News Snippets
Plans to restore a railway line through the Peak District, connecting Derby and Manchester via Matlock, Bakewell and Buxton, have advanced with the submission of a feasibility study to the Department for Transport. The proposal, which would reinstate 18.5km of track to complete an 80km route, has been endorsed as having no major barriers to progress and is now set to move to the Strategic Outline Business Case stage. The project has received cross-party parliamentary backing, with 26 MPs supporting the initiative and is expected to be considered by Derbyshire County Council.
Economic benefits are estimated at between £2 billion and £8 billion, with the route also aiming to improve access to new housing developments and enhance walking and cycling networks. The line, which previously operated between London and Manchester before closing in the late 1960’s, currently has a heritage section running from Matlock to Rowsley South, while services from Manchester extend to Buxton. A spokesperson for the project highlighted its potential to address congestion, improve accessibility and reduce environmental pressures in the region.
On 19th April 2026, several bus routes in areas including St Helens, Earlestown, Maghull and Lydiate will experience adjustments to departure times and route configurations. Route 20 sees altered Monday to Friday departures from Earlestown, while route 31’s Saturday and Sunday services will have their final journey from Maghull station re-timed to 23:52. The 44 and 300 routes will have timing points on Eastbank Street shifted near Part Street and Yellowhouse Lane, leading to minor changes for specific journeys. Route 201’s Monday to Saturday schedules will be fully revised and route 211’s circular service will include a minor route adjustment with the addition of the Morrisons interchange and the removal of a timing point near Speke Boulevard. Selected journeys on route 899 no longer will serve certain locations, instead rerouting via Knowsley Lane with adjusted timings. Other routes, including 320, 31A, 32A, 33, 897 and 898, will remain unchanged.
From 20th April, Bus Éireann is taking over Limerick city route 310 from Dublin Coach. This goes between Sarsfield Street and the National Technology Park, serving the University of Limerick along the way. The frequency is half-hourly with the service period extending from early until late.
Complaints had been made about the way that Dublin Coach operated the service, though it worked well when I tried it a few years ago while meeting with my brother for a meal at a hotel. The route came into being as an emergency contract award in 2022 following the cancellation of commercial services 307 and 308 due to increases in operating costs. This also explains why it has not been operated by Bus Éireann until now, bringing all Limerick city services into their network, which probably should have been the case in the first place.
While Buses magazine and Coach & Bus Week were known to me already, I recently came across Route One as well. Public road transportation may not attract the same level of interest as rail does, so these titles cover valuable ground. The first of the lot is more of an enthusiast title, while the rest are more professional in their outlook. Nevertheless, anything that features what is happening in an often overlooked part of modern life has to be invaluable.
Recently, while looking for something else, I came across these Irish public transport websites, all part of a private endeavour: LimerickTransport.info, CorkTransport.info, GalwayTransport.info and Public Transport New for Galway. For context, they do have a use, even if personal efforts can have a patchy record when it comes to keeping up to date at times. Some updates developments in Irish transportation can be hard to find in other places, though.
Several bus route changes will take effect across Cheshire from 29th March 2026. The 12A service will be revised to serve Grand Junction Retail Park and Hungerford Road, with improved links to Crewe Business Park, Crewe Rail Station and Leighton Hospital, while the 19 and 19A routes will be adjusted to improve reliability and reduce congestion at school times, with the McCann’s section withdrawn. The 84 service between Crewe and Chester will see peak-time timetable adjustments to improve punctuality.
On 30th March, new Sunday journeys will be introduced on the 31 and 37 routes to improve access to essential services and leisure activities, with the 37 also gaining new Monday to Friday journeys between Sandbach and Winsford. The 88 service between Knutsford and Altrincham will receive a revised timetable for improved reliability.
Further changes arrive from 5th April, when the 391 and 891 services between Macclesfield, Poynton and Stockport will gain a new Sunday service for similar reasons. On 13th April, a new 86 service will be introduced as a circular route between Knutsford, Over Peover and Ollerton, alongside revisions to the 87 and 89 routes to improve reliability, with the 89 no longer serving Pickmere.
From Sunday 29th March 2026, several bus routes in Merseyside and Cheshire are subject to timetable changes. To begin with, Routes 1 and X1, operating between Liverpool and Chester, will see revised timings throughout, with the X1 Monday to Friday and Saturday services reduced to hourly, resulting in a combined daytime frequency of approximately every 20 minutes alongside Route 1.
Meanwhile, Route 56, serving Liverpool and Netherton, will replace the Southport Road, Kier Hardie Avenue timing point with a stop at Netherton Way, Dunnings Bridge Road, with all other timings remaining the same. Turning to Warrington, Routes 329 and 360 will follow a minor reroute along Winwick Road onto Winwick Street into Warrington bus station, with Route 360 retaining its existing timings and Route 329 seeing this change applied to Arriva services only. Finally, from Monday 30th March 2026, Route 319 between Kirkby and Skelmersdale will serve all stops along the route, with timings remaining unchanged.
The electrification of the Core Valley lines in South Wales has been completed following a six-year, £1 billion project, with the final section of overhead lines energised between Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay. The work involved installing over 3,100 steel posts, five substations and lowering tracks under 14 bridges to accommodate overhead lines. The network now supports bi- and tri-mode trains, enabling the introduction of tram services between Pontypridd and Cardiff Bay. Officials highlighted the project as a major milestone for rail infrastructure, citing improved capacity, frequency and reliability of services, along with environmental benefits, while acknowledging the challenges faced by communities during construction.
Two new stations in the West Midlands, Willenhall and Darlaston, have opened with features including sheltered platforms, accessible lifts, ticket machines and secure cycle parking, alongside dedicated car park spaces for commuters. These developments are part of a £185 million project by Transport for West Midlands to construct five new stations, with three additional stations on the Camp Hill Line in Birmingham set to open in early April. The stations aim to improve connectivity for local residents, offering direct links to major transport hubs and enhancing travel options. Service started calling at the new stations began on 19th March, marking the start of operations for passengers based near them.
A fleet of diesel trains originally built for the Midland Main Line over two decades ago will be deployed in Scotland to replace ScotRail’s aging High Speed Trains, which have been in service since the 1970’s and are now the last of their kind in regular use across Britain. These Class 222 units, introduced in 2004 and based on the Voyager design, feature a redesigned interior and are undergoing extensive refurbishment, including new seating, lighting and improved accessibility.
A technical support contract with Alstom and a separate £80 million upgrade agreement with Beacon will ensure enhancements to comfort, reliability and facilities. The Scottish Government has contributed £67 million to the project, with the first units expected to enter service by late next year and all 22 sets operational by 2028. ScotRail’s managing director highlighted the upgrade as a step toward a more sustainable and customer-focused rail network, aiming to encourage greater use of public transport and improve overall journey quality.