National Express Group committed to pay the Department for Transport £1.1bn over the next 15 years to avoid the loss of its only UK rail franchise National Express Group has kept its place in the UK rail business after retaining its Essex Thameside (c2c) franchise with a bid that was over £300m ahead of...
Group has launched its new Bus App which aims to give potential and existing bus users real time information about its bus networks in the UK Arriva is aiming to improve customer service at its UK bus division with the full roll out and nationwide launch of its Bus App, which promises to drive...
George Osborne’s support for ‘HS3’ is a welcome development. The neglect of our railways in the North is wrong and it must end One of my current indulgences is to explore parts of the regional rail network. Although usually associated in the minds of many with the network in London and the South East, I...
Our national bus punctuality framework is almost charmingly antique and ramshackle, so what could be done to make it better? As far as I know the vast treasure house of world literature only contains one novel where the characters’ lives revolve entirely around the monitoring and regulation of bus punctuality. That novel is ‘The...
In a speech delivered at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester this week, chancellor George Osborne said he wanted to explore the potential for a new east-west high speed rail line linking major cities in the North of England to create a ‘Northern Powerhouse’ Chancellor George Osborne has identified high speed transport...
Inaugural Eurobarometer report shows UK public transport users are among Europe’s most satisfied Public transport users in the UK are among the most satisfied in Europe, according to a new study published earlier this month by the European Commission. Last September, the inaugural ‘Eurobarometer’ report surveyed 28,036 Europeans on their happiness with 12 aspects...
Rail performance flattens Stagecoach profits Stagecoach Group has reported broadly flat profits for 2013/14 as lower profitability at its rail operations more than wiped out increased UK bus profits. In North America, the benefits of significant expansion of the Megabus coach business were largely offset by lower profits at the Twin America sightseeing business....
The Labour Party’s plans to create a public-owned TOC has been condemned by the rail industry The East Coast rail business is again proving a magnet for controversy. Last month, shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh announced a new policy commitment of transforming Directly Operated Railways from the government’s operator of last resort into a vehicle...
A record 23 graduates will begin First’s graduate programme in September, up two-thirds on 2013, after the group received over 1,000 applications FirstGroup has this week revealed that it is set to increase its graduate intake by around two-thirds. In September 2013, 23 graduates will begin working for First across its bus, rail and...
As Edinburgh’s troubled tram project finally enters service, Alex Salmond announces a new public inquiry that will closely scrutinise the project Alex Salmond has announced that the Scottish Government intends to launch a public inquiry into Edinburgh troubled tram project later this year. The Scottish first minister announced the plans as the city’s trams...
Two-week ‘Imagine Festival’ in Milton Keynes is considering how intelligent mobility will evolve Everything from jet-packs, flying cars and ‘robot transport pods’ is on the agenda at the Imagine Festival, a two-week exploration of intelligent mobility which opened in Milton Keynes this week. The event is the first to be organised by Transport Systems...
Offer to buy firm from Barbados-based company was rejected Public transport into Snowdonia national park is reduced this summer after local independent Padarn Bus entered voluntary liquidation on May 30. An offer to buy the company and continue to operate from its Llanberis base was made on behalf of an internationally-backed company based in...
‘Neglected North needs Osborne’s HS3′