobility use rapidly growing, experts weigh in on what effect the trend will have on bus patronage
• Falcon buses' electric journey shows challenges ahead for SMEsAn early adopter of the next-generation Alexander Dennis Enviro200EV, Falcon Buses is proving independents can make the switch to zero-emissions but not without obstacles

Safer Highways

• AECOM Strengthens Aviation Leadership with Heathrow Veteran Dennis AustinAECOM has strengthened its aviation design leadership with the appointment of Dennis Austin as Aviation Architecture Director, further expanding the company's capability to support major airport infrastructure programmes across the UK and Europe.

The Business Desk

• EMR cuts Intercity timetable after Hitachi train failures derail reliabilityEast Midlands Railway (EMR) will introduce a reduced Intercity timetable from today (Monday, July 20) after blaming reliability problems with Hitachi Rail's new Class 810 trains and maintenance issues affecting its existing fleet.

Other News Sources

• Glen Rosa Successfully Completes Dry Dock Ahead Of ScheduleIn July 2026 Ferguson Marine has announced a significant milestone in the construction of the new CalMac ferry Glen Rosa, confirming that the vessel has departed her second dry dock ahead of schedule and will now enter an intensive programme of commissioning and quality assurance ahead of sea trials.
• Morebus launched eight new buses on routes 16 and 17Bus users are now travelling in greater comfort and style thanks to a fresh fleet of state-of-the-art vehicles.
• Jacobs Secures Three UK National Highways Contracts for Road Infrastructure ProgramsThe awards expand Jacobs' existing involvement in National Highways' transportation portfolio, which also includes support for the Lower Thames Crossing program.
• 'Major milestone' in expansion of the Port of Immingham celebratedA significant milestone has been celebrated in the expansion of the Port of Immingham.
• Abta steps up lobbying campaign as Andy Burnham takes officeAbta outlined ongoing government lobbying efforts to coincide with Andy Burnham being confirmed to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister today (Monday).
• First Bus to fit passenger air conditioning as standard after campaign by MPLOCAL MP Rachel Gilmour is claiming credit for forcing First Bus to ensure all new buses are fitted with air conditioning.