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

Friday, 11 September 2026

BBC News

• Fears quiet electric buses pose danger to blind peopleFears have been raised that blind pedestrians might be at risk from electric buses that have been rolled out in Merseyside.
• Dig fails to prove world's oldest platform claimVolunteers excavating what is claimed to be the world's oldest railway station platform have admitted they have found "no silver bullet" to prove the boast.
• Second scenic Highland rail route to close for upgradeA second scenic route in the Highlands is to close for an upgrade and repair programme.
• Faster journeys promised across the north in £1bn rail planThe government says the work will support thousands of jobs across the UK.
• Thameslink unveils 'blissful' new seatsThe train company is to replace its existing seating, which has been likened to "ironing boards".
• E-bike crime crackdown leads to 187 arrestsFootage released by the Met shows officers using high-powered Sur-Ron bikes to pursue suspects.
• Car drives on pedestrian bridge over M8 in GlasgowThe car was seen driving over the Anderston Footbridge, which crosses over the busy M8 motorway linking the city centre with the west end.
• Alstom to build new battery-electric train fleetThe government says the work will support thousands of jobs across the UK.
• Railway station toilet repairs under wayAn MP has welcomed work to bring toilets at a train station back into use. Graham Stuart said he had been working to get the facilities at Beverley railway station restored.

Department for Transport

• More comfortable commutes ahead: rail reform spells end of the 'ironing-board' seat era on Thameslink trainsThameslink will upgrade its standard class seat cushions from 2027 to give millions of passengers a more comfortable commute.

The Guardian

• New battery-powered trains will 'bring faster journeys to north'No 10 says 29 new trains to be built in Derby will support 350 local jobs, as well as nearly 6,000 across the UK

The Independent

• Passengers unlikely to get compensation as UK airports return to normal after days of flight chaosAirports in the UK are largely operating as scheduled following days of flight chaos due to an issue with air traffic control. ... Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is conducting an independent review, has told passengers that the disruption caused by the Nats outage is likely to be considered the result of 'extraordinary circumstances' under passenger rights rules.
• New £1 billion electric trains to 'bring faster journeys to the North,' Burnham saysThe new trains will cut journey times by up to 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds and up to 14 minutes between Manchester and York

The Telegraph

• Gatwick Airport unveils robotic car parking but there's a catch [subscription]Days after a tech glitch brought UK aviation to a halt, the West Sussex hub wants you to entrust your vehicle to a robot

Times Online

• Ryanair suffers 40% shareholder revolt against O'Leary bonus [subscription]A significant bloc of investors voted against the proposed payout, which is worth a possible £150 million for the chief executive if the airline hits targets
• Our miniature steam railway has gone electric [subscription]Once part of a country estate, a miniature railway is now running the first electric locomotive that behaves like a steam engine and you can ride it

The Mirror

• Dozens of new trains to be built in Britain to cut journey times between major cities in NorthRail passengers in the North will access faster and more reliable journeys under a 31billion plan to build a new fleet of 29 battery-electric TransPennine Express trains in Britain

The National

• Stephen Flynn writes to MSPs after being unaware of ferry gas leakSTEPHEN Flynn has written to the Holyrood Transport Committee to say that 'passenger safety was not compromised' during a flammable gas leak on a Scottish ferry.

Conservative Home

• James Ford: Khan's lack of ambition has translated into a declining bus network in LondonSadiq Khan's dad was a bus driver. We know this because he tells us so a lot. It has not quite risen to the level of irritation that Keir Starmer got to with his 'son of a toolmaker' schtick (actually, his dad owned a toolmaking business but 'son of small business owner' lands rather differently, especially with a Labour audience). Sadiq's dad definitely didn't own the bus company (he drove a bus on route 44 between Victoria and Tooting) so it is marginally less galling than Keir's prolier-than-thou fake history.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• £1bn plan for 29 new battery-electric trains in the NorthA major investment in new battery-electric trains is set to transform rail travel across the North of England, including services to Bradford.

Liverpool Echo

• Andy Burnham says £1bn investment in new trains will 'bring faster journeys to the North'The new trains will run on routes between Liverpool Lime Street and Scarborough, Manchester Airport and Saltburn, and Manchester Piccadilly and Hull

London Evening Standard

• Air traffic boss Martin Rolfe on £1.5m given week to come up with answers on Heathrow and Gatwick flight chaos as he faces calls to quitMore than 2,000 flights have been cancelled after a computer problem at the National Air Traffic Services caused major disruption at UK airports
• Heathrow third runway: Full speed ahead for expansion of west London airport, signals Chancellor John HealeyAfter years of delay, indecision, often vexatious challenge, we have given go-ahead to this project because economic case stacks up, says Chancellor
• Transport Secretary does not believe air traffic control issue was 'unavoidable'Heidi Alexander told MPs that safety must remain air traffic controllers' 'over-riding priority'

Manchester Evening News

• Faster trains, battery power, more jobs, as Andy Burnham announces £1bn plan for the north"I've lost count of the number of times someone has stopped me to tell me about the train that never came"

Metro

• Collapsed drain plunges London Underground into chaosLondoners have been caught up in travel mayhem across the Tube network and Elizabeth line today.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Major North East bus reform plans spark concerns from leading Tory councillorsA move to a franchising model is currently undergoing consultation

Wales Online

• DfT major rule change for UK all air passengers over luggage, delays and airportsA massive change for anyone travelling on aircraft from the UK has reached a key point as the government laid out the plans. Passengers will see key differences and improvements to rights around luggage, for disabled passengers, compensation and drop off charges.

Yorkshire Post

• More streetlights to be turned off on East Riding roads in major sustainability projectMore streetlights are to be turned off around East Yorkshire as authorities look to make motoring more sustainable by reducing energy consumption.

Carlisle News & Star

• Bookings open for flexible rural bus service around PenrithBookings have opened for a new flexible bus service designed to improve transport links for rural communities around Penrith.

Lancashire Telegraph

• Confusion over ramp rules at Burnley Manchester Road stationA sudden decision to stop disabled passengers using part of Burnley's main railway station has sparked confusion, criticism and questions over whether the restrictions are even being enforced.

Other Regional Press

• West Midlands teens demand better buses ahead of public bus reformWest Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker has said he wants to fix the region's "broken bus system" and make buses more "dependable" again.
• Council moves forward on north-south trams extensionEdinburgh council has agreed a way to move to the next stage of expanding the tramline north-south in the capital and it came about with a compromise solution between the SNP and Labour groups, supported by the Greens.

Train Operators

• TPE unveils £1bn battery train fleet to transform rail travel across the northA 31 billion investment in a new fleet of battery-electric trains for TransPennine Express (TPE) has been announced in a move set to transform rail travel across the north of England while supporting hundreds of skilled jobs across the UK.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• MP calls for national standards for bus stopsA Labour MP has called for national standards for bus stops, arguing that stopping places play a critical role in attracting more people to use bus services.

Bus-News

• Yutong Bus Opens First European Service Centre in NorwayYutong Bus has announced the official opening of its very-first European Service Centre, which is situated in Stokke, Norway.

Modern Railways

• TfW Bristol decision must focus on customers, says HooperMark Hooper has urged the Office of Rail and Road to approve TfW Rail's application to launch West Wales to Bristol Temple Meads services in December.
• Welsh transport minister backs 'phased devolution'Welsh Transport Minister Mark Hooper says 'phased devolution' of the rest of the Welsh rail infrastructure would be acceptable to the new Plaid Cymru government.

New Civil Engineer

• Rail improvements and HS2 bridge demolition on Chiltern Main Line this weekendNetwork Rail and its partners will carry out a range of projects designed to improve the reliability of the Chiltern Main Line between Northolt Park and Haddenham & Thame Parkway.

Rail Magazine

• Alstom to build 29 new battery-electric trains for TransPennine ExpressAlstom is to build 29 new battery-electric bi-mode trains for TransPennine Express (TPE) at its Litchurch Lane factory in Derby.

TaxiPoint

• Government warns disability-related taxi and private hire surcharges could lead to £1,000 fines Perry RichardsonTaxi and private hire vehicle drivers and operators who charge wheelchair users additional fees because of their disability could be prosecuted and fined up to £1,000, the Government has warned.
• Government has 'NO OBJECTION' to airport drop-off charge review as MPs raise taxi and PHV access concerns during Commons debate Perry RichardsonThe Government has said it has no objection to a review of airport drop-off charges after MPs raised concerns about the treatment of taxis and private hire vehicles, the cost of reaching terminals and the displacement of vehicles into nearby communities.

UKTram

• UKTram contributes to next stage of Mass Transit Taskforce workUKTram continues to support the Government's Mass Transit Taskforce as a series of roundtables begins across the UK. The Taskforce was established earlier this year to explore how to address barriers to faster, more effective delivery of mass transit schemes. Following its recent call for evidence, it is now holding a series of roundtables and site visits to gather further insight from organisations involved in planning and delivering mass transit.

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow delivers a strong summer as the list of airlines waiting for expansion growsHeathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said: This summer Heathrow remained Europe's most punctual hub. The longest queue at Heathrow is now the one made up of over 40 airlines that want to better connect the UK but can't secure a slot because our runways are full. Expansion is a national project that will create jobs, unlock growth and make travel more affordable. We are working with Government to deliver these benefits to every nation and region as quickly as possible.
• You cannot have the third runway and meet climate budgets, AEF tells Transport Select CommitteeOn Tuesday 8th of September, AEF's policy manager, Celeste Hicks, appeared before the Transport Select Committee to give evidence in their Scrutiny of the draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement. You cannot have the third runway and meet climate budgets, AEF tells Transport Select Committee appeared first on Aviation Environment Federation.

Other News Sources

• Chancellor must restore business confidence and unlock investment in Autumn BudgetThe submission further urges ministers to protect high-productivity infrastructure investment and maintain momentum towards the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow. The IoD argues that major infrastructure programmes need clear milestones, accountable leadership and transparent measures of success to improve delivery and attract private investment.
• UK aviation emissions to be 50% higher than thought by 2050, government admitsThe UK government has slashed its hopes for electric planes and 'sustainable aviation fuels' (SAFs), ahead of giving the green light to a third runway at Heathrow.
• Alstom and TransPennine Express sign €1.2 billion contracts for Britain's first mainline battery-electric trains11 September 2026 - Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has signed contracts worth €1.2 billion with TransPennine Express (TPE) for the supply and long-term maintenance of a new fleet of battery-electric trains. The British-designed and built trains will transform rail travel across northern England and support the delivery of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).
• What the DfT's national travel survey tells us about car and van useCars and vans accounted for 58% of all trips but 76% of the total distance travelled, according to the latest National Travel Survey from the Department for Transport (DfT).
• Committee critical over government compensation scheme failuresMPs have called for the creation of a new independent body to oversee government compensation schemes, after a report warned of a 'broken system' resulting in traumatised victims and unacceptable delays to payouts.
• 'Just get this done': pleas made for new Nairn train station footbridge and lift to be builtA new footbridge and a lift at Nairn train station are needed urgently, according to locals.