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

Monday, 19 October 2026

BBC News

• Council bids for £40m to bypass historic bridgeA £40m bid for government money to build a new route bypassing a Grade II* listed bridge has been submitted by a council.
• McGill's accuse Swinney of behaving like dictator over bus plansA major bus firm has accused First Minister John Swinney of behaving like a dictator over his government's plans to bring buses under public control.
• New powers to seize e-bikes that obstruct pathsEaling Council has approved new powers to seize e-bikes and fine operators for obstructions.
• People playing loud music on buses could face £100 fineAntisocial behaviour on buses in England could lead to fines while a new campaign is also being launched for trains. A national campaign asking rail passengers "share the carriage, not the noise" is being launched.

ITV News

• Network Rail trials drones to help keep trains running smoothly after severe weather It's hoped the technology could give engineers an early view of any issues along the rail network.

Department for Transport

• Share the journey, not the noise: government launches measures to prevent noise and antisocial behaviour on transportTackling nuisance behaviour on buses and trains will help people feel safer and more comfortable.

The Guardian

• Andy Burnham launches campaign against ‘headphone dodgers’ on public transportPassengers urged to ‘share the carriage, not the noise’ as guidance sets out £100 penalties for nuisance behaviourAndy Burnham has announced a crackdown on “headphone dodgers” who play loud music on public transport, as he extends his promise to give voters “breathing space” in the confines of a train carriage.The prime minister will unveil a campaign against nuisance behaviour on public transport on Monday, alongside guidance allowing local transport authorities to levy fines of up to £100 for non-compliance. Continue reading...
• 'I've had enough of pink buses': the long wait for Sydney's newest metro line is nearly overTwo years after a major train line in Sydney was closed to make way for rapid, driverless rail, local residents are poised for change not just to their commute but their communities

The Telegraph

• How Labour's nationalising of South Western Railway made things worse [Subscription]With dirty trains, unusable toilets and endless delays, commuters say public ownership of the operator has been a disaster

Times Online

• John Swinney 'a dictator' for pledge to take control of buses [Subscription]Owner of McGill's likens the first minister to dictators Idi Amin and Robert Mugabe for plans to bring Scotland's bus network under public control

Daily Express

• Andy Burnham to hit bus and train passengers with £1,000 fines for not using headphonesBus and train passengers are set to face fines for using their phones on loudspeaker.

Mail Online

• Motorway madness: Smart roads 'are now more deadly' as a third of speed cameras have not worked for almost a YEARSmart motorways have been made 'more deadly' because highways chiefs have failed to fix more than 150 speed cameras for nearly a year, it can be revealed.

The National

• Fix the Rest and Be Thankful, but not at Argyll's expenseSTEPHEN Flynn has agreed to meet representatives of a campaign group speaking for around 1500 businesses before he decides on the medium-term plan for the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful.

Sky News

• Fines up to £100 for playing music out loud on buses announced in new antisocial behaviour crackdownFines up to £100 can now be issued to people who play music or videos out loud on buses - part of a series of new powers tackling antisocial behaviour.

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham residents fear 'troubling' plan to ban cars from busy route would 'disrupt lives'Transport chiefs want to introduce a bus gate on one of Birmingham's 'most dangerous roads' - but some locals fear it would 'disrupt daily lives'
• All new cars could be fitted with life-saving device in shake-upCampaign launched
• How many holidaymakers have arrived back at Birmingham Airport to find their cars stolenThieves have struck around the airport dozens of times this year

Bristol Live

• Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz and others given date to allow passengers two free bagsAirlines in Europe will have to allow you one personal item - such as a bag - as well as the hand luggage that fits under a seat
• Jet2 confirms Bristol Airport rule to speed up check-in Passengers with flights before midday can drop off their luggage during a four-and-a-half window the day before

Liverpool Echo

• Free bus pass age changes in England 2026 - check your date of birthPeople in England face a longer wait for a free bus pass as the State Pension age rises between 2026 and 2028

London Evening Standard

• London bus passengers could face £100 fines for blasting music out loud in antisocial behaviour crackdownLondoners who blast music or videos from their phones on buses could face £100 fines in a bid to crackdown on antisocial behaviour on public transport.

Nation. Cymru

• George Monbiot calls out Wales' 'extractive' economy and rail and road channels into EnglandGeorge Monbiot has been praised for his 'stunning incisive analysis' of the legacy of Wales' extractive economy and transportation networks on a recent episode of BBC's Question Time.
• Mass cycle rides planned across Wales to highlight need for safer cycle routes for womenThis October, women across Wales will join mass cycle rides to to highlight the need for safer routes with their safety in mind.

South Wales Argus

• Jessica Morden MP on proposed M4 junction closuresLike many residents who have written to me in recent days, I struggle to understand how Plaid Cymru's proposals on junction closures, coupled with shunting Newport's proposed new train stations down the list of priorities, would benefit people in our city.

Other Regional Press

• Shock opposition to steam railway mainline connection plans - from railway directorsCOLD water has been poured by West Somerset Railway (WSR) itself on plans for a permanent mainline connection for regular through trains from Taunton.
• MP working to improve school bus serviceA LOCAL MP is working with parents to improve the bus service for pupils at Penistone Grammar School.
• Villagers not getting complacent after East West Rail scraps Fulbourn depot plansPeople in Fulbourn who have fought East West Rail's (EWR) move to build a train cleaning depot there hope the plans never return to the village.
• Playing music without headphones on a bus could see you fined £1,000New guidance is being published by the Government on Monday
• 'Groundbreaking' Coventry VLR scheme has already won two awards - and it's not even complete yetThe Coventry Very Light Rail project has won the Innovation Impact Award at the British Construction and Infrastructure Awards (BCIA), just days after being named Team of the Year at the 2026 Global Light Rail Awards.

Insider Media

• East Midlands Railway plans to launch apprenticeship pilotEast Midlands Railway, operated by Transport UK, is set to launch an apprenticeship pilot with the aim of creating a new entry route into the industry for young people.

New Civil Engineer

• GBR's Rolling Stock and Infrastructure Strategy to support electrification and accessibilityThe strategy was published by the Department for Transport (DfT) and DfT Operator on 28 September and in a statement to parliament on 12 October, DfT

Rail Magazine

• Non-ROSCO funding possible for Northern order amid diesel concernsAlternative funding is being sought for the procurement of Northern's new fleet of trains, potentially delaying any announcement of the order

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Politics has a blind spot when it comes to transport thinkingOur transport politics expert finds little of substance in the recent Labour and Conservative conference speeches, and wonders if a new Bill could finally open the door to road pricing
• Could workplace parking levy schemes help fund bus networks?As Bristol, Cardiff and Leeds consider workplace parking levies to fund public transport investment, routeone examines why Nottingham's scheme has thrived for 14 years while other cities have struggled to get theirs off the ground
• Bus franchising and SME operators: more than just a business tollFamily-owned incumbents face challenging process and not just from a business perspective
• Daffodil Line work shows that rural bus services can still blossomGloucestershire and Herefordshire route is going places under a community-minded approach
• Franchising deployment must not shut out small bus operatorsAs bus franchising expands, CPT Director of Partnerships Aaron Hill says authorities must ensure SMEs are not excluded by the scale and cost of procurement
• Scotland bus network public control plan: clarity for operators urgedFirst Minister announcement leaves businesses needing further detail, says CPT Scotland chief

Aviation Industry

• UK Aviation Industry Introduces New Protections For Disabled PassengersDisabled passengers are set to benefit from improved protection when travelling by air, with new measures aimed at preventing damage to wheelchairs, improving staff training and making assistance at airports more accessible.

Other News Sources

• Rennie: New data reveals scale and cost of ferry cancellation crisisScottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Willie Rennie has today revealed data obtained by his party which lays out the scale of the ferry fiasco blighting coastal Scotland and the sheer cost of compensating passengers for the chaos.
• Egypt builds 'Suez Canal on Rails' to link two seasEgypt is developing a major rail corridor connecting the Red Sea with the Mediterranean, aiming to strengthen its position as an international logistics hub and provide an alternative for some freight movements disrupted by insecurity in the Red Sea.
• Germany's heaviest freight trains face 85% track access increase in 2028DB InfraGO's proposed track access charges would increase by up to 84.8% for certain freight services, while standard freight trains face a much smaller increase of 6.6%.
• Pilot scheme looks at bringing Transport for London cleaning in-houseTransport for London and its current cleaning contractor Mitie have begun a 12-month pilot to explore how TfL could bring cleaning services in-house
• Kier to deliver infrastructure works for Manchester Airport station upgradeNetwork Rail has awarded Kier a £54M contract to support the remodelling of Manchester Airport railway station, including construction of new retaining walls and earthworks amendments.
• Amey appointed to deliver systemwide integration for Northern Powerhouse RailAmey has secured a new contract with Network Rail to provide systemwide integration services for Phase One of the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) programme, further strengthening its role in one of the UK's most significant rail infrastructure programmes.