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Transport roundup

The Welsh government has challenged the Treasury to match nearly £600M it has pledged for economic development and transport projects in south east Wales. A formal Cardiff "city deal" submission was made ahead of the chancellor's spending review on 25 November. Welsh ministers have pledged £580M and the councils £120M, while £580M from the Treasury would make for a deal worth nearly £1.3bn. No specific projects have been identified yet, but are expected to include better bus and train services as part of a Metro scheme.

Autonomous, driverless buses will hit the streets of Switzerland in Spring next year, in one of the world's first trials of self-driving buses on public roads. Two of the driverless buses, created by startup BestMile and launched under the banner of Swiss bus company PostBus, will enter service in the city of Sion. The two-year trial period  be for two buses, capable of carrying up to nine passengers each, covering tourist routes in Sion's Old Town.

Tram trains are on the way. The Department for Transport approved a transport and works order submitted by Network Rail and the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) for the Tinsley Chord. The scheme will see 160m of new track built in South Yorkshire to link existing rail and tram networks. When the scheme is completed, European-style tram-trains will be able to run between Britain’s rail and tram networks for the first time. They will provide a direct service between Rotherham Central railway station, Parkgate retail park and Sheffield city centre.