BBC Local Live: Devon & Cornwall on Monday 27 March 2017

Summary

Plymouth soldier 'murdered mother of his child' court hears
Police arrest a man on suspicion of attempted murder following an attack in Penzance
Mother killed in head-on crash after Christmas pantomime, court hears
A man, 35, has been jailed after pleading guilty to a stabbing in Holsworthy
Major upgrade for South West-Waterloo rail route
Woman 'critically injured' after cyclist crash
NHS bosses 'subjected to unacceptable levels of abuse' over planned cuts, a health commissioning group has claimed
Beavers at work in secret Dartmoor project
More news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Tuesday

Live Reporting

Johnny O'Shea

South West rail franchise: Stagecoach 'disappointed' to lose contract published at 09:09 British Summer Time 27 March 2017
Image source, Getty Images
The rail firm which currently runs the South West franchise says it is disappointed to have lost out on the next contract.
South West Trains has operated the network for more than 20 years.
Quote Message
Over the past two decades, we have delivered real improvements for our customers right across the network. That success has been built on fantastic people, detailed knowledge of the business and strong relationships with our stakeholders and railway partners. But we have never thought our job was finished. We believe we submitted a strong bid for the new South Western franchise. It offered a transformation in the travel experience for our customers, more investment to help the railway support the communities and economy of the south-west, as well as a substantial and deliverable financial benefit to taxpayers to help fund better public services.
Martin Griffiths , Stagecoach Group Chief Executive
A39 blocked due to an accident - delays in areapublished at 08:56 British Summer Time 27 March 2017
BBC News Travel
- Near Barnstaple the A39 is blocked at the Roundswell Roundabout due to an accident. There are long queues in both directions, surrounding roads are also very busy as drivers try and avoid the closure
- In Exeter, Cumberland Way is partially blocked at Hart's Lane due to an accident, traffic is slow moving
- In Plymouth, William Prance Road is closed. This is adding to the outbound delays on Tavistock Road and Outland Road, traffic is also slow moving on the A38 Parkway from Marsh Mills approaching Manadon
- Also in Plymouth we've got reports the traffic lights have failed at the Charles Cross Roundabout
- The Brixham Torquay Express Ferry is out of service today due to the weather conditions
Health bosses 'abused' over planned cutspublished at 08:52 British Summer Time 27 March 2017
BBC Spotlight
NHS managers in Devon - involved in proposed cuts to the health service - are being subjected to unacceptable levels of abuse, according to one local health commissioning group.
The NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group claims senior staff have been verbally abused at some public meetings and in the street. It says some online comments "use language that is physically threatening".
The group says it welcomes open and passionate debate, but some people are going too far.
Shocking number of women sex offenders in the Plymouth area revealed published at 08:45 British Summer Time 27 March 2017
Plymouth Herald
The number of female sex offenders, external living in our communities has been revealed by Devon and Cornwall Police.
'Elderly' person cut free after two-car crashpublished at 08:35 British Summer Time 27 March 2017
BBC Radio Cornwall
Fire crews had to cut one person free from their vehicle after a two-car crash near Hayle.
It happened on the B3302 between Praze and Leedstown yesterday afternoon.
The casualty has been described as elderly by the emergency services.
Chinese firm MTR to help run South West Trains franchisepublished at 08:28 British Summer Time 27 March 2017
BBC News England
A Chinese company is to help operate one of the biggest rail franchises in the UK , the government has announced.
MTR has been awarded the franchise to run South West Trains (SWT) with First Group for seven years from August. First MTR will take over from Stagecoach, which currently runs SWT services across south-west England to and from London Waterloo.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said China would make "a killing at the British taxpayers' expense".
The Department for Transport (DfT) said the new operators would oversee a £1.2bn investment to improve journeys for millions of train passengers . It said the new franchise would add 22,000 extra seats into London Waterloo for every morning peak and 30,000 extra seats each evening peak.
Image source, Getty Images
Bright spring morningpublished at 08:18 British Summer Time 27 March 2017
BBC Weather Watchers
South West rail franchise 'will see an improvement people want' published at 08:11 British Summer Time 27 March 2017
Image source, Getty Images
As part of the seven-year contract, the government has said First MTR South Western Trains Ltd will oversee a £1.2bn investment that will improve journeys for millions of train passengers, and provide a boost for the communities served.
Quote Message
First MTR South Western Trains Limited will deliver the improvements that people tell us they want right across the South Western franchise area, from Bristol and Exeter, to Southampton, Weymouth, Portsmouth and London. We are delivering the biggest rail modernisation programme for over a century and this franchise will deliver real changes for passengers, who can look forward to modern trains, faster journeys and a more reliable service.
Chris Grayling, Transport Secretary
Major upgrade for South West-Waterloo rail routepublished at 08:02 British Summer Time 27 March 2017
Simon Hall, Home Affairs Correspondent
BBC Spotlight
Devon and Cornwall's second rail route into London is to receive a major upgrade. The Department for Transport has announced £1.2bn will be spent creating faster and more frequent services from Exeter to Waterloo.
The route avoids flood prone areas such as Cowley Bridge and the Somerset Levels - both of which suffer regular disruption.
The money will be spent upgrading trains and the track to provide faster more frequent services, the government says.
BBC Local Live in Devon and Cornwallpublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 27 March 2017
Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online
Good morning!
The clocks have gone forward, and there's a definite hint of spring in the air, but we will be here as ever bringing you all of the news, weather, travel and sport for Devon and Cornwall between 08:00 and 18:00.
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