Latest news with #CyclingWorldChampionships
Daily Record
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Transport bosses called on Oasis Edinburgh gigs to finish earlier 'to save putting on extra trains'
Concert bosses dismissed the request amid fears Liam and Noel Gallagher would re-think their Scottish shows It is less than a week until Oasis begin their run of three nights at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium as part of their hotly-anticipated reunion tour. But it seems it is transport and timings that are dominating officials' conversations. Transport bosses asked for Oasis' shows in the capital to wrap up earlier than scheduled to avoid putting on extra trains, according to the Sun. Officials reportedly asked the show curfew to be brought forward from 10:45pm amid fears of "disorder" after the music spectacle. Gig promoters DF Concerts and Murrayfield Stadium chiefs allegedly dismissed the request as "any changes could/would likely impact on an artists' willingness to perform." Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher are set to electrify the Scottish rugby stronghold for three nights on Friday, August 8, Saturday, August 9, and Tuesday, August 12. Last year, a transport summit was called after the gigs were announced. Documents obtained by the Sun via Freedom of Information laws show how Transport Scotland's events resilience team asked for the earlier curfew in a bid to avoid the need to lay on more late-night train services. An official wrote: "I asked if there was any consideration or scope in bringing end times forward slightly to minimise the necessity on enhanced/extended public transport. "This was met with a somewhat vociferous response by DF Concerts and to a degree SR Murrayfield." In response to the reports, Transport Scotland blasted critics, telling the Record they would be "the first to complain" if transport bosses didn't "challenge travel plans and understand potential impacts on the wider network". A spokesperson said: "Scotland has a good track record of supporting major events like the Cycling World Championships, COP 26, and many other sporting events, festivals and concerts. "ScotRail is putting on extra services and seats during the Edinburgh Festival and for these concerts, including late-night trains to key destinations. "The main reason Scotland has such a successful reputation for delivering these global events is due to close working between Police Scotland, Councils and transport operators, as well as event organisers. "It is our role to challenge travel plans and understand potential impacts on the wider network to allow for business as usual, as well as encourage extra services to be laid on, our critics would be the first to complain if we didn't." DF Concerts and Murrayfield have been contacted for comment. Official stage times for Edinburgh have yet to be published, but organisers expect gates will open at 5pm on each show day, with the curfew expected to be 10.45pm, to accommodate the 67,000 fans descending each night. However, it is worth noting that London's Wembley Stadium's curfew changed between the Oasis concert landing on a weekday and a weekend. On the Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26, the curfew was 10.45pm, but it changed to 10.30pm for the shows on Wednesday, July 30, and tonight's gig, Sunday, August 3. On Friday, August 1, City of Edinburgh Council leader Cllr Jane Meagher confirmed additional transport services would be available via tram, rail, and bus routes. Nonetheless, she cautioned gig-goers to conduct themselves appropriately and advised those without tickets to steer clear. "Whilst we relish hosting the biggest and best events and want everyone attending to truly enjoy themselves, it's important that we remember our residents," Cllr Meagher said. "We ask that visitors are considerate and respectful of them whilst enjoying our fantastic capital city. We're urging people to only travel to Murrayfield and the surrounding area if you have a ticket." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. ScotRail will provide extra trains and carriages during August as part of its Edinburgh Festivals uplift. More services are also planned for the Oasis concerts, with Murrayfield conveniently located a brief walk from Haymarket station. The council's caution was issued the same day Police Scotland launched its operation to safeguard revellers in August. There will be a heightened police presence in the city centre throughout the month. Extra officers from across Scotland, as well as national and specialist units, have been called in.
Scotsman
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
How transport will boost Scotland's GDP - and is changing under a SNP Government
Since becoming Cabinet Secretary for Transport, seeing first hand the impact transport has on the people of Scotland has been revelatory. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... I am delighted to welcome the publication of the Value of Transport report, a detailed report that highlights the impact transport has on the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of the nation. Sometimes without realising, modern life is underpinned by transport. Going to work, getting to school, accessing public services, buying goods and services in person and online - every aspect of peoples lives depends on the ability as a nation to move people, goods and services around Scotland and beyond. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One of the first events I attended as Cabinet Secretary was the opening of the Levenmouth rail line and I was fascinated to hear about the ways in which that particular project was shaped by the people of the area in a way that met their needs across bus and active travel as well as rail. Riders cross he Queensferry Crossing across the Firth of Forth during the men's Elite Road Race at the Cycling World Championships in Edinburgh in 2023. Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images Scotland has seen a number of achievements and successes relating to transport in recent years, including the Queensferry Crossing, the new Aberdeen Bypass, and on a smaller scale, the introduction of Low Emission Zones in Scotland's four largest cities; free inter-island ferry travel for young people; meeting all milestones set out in the delivery plan to dual the A9 since the plan was published in December 2023 and the continued success of young people using their free bus travel entitlement as having recently celebrated the 200 million journey milestone. These are just a few examples of the integral role transport plays in Scotland's economy and as a key contributor to growth. Everybody uses some form of transport in all of our economic activity, be it the train so I can attend Parliament in Edinburgh; the bus from the suburbs of Aberdeen to the centre for work or a bicycle to make food deliveries. But it is so much more than that. Scotland's roads, rails and ferries allow us all to do the important things that go beyond earning a living – to visit new places, interact with new people and to visit family and friends. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At the same time as producing these social and economic benefits, transport presents both challenges and opportunities for the journey all of us must make towards tackling the climate emergency. Scotland is world leading in its ambitions, its geography and natural resources are a huge competitive advantage. Canals and railways enabled a shift away from an agricultural society to an industrial society during the 18th century and first industrial revolution. In the 21st century, transport will once again be vital to enabling and developing the next shift. Through on and offshore wind infrastructure, the development of new sources of renewables and through the continued development of technology that will help ensure a fair and just transition. Whilst these opportunities are important for the future, I remain firmly focused on the present and this new report sets out in some detail, the value that transport has in real terms. It shows that the sector supports over 150,000 full time equivalent jobs, and almost £10 billion Gross Value Added (GVA). This represents between 6-7% of the total workforce and Scottish GVA. However, the impact of the transport sector is much more central to the economy and to people's lives than this indicates. This report demonstrates how transport can help support businesses, imports and exports, and how transport investments can increase productivity. It also shows how transport policy can be used to address inequalities. For example, the paper highlights a clear gap in access to cars between those in and out of work, as well as the challenges faced by those in Scotland's island communities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Transport, including aviation and shipping, accounts for about a third of total Scottish emissions. It is the largest emitting sector for nine consecutive years. While the cost of decarbonisation is large, it also presents significant economic opportunities – such as battery and vehicle manufacturing as well as unlocking efficiencies within other industries. People may ask 'why does transport matter?'. Transport is not an invisible commodity, transport is truly transformative – individually and collectively – touching on the everyday lives of the people of Scotland; people of all ages and at all times in a way that is arguably more visible than many other areas of government policy. That not only underlines its importance but also highlights the tremendous opportunities ahead. Transport is the beating heart of society and Scotland's economy. It gets people from A to B. It delivers goods to market and to consumers. Keeps people safe. Drives the economy. It underpins the social contract of modern Scotland – free bus passes, heavily subsidised rail travel, a crucial part of tourism, Scotland's biggest employer. If people walk, wheel or cycle or use public transport they play a part in tackling the climate emergency and in turn, can save the NHS millions of pounds too. More change is coming. Climate change. Political change. Global uncertainties. The public mood is changing too. As individuals we can only focus on what we can control ourselves and be aware and responsive. This government's work is not done – there is so much more to do. Transforming the transport system is not without its challenges, but it is something to be proud to look back on and say as a nation, we played our part. For the first time, the Scottish Government is investing over £4 billion in 2025-26 to support the transport network. What does that actually mean? It means keeping families, friends and communities connected – moving goods and services around Scotland and beyond and ensure people can access public services. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Transport alone, as a driver of growth, can increase the nation's Gross Domestic Product. Transport is also crucial for our trade and competitiveness, within Scotland, across the UK and internationally. Improving gateways, such as airports, ports and major transport hubs, to grow existing markets and explore new opportunities. Of course, there cannot be one solution which suits all of Scotland – but by incentivising and encouraging a shift towards sustainable travel and affordable, available and accessible public transport options. Scotland faces unique challenges compared to many other comparable countries. Scottish Government research has identified transport as the most fundamental difference between islanders' and mainland household budgets and the reliance on and resilience of ferry services is a particularly Scottish issue.
STV News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- STV News
Cyclists prepare for first-ever world tour race held in Scotland
Cyclists from across the globe are preparing for the first-ever world tour race to be held in Scotland. In its 48th year, The Lloyds Tour of Britain Women's Cycling is coming to Glasgow next month. The race starts in Dalby Forest in the north east of England, before taking in Hartlepool for the second stage. It will then conclude with two stages in Scotland, firstly at Kelso in the Borders, then the final stage at Glasgow Green, where the winner will be crowned on June 8. After the main event at noon, there will be a family cycling festival where amateurs will take to the circuit to battle it out. Speaking to STV, cyclist Morven Yeoman said: 'To finish in Glasgow is unbelievable. Last year it was all sort of down Wales, Manchester direction, which feels close to home, but to have it in Glasgow is just incredible. 'To be racing at home, which we don't get to do that often, is unbelievable. Arianne Holland said: 'Obviously it's just nice to have the crowd behind us and everyone supporting us, and to be able to have friends and family come out to the different stages to support us. 'Especially for me, with it being in my home city of Glasgow on the final day, it doesn't really get any better than that for me.' Scottish Cycling's Nick Rennie said: 'It's just going to add a great deal of excitement, particularly a focus on women and girls cycling, which is always a real driver for us. 'We saw fantastic support and enthusiasm for the Cycling World Championships recently, so it's just a build up on that. 'We're really looking forward to two fantastic days of racing in Scotland with the finale in Glasgow.' The Lloyds Tour of Britain is the largest free-to-attend sporting spectacle in the UK and is delivered under the title of two races, one Tour of Britain. The Lloyds Tour of Britain Women, featuring the world's top teams and riders and attracting tens of thousands of fans to the roadside, takes place annually in June, as part of the UCI Women's World Tour, making it one of the most prestigious events in the sport's global calendar. Live coverage of the race will be broadcast around the world. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Express Tribune
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Sam Ruddock, British Paralympian, reported missing in Las Vegas after WrestleMania
Listen to article British Paralympian Sam Ruddock has been reported missing in Las Vegas after not being seen for more than a week, authorities confirmed on Sunday. Ruddock, 35, who competes internationally in cycling and shotput events and has cerebral palsy, arrived in the United States on 13 April. Ruddock, a huge WWE fan, was planning to attend WWE WrestleMania 41 during his stay in Las Vegas, according to a friend, Lucy Earl. Earl said Ruddock was last heard from on 16 April and that concern grew quickly due to his normally active presence on social media. "He flew on the 13th, I've got confirmation that he landed, I absolutely know Sam was in Vegas. The concerning part is he went silent from the 16th, and because he is such a big presence on social media people were quite fast to notice," she said. Ruddock, from Warwickshire, competed for Great Britain at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games. Most recently, he participated at the 2023 Cycling World Championships in Glasgow. The 35-year-old has been reported missing to police forces both in the United States and Lincolnshire, UK. British Cycling issued a statement urging anyone with information about Ruddock's whereabouts to contact police immediately. "British Cycling understands that para-cyclist Sam Ruddock was reported missing to UK and US police and Interpol after not being heard from since Wednesday 16 April 2025 while visiting Las Vegas, USA. We urge anyone who has been in contact with Sam or may have any information to contact their local police department as soon as possible," a spokesperson said. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed that it is assisting the family of the missing British national.
