Tees Valley bus network to receive £62m investment

A new £62 million scheme aims to improve the Tees Valley bus network.

Transport minister, Sadiq Khan, says the investment will fund the introduction of bus lanes, realignment of road junctions and the creation of new parking bays: “Public transport is the lifeblood of any region and additional investment will yield strong benefits.”

Mr Khan also announced that the Blackpool to Fleetwood Tramway is to receive a £100 million upgrade.

The next London Routemaster may produce no emissions

One of the joint winners of the competition to design a new generation of Routemaster is an Aston Martin-Foster design is for a zero-emissions vehicle, with solar panels built into a glass roof, full accessibility and, in keeping with the original, warm lighting and wooden floors.

The other wining design by Alan Ponsford on behalf of vehicle manufacturer, Capoco (pictured below) features a Routemaster-style front engine and familiar styling, and has a low floor to allow easy access. The original Routemaster did not allow access for wheelchair users.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Whichever of the designs is chosen, the new Routemaster will not only be greener and more accessible than the original, but just as importantly for the promotion of public transport, it will be a design of which we can be proud.”

The final design could be on the road in three years.