Midlands Connect calls for big road spend

Midlands Connect wants the Government to agree a long-term funding plan for upgrading key trunk roads in the region. The shadow sub-national transport body is devising investment programmes for the A46, A5 and A50/A500 corridors that are expected to take ten to 20 years to deliver. It says the... continue

Notts buys Cornwall’s share of Via East Mids

Nottinghamshire County Council has completed the purchase of Cornwall Council’s majority shareholding in highways service provider Via East Midlands for £5m. Via was launched in July 2016.  Nottinghamshire owned 49 per cent and Corserv, a company owned by Cornwall Council, owned 51... continue

TfWM appoints expert modelling framework

Transport for the West Midlands (TfWM) has appointed experts to a four-year modelling advisory service framework for the provision of advice on traffic forecasting, modelling and appraisal.   The selected individuals will provide advice on transport and land-use modelling, such as advising on... continue

Puzzling over Nottingham’s public transport network

The anonymous letter in the last issue regarding cuts in Nottingham City Council’s tendered bus services has left me very puzzled. Initially I had some sympathy with the suggestion that non-emergency patient and school transport movements should be integrated with the tendered transport... continue

Notts leads East Mids HIF roads bid

Nottinghamshire County Council has submitted a £76.5m bid to the forward funding stream of the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund for roads to support new housing. Nottinghamshire is leading the bid with Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, and the districts of... continue

TfWM sets out programme for area’s Future Mobility Zone

We’ll meet NO2 limit by 2021, says Birmingham City Council

The Government expects Birmingham City Council’s air quality action plan to deliver compliance with the EU annual mean nitrogen dioxide limit “by 2021 at the latest”.  The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs this month approved Birmingham’s action... continue

Nottingham’s bus service cuts are a political choice

I note from Nottingham City Council’s Transport for Nottingham website – ironically branded ‘Keeping Nottingham Moving’ – that significant cuts are imminent to its tendered bus network. These will mothball around half of its electric bus fleet (The council says seven... continue

Greater Anglia enhances station cycle parking security

Train company Greater Anglia is improving cycle parking security at 13 of its stations following a review of facilities across its network. The train operator is spending £7,500 in security improvements, including installing tamper-proof fixtures and fittings on single bike stands and... continue

InclusivEV electric vehicle sharing project launches in Solihull

A pan-European project that aims to widen access to electric vehicles (EVs) through an affordable car sharing scheme has launched its first demonstration site in Solihull, West Midlands. InclusivEV addresses the issues facing city neighbourhoods by increasing accessibility to EVs. Through urban car... continue

Wireless charging for electric taxis trialled

A project to develop wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging funded by Innovate UK has been launched. The WiCET (Wireless Charging for Electric Taxis) consortium will demonstrate the financial, operational and technical benefits of wireless charging for electric taxis and emergency service... continue

Birmingham supermarket car park fire damages 10 vehicles

Ten cars were damaged in a fire at a supermarket car park in Birmingham. West Midlands Fire Service crews attended the blaze at the Morrisons store on Hagley Road just after 3.30pm on 23 February. The store was evacuated and one man was treated for the effects of breathing in smoke. The fire was... continue