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

Wednesday, 30 September 2026

BBC News

• Historic ferry service secured for another yearA 180-year-old river ferry crossing will continue for another year after councillors agreed additional funding.
• Ferry schedule opens up new trade link to FranceA long-awaited winter ferry schedule includes a new route to northern France which the government says will provide "new opportunities" for travel and trade.
• Protest as rail freight scheme planning process startsCampaigners have protested against plans for a new rail freight interchange as a planning inspectorate process got under way.
• Train staff to strike over East West Rail door rowChiltern Railway members of the RMT will walk out over the dispute on two Saturday's next month.
• Railway crimes cost North West £7.8m last yearTrespassers on the railway in the North West cost the taxpayer nearly £6m, Network Rail says.
• Major works to start on Brent Cross flyoverRoad users are warned to expect delays throughout the work, which could take up two years.

The Guardian

• ‘Delays are always welcome’: 10 of the best railway station pubs in the UKConverted from Victorian buffet bars, ticket offices and waiting rooms, these station pubs offer beautifully restored interiors, real ales and a slice of railway historyNo prizes for guessing what this pub used to be… The Old Ticket Office has high ceilings, walls painted shades of locomotive green and booths resembling train carriages; there are outdoor tables on Station Square. A live train departures board theoretically prevents passengers lingering too long, and a canning machine means any draught beer is also available to take away (the hatch on platform 4 also does takeaway orders...
• Saunas, cinnamon buns and coastal scenery on the new rail route from Malmö to OsloA new direct train service connects the far south of Sweden to the Norwegian capital in just over six hours, with the option of stopping off in the seaside town of Varberg or lively Gothenburg en route‘This carriage is due for modernisation. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience 90s Germany style,” reads the sign on the door to the dining carriage. The couple inside aren’t missing theirs: they’re taking endless selfies in the clinical pink-and-turquoise carriage that looks like a hospital canteen and smells like cinnamon buns and strong filter coffee.I’m ...

The Independent

• Heathrow expansion 'important for our future', says Treasury ministerPaymaster General James Murray's comments came after Prime Minister Andy Burnham declined to publicly back the scheme.

Times Online

• Why London has become the battleground for self-driving taxis [subscription]Wayve, Waymo and Apollo Go are battling it out in the capital because if robotaxis can operate successfully on its chaotic roads they will surely work anywhere

City AM

• Aviation bosses confident Burnham won;t abandon third runwayThe aviation industry is confident that Andy Burnham won't abandon the government's flagship expansion of Heathrow, despite the Prime Minister and transport secretary distancing themselves from the megaproject at Labour conference.
• British Airways defeats HMRC in £5.8m Heathrow cabin crew tax disputeBritish Airways has won a tax battle against HMRC over whether costs tied to cabin crew accommodation at London Heathrow Airport were subject to £5.8m in income tax and national insurance contributions.

The Mirror

• Rail passengers including disabled people to benefit from pledge to close train platform gapEXCLUSIVE: Disabled people, pregnant women and other commuters will have easier and safer rail journeys under plans to close the gap between trains and platforms

The National

• How much money has ScotRail made from its minimum fare scheme?ScotRail minimum fare scheme raises more than 3400,000 in revenue

The Sun

• London's 'worst train station' dubbed the 'deepest circle of hell' is finally getting upgraded for £50MILLIONThe station has come under criticism for its last-minute platform announcements and lack of information on screens.

Office of Rail and Road (ORR)

• Paul Smith appointed as ORR Chief Executive OfficerThe Office of Rail and Road has today appointed Paul Smith as its Chief Executive Officer, following a public competition. Paul is a highly experienced regulatory leader whose career spans the UK's aviation, energy and payments sectors, as well as senior regulatory roles in Australia.

Rail Delivery Group

• Rail industry extends the Disabled Persons Railcard eligibility to help more people access discounted rail travelThe rail industry is continuing its commitment to accessibility and inclusion by updating eligibility criteria for the Disabled Persons Railcard. These changes are designed to better support disabled customers who may face barriers to rail travel and form part of a broader effort to create a more inclusive railway, putting customers at the centre of decision-making and helping more people travel with confidence.

Birmingham Mail

• Electric cars more reliable than petrol vehicles after 60,000 milesExperts have called for the battery health of EVs to be monitored during MOT tests.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Leeds Bradford Airport defends its night flight plansLeeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has defended its proposed changes to night-time operating arrangements, insisting the plans are designed to modernise how aircraft noise is managed rather than increase noise impacts on surrounding communities.
• Huddersfield rail transformation gathers pace with upgradesMajor rail upgrades are under way as part of a regeneration programme estimated to generate £1.9 billion in GVA.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• More on four week closure of North Wales main line in £25m rail investment Tunnel renewals, new railway footbridges, and track replacement all part of the plans

LBC

• Andy Burnham's Heathrow hesitation is a blow to British manufacturingWith potential delays to the third runway at Heathrow being reported, Stephen Morley, President of the Confederation of British Metal forming, asks if the government is serious about growth or is it just talking a good game?
• Burnham touts 'strong case' for Heathrow's third runway - but suggests Manchester Airport expansion as alternativeAndy Burnham has said he believes there is a strong case for a third Heathrow runway - but suggested that Manchester Airport could be an alternative for expansion if the London hub's plans are rejected.

London Evening Standard

• Heathrow's third runway delayed until 2039Bosses at the airport, the largest and busiest in the UK, have told the Government that sticking to the current 2035 deadline is not possible.
• International trains stopping at second major London station wins crucial backing from rail ministerA campaign for international trains to stop at a second station in London is gaining steam after the move was strongly backed by Rail Minister Lord Hendy.
• All the major transport projects being planned in LondonProjects currently underway include HS2, a Piccadilly line upgrade, and a number of new Superloop services
• Facial recognition trial in London stations leads to zero arrestsThe trial cost more than £320,000 and took up almost 100 hours of police officers' time between February and July this year

Manchester Evening News

• 'Unreliable' Northern trains could be a thing of the past if Greater Manchester gets its wayIf the UK Government hands out the cash needed, up to 450 new trains could be running on train tracks across the region.

Nation. Cymru

• £200m rail plans could bring new stations and more frequent trainsPlans for new railway stations and more frequent passenger services, costing an estimated £200 million, are being updated as part of a long-awaited metro project.

Wales 247

• Pay as you go tap in and tap out extended to 25 North East Wales stationsTap in and tap out train travel is now available at 25 stations in North East Wales after Transport for Wales extended pay as you go to 10 further stations.
• North Wales Coast line to close for four weeks in January 2027 for £25m worksMore than 325m will be invested in the North Wales Coast railway in January 2027 as Network Rail delivers a programme of improvements to reliability, capacity and safety on the passenger and freight route.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Level crossing shut due to youngsters playing 'chicken' on the tracks set to reopenA six-figure safety upgrade is scheduled to begin next week at a level crossing that was abruptly shut after youths were seen playing 'chicken' with oncoming trains.

Yorkshire Post

• Missing bus stops and no access: The Linthorpe Road cycle lane hangoverFour years after it was opened to the public and four months after work to remove it was 'completed', some issues still remain in relation to the deeply unpopular Linthorpe Road cycle lane.
• 'Right thing to do': Leeds Bradford Airport boss Vincent Hodder champions night flights plan - but campaigners hit backThe boss of Leeds Bradford Airport says its proposed changes to night-flight rules are the 'right thing to do' for local communities and county economy as he hit out at campaigners opposing the plans.
• Leeds Bradford Airport: 750 nearby homes to be offered £5,500 for air con and double glazing as map publishedHundreds of households living under Leeds Bradford Airport's flight path could receive up to 35,500 each to pay for noise insulation measures such as double glazing and air conditioning as aviation bosses look to substantially expand operations.

My London

• Plans for new East London DLR station edge closer following 1,500-home proposalTransport for London admits there is a "significant funding gap" but hopes developer Arada will contribute towards the construction of Thames Wharf station
• Crossrail 2 won't open until 'early 2050s' as TfL announces full timeline for expansion projectsTransport for London has confirmed Crossrail 2 won't open under current plans for at least another 25 years, with the service not due to open until at least the 'early 2050s'. North and South London's answer to the Elizabeth line was supposed to begin construction in 2023, following Sir Sadiq Khan and the Department for Transport's formal backing of the plan in 2017, but there has been little progress.

Other Regional Press

• Leeds Bradford Airport says night plans won't increase noiseLEEDS Bradford Airport has insisted that proposed changes to its night-time operations will not lead to an increase in noise.
• Barrow MP welcomes Avanti West Coast nationalisationThe Barrow MP has praised the government for nationalising a major west coast train line and said it will help prioritise the needs of passengers.
• Major rail card change today with millions getting third off train ticketsThe rules change on Wednesday meaning you can cut a third off the price of a train ticket for you and a companion
• Yorkshire rail route named worst in the country for thieves and vandalsTrespass-related crime has caused more than 3,300 hours of delays to rail passengers across Yorkshire and beyond in 2025/26
• Major progress update as Huddersfield railway station gears up to re-openA major progress update has been given as the closure of Huddersfield Railway Station enters its final week.
• Minister's positive response on Falmouth Docks rail linkJayne Kirkham, Truro and Falmouth MP, who is spearheading a campaign for the reopening of the spur branch railway line from Falmouth Docks station down into the dockyard, has received a positive written response to a letter she wrote on the matter.

Train Operators

• Level boarding confirmed for Elizabeth line services at HS2's Old Oak Common superhub stationFuture passengers using Elizabeth line services at HS2's Old Oak Common in west London will benefit from step free access following agreement between HS2 Ltd, Network Rail, Transport for London and the Department for Transport.

Insider Media

• Major £25m investement lined up for North Wales Coast railwayMore than £25m will be invested in the North Wales Coast railway in January 2027 in a move which will see engineers working at locations between Chester and Holyhead, renewing track and other infrastructure - some of which has been in place for more than 50 years.

New Civil Engineer

• Heathrow Airport's third runway delayed until 2039The opening of Heathrow Airport's third runway has been delayed until 2039 with the developer stating it still plans to secure planning permission by 2029.
• Welsh government calls for £1bn rail funding to be brought forwardThe Welsh government has called on the UK government to bring forward £1bn of its existing £14bn rail investment commitment to accelerate improvement projects across Wales.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Will publicly-owned London bus operator plant seed in other areas?Franchising authorities will likely be keeping an eye on TfL's work to establish Buses for London

The Business Desk

• Airport says planned night-time operating changes will not create more noiseLeeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has reiterated that its proposed changes to night-time operating arrangements are about modernising how aircraft noise is managed, not increasing noise impacts on local communities.

RMT

• RMT welcomes government pledge to own train rolling stock under public ownershipRMT today welcomed Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander's announcement that Great British Railways will be allowed to buy and own its trains 'where it can provide value for money'.

Other News Sources

• East Midlands Airport raises drop-off fees but slashes time limitEast Midlands Airport is raising its drop-off fees but reducing the time limit. The charges will go from £5 to £8, while the time limit will change from 15 minutes to 10, both of which will take effect from 3pm today (29 Sept).
• Bus cap scheme to cost 3100m a year in Strathclyde areaThe cost of the £2 bus cap fare in the Strathclyde area has been revealed by the Transport Secretary.
• Operators' priorities take centre stage at Motor Transport Decarbonisation SummitTaking place at Millennium Point on 8 October - in association with event partners RHA and ViGo Bioenergy the Summit will open with a video address from transport minister Simon Lightwood MP, followed by a keynote speech from RHA managing director Richard Smith.
• Stourbridge MP backs plans to explore public train ownershipA MOVE to explore public ownership of trains has been welcomed by Stourbridge's MP. Cat Eccles, Labour MP for Stourbridge, is backing the Government's new Rolling Stock and Infrastructure Strategy, which was announced on Monday, September 28.