Transport groups stretched, but not broken
Transport analyst explains why Britain’s four PLC passenger transport groups can get through the shutdown Britain’s passenger transport groups will survive the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and normality will return after a six-month period of disruption. This is the conclusion of transport analyst Gerald Khoo, who is now recommending investors to buy...
SYPTE plans to take Supertram in-house
Move is part of planned £300m modernisation of light rail network Operation of Supertram could return to the public sector in 2024 South Yorkshire PTE has announced that it’s preferred option is to take operation of the South Yorkshire Supertram network in-house when the current contract for operation of the network with Stagecoach...
Five London bus drivers have died from virus
London mayor says TfL working with operators to ensure safety TfL have ensured bus operators are taking steps to keep staff as safe as possible This weekend it was revealed that at least five London bus workers have died after contracting covid-19. Unverified reports this morning (Monday) suggesting that figure has now increased. London mayor...
In brief: New vehicles enter service early
New buses ushered into service early First invests £3m in Bath to Bristol service First West of England has introduced new buses on its X39 route linking Bristol with Bath. The move is ahead of their planned launch as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The £3m investment in 12 new Alexander Dennis Enviro400...
Leaders urge government to bail out the Metro
Politicians warn system will need £10m payment before July Patronage has slumped 90% on the Tyne & Wear Metro as a result of Covid-19 pandemic Politicians in the north east of England have called on the government to provide urgent cash support to the Tyne & Wear Metro system. The Metro is continuing to operate...
Stagecoach – too early to estimate impact on buses
Britain’s biggest bus operator says it remains difficult to reliably estimate and forecast the effects of the Covid-19 situation on its business Commercial sales at Stagecoach’s local regional bus operating companies are now at around 15% of “normal” levels Stagecoach today offered an update on the impact that the Covid-19 outbreak is having...
£397m funding package for England’s buses
New funding, totalling £167m over three months, comes on top of pledge to guarantee existing £200m investment Shapps: ‘This multi-million-pound investment will protect crucial local transport links’ The government has today announced a £397m funding package, agreed jointly with the bus industry, to keep England’s bus services running in England during the coronavirus...
Public transport will be ‘natural first choice’
Amid all the gloom about coronavirus, modal shift to public transport is centre stage in the government’s vision to decarbonise transport Shapps: We will use our cars less Transport secretary Grant Shapps has said that public transport and active travel “will be the natural first choice for our daily activities” as the UK...
In Brief: 2/4/2020
Motor traffic (the blue line) jumped by 10% in a single day Concerning increase in car use this week New data has revealed a concerning increase in car trips despite UK Government advice to stay at home during the Covid-19 pandemic. At yesterday’s daily Downing Street briefing, Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director of Public...
National Express to suspend coach services
Full suspension of national network of scheduled coach services from the end of this week National Express will fully suspend its national network of scheduled coach services with effect from midnight Sunday, April 5. Chris Hardy, managing director of National Express UK Coach: “We kept a limited coach network running to be able...
ADL and Optare cease production
Bus manufacturers react to Covid-19 pandemic Optare’s factory at Sherburn-in-Elmet Bus manufacturers Alexander Dennis and Optare have both suspended production of new vehicles as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. ADL said it was suspending production at our UK manufacturing facilities, but its aftermarket and service teams will continue to support customers. Chief executive...
Our sector depends on face-to-face meetings
Before you extol the benefits of home working to your friends and followers on social media, consider what a future of home working means for public transport – writes Alex Warner It’s difficult to defy Boris and do travel testing right now, so my apologies for some mystery shopping of industry colleagues attempts...
