Meeting calls for rail upgrades
Politicians and business leaders are calling for better train services in the ITV Anglia region
Rail fares rise
The mid-winter will be bleaker for millions of rail travellers today as rail fares rise by an average of 4.2%.
New rail safety campaign launched
Rail crossing warning
Live updates
Norfolk MP welcomes move to improve A47 road
The Broadland MP has welcomed news that the government is considering giving extra funding to improve the A47 in Norfolk.
The road, which links Great Yarmouth to the Midlands, has been the scene of a number of road accidents.
Keith Simpson said Norfolk MPs has met the Roads Minister before Christmas to press the case for improvements to the A47.
Mr Simpson said: "He pretty well indicated that we were going to be high up on the priority list. I think the announcement today of more money and that the Department of Transport have named the A47 is a good indication. But nothing is set until we actually see the colour of the money."
Hints at A47 road cash back in March
The Prime Minister hinted that more cash may be invested in the A47 when questioned about it in the House of Commons in March.
David Cameron was asked about it by North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham.
It's reported that the government will announce £1 billion of road investment in the spending review in June which could include improvements to the A47.
Click below to watch a clip from Prime Minister's Question Time on 20 March 2013.
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Hopes for new investment in the A47 road in Norfolk
There are new hopes the government will soon announce major improvement work on the A47 road which links Norfolk with the Midlands.
Reports in The Times newspaper suggest the Chancellor has agreed to underwrite a £1 billion road investment programme to include the A47.
The A47, which runs from Great Yarmouth to Birmingham, is a vital link for east coast ports and the the tourist industry including the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads.
The road has seen a number of fatal and serious road crashes in the past few months.
Transport Secretary gives green light to Luton scheme
The Department of Transport has agreed nearly £16 million of funding to improve transport links in Luton town centre.
Transport Secretary Norman Baker said:
“This important scheme will help to reduce congestion on the town centre road network and help regenerate the town encouraging economic growth and inward investment. It will improve public transport facilities and improve accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists."
The Luton town centre scheme was one of those given funding approval in December 2011 as part of the Spending Review process. Work can now start on construction with the project scheduled to complete in August 2014.
£15.9m for new transport links in Luton
The government has given the go-ahead for £15.9 million of improvement work to transport links in Luton town centre.
The scheme will see Luton Borough Council construct a link road to complete the Inner Ring Road and changes to traffic circulation on the north side of the town centre.
The Department for Transport will provide a maximum of £15.9m towards the full scheme cost of £24.1m.
Virgin confirms bid for East Coast rail line
by Laura Kuenssberg - Business EditorVirgin confirms it is planning to bid for the East Coast line franchise.
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First video pics of giant cranes on Thames
The first video clips of three giant cranes from China as they head into port on the River Thames near Essex. The cranes will aid container shipping once the London Gateway opens later this year.
First 3 of 20 cranes heading to London Gateway
How large?
The cranes are taller than the London Eye, weigh 1,848 tons each, will reach across 25 rows of containers on a vessel and can lift up to 80 tons at a time.
Why so large?
London Gateway will be handling the world’s largest container ships, operated by shipping lines to provide economies of scale and reduce environmental impact on the main shipping trade lanes. That means lower cost and lower carbon supply chains for retailers and other cargo owners.
And the future?
The 25-box outreach takes the cranes beyond the width of the world’s largest container ship. “The size of the cranes future-proofs the port, allowing London Gateway to handle the next generation of ultra large container ships,” says London Gateway operations director Tim Halhead.
Network Rail apologises for delays
Recent overhead power problems in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire which led to rail chaos were caused by "component failures", Network Rail has said.
The company said it had identified exactly which components failed at Radlett in Hertfordshire and at St Neots in Cambridgeshire.
Network Rail has apologised to travellers who were caught up in the delays.
"We are carrying out further work to establish the reasons so that we can minimise the chance of repeat failures in the future," said a company spokesman.
Meeting calls for rail upgrades
Politicians and business leaders are calling for better train services in the ITV Anglia region
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