TfL financial crisis “could lead to tube line closing”
Transport for London is considering shutting down an entire tube line to try to balance its books, as its battle with central Government over financing continues. London’s financial paper City AM reports TfL’s chief financial officer Simon Kilonback told the operator’s finance committee that TfL could see the “full closure of a line or part […]
Government strengthens hand held mobile law
The Government is strengthening existing laws making it illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving under virtually any circumstance. It says this follows a public consultation which found that 81% of people supported such a move. The Highway code is being changed making it clear that hand-held phone use at traffic lights or […]
Major government review says highways authorities have coped well with extreme weather events but sector must ‘co-design’ better ways to support communities
A major government review has found ‘clear evidence’ of authorities within the highways sectorthat have coped well under the intense and sustained pressures placed on them by a variety of extreme-weather hazards over recent years. But despite this, the sector must ‘co-design’ better ways to support communities over coming decades, according to one expert, who […]
Government consults on Road Collision Investigation Branch idea
A new investigation branch dedicated to learning lessons from road traffic collisions, including those involving self-driving vehicles, could be established under plans being unveiled by the Government. The Department for Transport has launched a consultation on proposals to set up a Road Collision Investigation Branch (RCIB), which would operate much like the similar independent bodies […]
Two National Highways planning decisions delayed
The Transport Minister Andrew Stephenson has confirmed that development consent orders around two improvements to National Highways’ road network have been given revised deadlines. The schemes relate to the applications for the M25 junction 10 / A3 Wisley Interchange and M54 to M6 link road. He writes: I have been asked by my Right Honourable […]
New M1-A6 link road to be built in Central Bedfordshire
A new strategic road will be built to bypass the town of Luton, running from the A6 to junction 11a of the M1, connecting with the recently finished A5 to M1 Link road. Central Bedfordshire Council says the new link will be 2.75 miles long with a dual carriageway to a new planned rail freight […]
Tech companies in £2m competition to “revolutionise transport”
Entrepreneurs and innovators pioneering new ways of creating a better transport system are in line to get taxpayer funding to “see their ideas brought to life from idea through to inception”. Transport Minister Trudy Harrison has announced up to 53 projects will be awarded a share of £1.95million in Department for Transport funding. Past winners […]
Government takes out another injunction against activists blocking roads
The Government has taken out a fresh injunction to target protesters who cause disruption on any of the Strategic Road Network linked to the M25 in the South East. The new injunction bans activities that obstruct traffic and access to motorways and major A Roads in and around London. It also bans activities which cause damage to the road surface and […]
Consultation launched to consider groundbreaking technologies that will transform how we travel over the next decade
Expanding electric vehicle charging and measures to safely maximise the opportunities and benefits from emerging aviation technology, including drones, are among a raft of new proposals set out by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. With radical changes in transport expected over the next decade, the government is making sure the right framework is in place to […]
DfT promises investigation into newspaper’s Smart Motorway safety story
The Department for Transport has told the Daily Mail it will investigate the newspaper’s claims of faulty equipment used on smart motorways. The paper says it based an undercover reporter in the South Mimms control room, who found that cameras did not work, were misted up or facing the wrong way and software used to […]