Issue 332 of Passenger Transport is published on March 7. Contents include: LEAD STORY ‘Mission not accomplished’ Ahead of International Women’s Day 2025, campaigners for greater diversity and inclusion in the UK’s passenger transport sector have restated their commitment to a more balanced workforce NEWS Hendy –...
Ahead of International Women’s Day 2025, campaigners for greater diversity and inclusion in the UK’s passenger transport sector have restated their commitment to a more balanced workforce This International Women’s Day, train operator LNER is encouraging women to join the company as train drivers With US companies rushing...
The Railways Bill is expected to be in parliament later this year, but rail minister Lord Hendy wants work to integrate track and train to start today The Railways Bill is expected to be in parliament later this year, but rail minister Lord Hendy wants work to integrate track...
Nexus MD Cathy Massarella struck a pragmatic tone at recent Young Bus Professionals meeting Cathy Massarella was appointed Nexus managing director in early 2024 By Andrew Garnett It’s a measure of how much the industry has changed. Back in June 2008, at the inaugural meeting of the Young...
The forthcoming Spending Review will set out priorities for taxpayers’ funds up until 2030. It will be a big moment for buses Simon Lightwood, the minister for local transport, at the CPT’s annual conference in January By Alison Edwards Unless you’ve spent months hiding under your duvet, you...
The awards have flowing towards Andrew Wickham and the Go South Coast business that he has led for 13 years. Here’s why Andrew Wickham (centre) with colleagues when Go South Coast was crowned ‘UK Bus Operator of the Year’ in 2023 Two awards in the matter of...
Integrating rail lines into our network is fundamental to our wider ambitions. It’s key to unlocking growth in our region and beyond At the start of the year, I set out ambitious plans to bring eight commuter rail lines into the Bee Network – the next big step...
This year will see 20th anniversary of Women in Transport. It will undoubtedly be a moment to reflect on the past and what has been achieved, but it will also serve as a springboard for future action I was proud to receive an OBE in 2024 BY Sonya...
It’s certainly a different world – but that just makes the D&I Bus Group’s work even more important Go-Ahead is serious about gender diversity BY Chloe Leach-O’Connell As we mark International Women’s Day 2025, it feels like the perfect moment to reflect on where we’re at as...
Women in Bus and Coach’s Period Positive Workplace campaign is an important step in creating a more inclusive transport industry A Period Positive Workplace is one where menstruation is acknowledged as a natural part of life BY Louise Cheeseman The transport sector has long been a male-dominated...
Nearly 500 talented women are working hard at bus operator Metroline to keep London moving Laura Darbon recently completed her engineering apprenticeship with Metroline Women have always played an important role in the bus industry, and that is especially true at leading bus operator Metroline, where nearly...
Mentoring can help women develop skills, expand their networks and gain access to opportunities My mentor: Louise Cheeseman BY Kerry Turner The transport industry, a cornerstone of the global economy, plays a critical role in connecting people, goods, and services worldwide. Despite its significance, this sector has...
The government has launched an eight-week consultation into its Bill to reform Britain’s railways, which include a powerful new passenger voice Alexander: ‘This landmark reform will sweep away decades of failure’ The government unveiled plans for the long-awaited bill to reform Britain’s railways this week. They include setting up a powerful passenger watchdog...
New analysis by Chris Cheek’s Public Transport Monitor reveals extent of increased dependence of England’s bus industry on government money Direct revenue support, via either the Department for Transport or local government, has doubled from 15% of total income in 2018/19 to 31.3% last year Public spending on bus services and their passengers...
Arriva has taken data from a DRT network in Milton Keynes to launch a new orbital bus service that plugs gaps in the commercial local bus network The Loop launched in early January and has carried over 10,000 passengers in its first four weeks By Andrew Garnett Back in the 1960s, Milton Keynes...
Expense-fiddling and backhanders occur in all walks of life and transport is not immune. Employers should always be vigilant Fraud can permeate itself throughout organisations Of all the news stories doing the rounds, the alleged expenses fiddle and CV exaggeration saga involving chancellor Rachel Reeves fascinates me. Last week, the BBC released...
Fare caps are an easy way to grab attention, but what happens after they end and could funding be better invested elsewhere? England’s £2 bus fare cap morphed into a three-year experiment – into which the government will have ploughed £630m by the time it expires at the end of this year ...
To navigate this make-or-break period of major upheaval successfully, the bus sector needs bold leadership and open minds A more diverse range of voices – whether in terms of gender, ethnicity, professional experience – can only strengthen decision-making With major changes to how services are planned, funded and delivered, the UK bus...
Lord Hendy tells ‘Lunch with Leon’ podcast why he was keen to accept mission to reform the railway Lord Hendy (left) with Leon Daniels Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill was sitting at his desk on a sunny afternoon when the phone rang. It was the Number 10 switchboard informing him that the...
We have a once-in-a-generation chance to bring decision-making closer to the communities served, says Jason Prince HS2 construction workers mark the 200th anniversary of rail travel at the Colne Valley viaduct As many of you will doubtless know, on the 27th of September 1825, in the north-east of England, the world witnessed...
Karl Holbrook considers how open access train operators are flipping the script on UK train travel Lumo’s all-electric fleet produces significantly lower emissions than planes, aligning with the UK’s Net Zero ambitions Rail is rarely out of the headlines – often for the wrong reasons. High fares, overcrowding, and delays have frustrated passengers...
While much debate has focused on what passengers should want, relatively little attention has been given to what actually works Rail is not always an affordable option BY Anthony Smith The way we buy train tickets in Britain is changing. With the government pressing ahead with rail reform, now is the time...
Ahead of National Apprenticeship Week, the passenger transport sector is highlighting what it offers Apprentices at First Bus Employers in the passenger transport sector have been using National Apprenticeship Week (February 10-16) to highlight the importance of apprenticeships to their businesses and their work to support them. To mark National ApprenticeshipWeek, this edition...
The prime minister and chancellor seem willing to ignore climate concerns in the hope that airport expansion can deliver growth An artists impression of how Heathrow Airport could look after the opening of a new runway “There is no more important challenge than the climate emergency. That’s why I voted against Heathrow...
Call out corruption and don’t cover it up