John Lutz Boorman, head of product and marketing, Hanwha Vision Europe Smart city technologies have been around for 10-15 years, but advances in video technology and AI make it easier for city leaders to gain value from connected devices across a range of applications, from transportation and public safety to energy. Today, the global smart city market size is estimated to be nearly $900 billion. And, according to Grandiew Research, it is projected to exceed $3.7 trillion b

The first stage of the Mid Cornwall Metro project is now underway, bringing a major increase in rail services between Newquay and Par for the first time in decades. From today, trains on the route are operating every hour, more than doubling the previous timetable and delivering the most frequent service seen on the line in over 60 years. Local businesses and transport leaders have welcomed the change, describing the improved connectivity as a significant boost for residents,

National Highways has launched its first-ever construction project powered entirely by green hydrogen, using the technology on a road improvement scheme in Merseyside as part of wider efforts to reduce carbon emissions across the road network. The trial is taking place on a £7 million safety upgrade project at the A5036 Dunnings Bridge Road and Park Lane junction in Netherton, near Bootle. The scheme involves the installation of new pedestrian crossings and associated highway

Drivers travelling through Kent are being warned of overnight closures on the M20 as traffic management measures are introduced ahead of expected holiday travel disruption at Channel ports. National Highways confirmed that sections of the motorway between Maidstone and Ashford will close overnight on Tuesday 19 May to allow the Operation Brock contraflow system to be put in place. The temporary traffic arrangement will operate along a 13-mile stretch of the M20 between juncti

Shropshire Council is introducing a new inspection team to monitor the quality of pothole repairs carried out across the county’s road network. The authority says the move forms part of a tougher new approach aimed at improving repair standards and ensuring contractors are held accountable for poor workmanship. According to reports from the Shropshire Star, the council is implementing a more rigorous inspection process for completed highway repairs after concerns that some po

Go-Ahead London has launched 13 new battery-electric Alexander Dennis Enviro100EV buses on Transport for London route 322, serving passengers between Crystal Palace and Clapham Common. The vehicles form part of a wider investment in electric transport by the operator, which now has a total of 60 Enviro100EV buses either already in service or due to enter operation in the near future. The route also marks the first electric bus deployment from Go-Ahead London’s recently opened

A London bus driver is in a critical condition after a serious assault on Battersea Bridge during the early hours of Sunday morning. Metropolitan Police officers were called to the scene in south-west London at around 12:30am following reports that a man had been attacked near a stationary bus at a bus stop. The victim, a 64-year-old driver, received emergency treatment from officers before being airlifted to hospital by London’s Air Ambulance service. Police believe the inci

A public survey on the future appearance of buses in the West Midlands has revealed strong support for a purple colour scheme as regional transport leaders prepare to introduce a unified branding system across the network. More than 1,300 people took part in the poll, which asked residents to choose from six possible colour options for buses that will eventually operate under a franchised transport model managed by Transport for West Midlands. Purple emerged as the clear winn

Amazon has officially started its first commercial drone delivery operation in the UK, introducing autonomous parcel flights for customers in and around Darlington, County Durham. The launch represents the company’s first routine drone delivery service outside the United States and follows regulatory approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority for limited Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. The service is operating from Amazon’s fulfilment centre near Darlington

Efforts to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport have taken a major step forward after councillors agreed to continue supporting a £57 million loan package linked to the project. The decision follows several weeks of political debate surrounding the airport’s finances and the level of oversight attached to the funding arrangements. At a specially convened meeting of Doncaster Council, members voted to back the revised agreement, allowing the reopening programme to move ahead. Th

National Grid is rolling out advanced monitoring technology across hundreds of kilometres of its electricity transmission network in an effort to increase grid capacity without building large amounts of new infrastructure. The company has confirmed a major expansion of Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) systems across England and Wales under a new five-year programme. The technology will be installed along an additional 585km of transmission routes, mainly covering key north-to-south

Transport for Wales (TfW) has expanded its contactless pay as you go rail system into North East Wales and the border region, allowing passengers to travel more easily without purchasing tickets in advance. The new system enables customers to simply tap in and tap out using a contactless bank card or mobile payment device at participating stations. Fares are then automatically calculated to ensure passengers receive the best available price for their journey. The rollout cove

A major review into the troubled HS2 rail project is expected to conclude that unrealistic ambitions, political interference and poor early decision-making played a significant role in the scheme’s ongoing difficulties. The report, led by former National Security Adviser Sir Stephen Lovegrove, reportedly identifies several “original sins” at the heart of the project, including the decision to prioritise extremely high operating speeds and push ahead with construction before d

Costain has launched an upgraded personal protective equipment and workwear programme designed to better support employee wellbeing, accessibility and sustainability across its operations. The infrastructure company worked with its internal inclusion groups, including the Disability and Wellbeing Network and the Women’s Network (Dawn), alongside PPE supplier Arco, to redesign and expand its available clothing and safety equipment options. More than 150 new products have been

Questions are mounting over how Heathrow Airport plans to finance its proposed third runway, with MPs warning that taxpayers could ultimately face some of the financial burden despite government assurances of private investment. The airport’s expansion scheme is expected to cost around £49 billion, making it one of the most expensive infrastructure proposals currently under consideration in the UK. Alongside construction costs, critics argue billions more could be required fo

A woodland area near Richmond has been upgraded as part of a community improvement project linked to the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine scheme. Round Howe Wood, located beside the River Swale, has received a range of new features aimed at improving the experience for visitors and encouraging greater community use of the site. The improvements were delivered through a collaboration between Richmond Rotary Club and the British Gurkhas and Nepalese Community based in Catterick and D