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BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Second double-decker bus crashes into bridge in Greater Manchester
A second double-decker has crashed into a low bridge in Greater Manchester in as many Metroline operated bus was being used for training when it struck the railway bridge on Ten Acres Lane, Newton Heath, earlier, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said. It comes less than 24 hours after a Bee Network bus crash in Eccles, Salford which injured 20 people.A TfGM spokesman said there were no passengers on board the Metroline bus and no one injured. The crash initially led to the cancellation of rail services between Manchester Victoria and the disruption has now cleared after an inspection found no damage to the railway bridge, National Rail said. Metroline, which operates bus services in Greater Manchester as part of TfGM's Bee Network, has been contacted for comment. TfGM's chief network officer, Danny Vaughan, said: "We will work with the operator to fully investigate this collision, and apologise to anyone whose journey was disrupted as a result." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- BBC News
Daughter of Oldham speeding driver victim backs safety campaign
The daughter of a man who was killed by a speeding driver has thrown her support behind a new road safety "No More Flowers" display unveiled by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) features 154 flowers, representing each of the young people killed or seriously injured between 2021 and 2023 as a result of Armstrong, from Oldham, was fatally struck by a vehicle while walking in Chadderton on 8 October 59-year-old's daughter, Joanne Briggs, said she hoped parents would see the display and "make their children aware" of the dangers of speeding. Muhammed Numan Ahmad was last month convicted of causing Mr Armstrong's death by dangerous was jailed for seven had been driving at speeds of up to 60mph (96km/h), considerably higher than the road's 40mph (64km/h) limit."I'm so angry that the stupid actions [of speeding drivers] have caused me and my family so much pain," said Ms Briggs. "I can't put into words how much it's done to us."She said she could not understand some motorists' desire to speed and questioned why those running late for work could not "just call beforehand and be late".Ms Biggs added: "I wish [the drivers] could see the consequences it has, and imagined it was their daughter crying their eyes out at home." Peter Boulton, TfGM's network director for highways, said his organisation wanted to reduce road casualties to zero by 2040."Any death or serious injury on our roads is one too many," he said. "Speeding is the leading cause of fatal road injuries which have a devastating impact on families like Mark's and countless others every people to slow down on the roads, Mr Boulton said: "The difference of a few miles per hour can mean the difference between life and death." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Shetland tunnels connecting to four islands could ‘transform' life – but locals are ‘frustrated' by controversial plans
Elsewhere, bold new plans to tunnel beneath a major UK city have been revealed ROAD DRAMA Shetland tunnels connecting to four islands could 'transform' life – but locals are 'frustrated' by controversial plans Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHETLAND Islands Council is said to be pushing ahead with plans to build inter-island tunnels. The underwater network will connect the four outlying isles in the Scottish archipelago. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Tunnels in Shetland to connect the four islands could 'transform' lives Credit: Getty However critics have taken a swipe at council bosses and highlighted that the nearby Faroe Islands has had a similar system in place for years. The 18 islands - under Denmark's sovereignty - are connected by 23 tunnels, including four that run beneath the sea. The multi-million pound project could "transform" the life of locals but some residents have raised concerns. Anne Anderson of salmon producer Scottish Sea Farms branded the absence of tunnels as "frustrating". Tunnel builder Andy Sloan added: "Without doubt, Shetland can copy what has been achieved in [the Faroe Islands]." Elsewhere, bold new plans to tunnel beneath a major UK city for a massive underground train and tram network have been officially unveiled. The dramatic move aims to transform how people travel in and out of the busy urban centre and tackle future congestion. The ambitious project, based in Manchester and led by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, would see trains and trams running below ground for the first time in the city's history, aiming to ease congestion and support future economic growth. Speaking at the launch of Greater Manchester's new 10-year strategy, Mr Burnham said early design work would begin immediately, with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) tasked with drawing up initial concepts. The network is expected to start with a new underground station at Manchester Piccadilly and could eventually stretch east-west and north-south across the region. Mr Burnham said: 'We are going underground. "We are building the Bee Network on the surface. "But if we achieve our economic ambitions, we'll struggle to cope with just that. "I'm going to ask TfGM to explore underground service options."
BBC News
15-07-2025
- BBC News
Greater Manchester tram disruption update as £150m work continues
More disruption is coming to the Metrolink tram network in Manchester this summer as part of its £150m have faced disruption for weeks in the city centre as Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) began replacing older sections of tram track between Piccadilly Gardens and Piccadilly station. TfGM bosses said the project was "two-thirds complete" and have named the date when roadworks will move towards the railway station and new diversions will be in place for works are set to move on from Piccadilly Gardens and Portland Street to Aytoun Street and Auburn Street, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. How long will the work take? The works on Aytoun Street and Auburn Street will start on Thursday and will continue until 10 August. What disruption will it cause? It means the new "traffic management measures" will be in place for Aytoun Street, as it is an area where tram tracks meet the road so it will be closed off measures include:A signed diversion route along Minshull Street, Portland Street, Piccadilly, Gore Street, and Chatham StreetThe Portland Street bus lane will be temporarily suspended eastbound, towards Newton Street, so all traffic will be able to use that stretch of road while the works are carried outChatham Street will be temporarily made two-way, with the 'no entry' from Piccadilly lifted for the works To allow local access to Aytoun Street, temporary two-way traffic access will be allowed on parts of Aytoun Street and Auburn Street where there is usually only one-way access What does it mean for tram users? Tram passengers - including those heading to the final Oasis gigs in Heaton Park - are also facing service changes in the city centre includes:The Altrincham and Bury lines will not stop at Piccadilly Gardens or Piccadilly stationAltrincham and Bury trams will run via Market StreetAll trams from Ashton-under-Lyne and the Etihad Campus will terminate at Piccadilly station, with signs in place encouraging passengers to walk to Market Street to continue their journey, or use the city centre free bus All trams from Eccles, including those going via MediaCityUK, will run to Victoria via Market StreetThe MediaCityUK to Etihad Campus peak time services will not run during the engineering worksMetrolink said there would be extra double trams on the Eccles - Victoria via MediaCityUKservice. What are the other planned tram works outside the city centre? Other tram works are also taking place outside the city centre including:Essential engineering works at Pomona, and on the Eccles line, on 2-10 August means no tram service will operate on the Eccles via MediaCityUK line or between Cornbrook and WharfsideServices on the Trafford Park line will only operate between Wharfside and the Trafford CentreTfGM said a bus replacement service would operate between Eccles and Piccadilly via Wharfside during the closure, serving all the affected stops. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Metro
13-07-2025
- Business
- Metro
Andy Burnham wants to take Manchester underground
Andy Burnham pricked up ears this week when he unveiled ambitious plans for an underground railway in Manchester. The Mayor of Greater Manchester said the city's transport network would have to go underground by 2050 if it is to keep up with the demand. Outlining his ten-year strategy earlier this week, Burnham promised Britain's third largest city its 'best decade since the Victorian era'. Burnham announced the eye-catching proposals, centred around a flagship underground hub at Piccadilly railway station. Citing the limits of expanding the city's existing Metrolink tram network on the surface, Burnham announced he had instructed Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to 'start planning' for an underground network. Manchester previously experimented with the concept of a 'Tube' like railway between its two major stations, Piccadilly and Victoria. The plan, dubbed the 'Picc-Vic', was considered in the 1970s. Trains would have run every two to three minutes in twin tunnels between the hubs, and ten minutes to areas outside of the city centre. But it was abandoned after the Westminster government decided the costs were prohibitive, having been estimated at more than £9million (or £139million in today's money). In his speech, Burnham said the Bee Network, which comprises of Manchester's Metrolink tram network as well as buses which have been brought under local authority control was fast reaching its capacity. He said: 'We are building the Bee Network on the surface. If we achieve our economic ambitions, we will be struggling to manage. 'I am going to ask Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to look at options for underground services. We will work with the government to look at financing it.' The new subterranean concept would be centred around a new interchange at Piccadilly Station, he said. It would complement the existing tram system, which runs on a mix of dedicated lines and streets shared with road traffic. As well as relieving congestion on the local and suburban rail network, it would offer better connectivity within the city centre. A total of 42 million passenger journeys are made on the tram network alone – up from 25 million in 2012. The idea of an underground station at the city's main rail terminus was previously considered as part of the now cancelled leg of HS2 and in plans for a new railway between Liverpool and Manchester. In 1971, Manchester's then transport authority presented plans to go underground, with promotional artwork depicting Victoria Line style tube trains which would run on a 2.75 mile between Piccadilly and Victoria. The Picc-Vicc railway formed part of a four-phase 25-year plan for Manchester's transport system. The same decade, partially underground mass transit systems were established in both Liverpool and Newcastle. But the Manchester scheme never took off after a failure to secure central government funding for the project, which would have cost £139million in today's money. Instead, the city revived its tram network, closed in 1949. The Metrolink has expanded to 99 stops across 64 miles of track. In 2012, remains of the tunnel scheme were discovered by two lecturers at the University of Manchester. Dr Martin Dodge and Richard Brook found what would have been the beginnings of a station dug 30ft below the Arndale shopping centre. One major obstacle to the project, like its 1970s predecessor, would be its inevitably huge cost, with underground railways notoriously expensive to develop and construct. London's Elizabeth Line was delivered at a final cost of £18.8billion, significantly up from the £14.8billion originally budgeted for the scheme. The cost of Burnham's ambitious 'tube' plans would certainly be measured in the billions, possibly as much as £10billion for what would almost certainly be a far shorter railway than Crossrail, an expert has said. David Leeder, from consultancy Transport Investment Limited, said the mayor would struggle to deliver the scheme from local taxes and would instead rely on a grant from Westminster. More Trending He told Metro: 'Yes, the rail infrastructure in Manchester is undoubtedly crowded, but how will a multi billion pound scheme actually be funded when we are on the precipice of a public spending and borrowing crisis? 'The city mayors are set up in such a way that their default answer is always 'by a grant from the DfT / HM Treasury, to be paid for by taxes that mainly fall on London and the south east'.' He added that the scheme, given its complexity, could eat up 'hundreds of millions' in just the development stage, and would likely require operating subsidies in the region of 'tens of millions per annum'. 'The passenger volumes in Manchester are a fraction of those in London. Yes it was very hard to make an economic case for the Elizabeth Line, even with such huge volumes, so it will be harder still in Manchester', he said. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: M60 closed for hours after serious crash on motorway MORE: I got a massive tattoo of this UK city to prove my love MORE: BST Hyde Park issues update on headliner's health after sudden gig cancellation
