Will office culture be a thing of the past?
Our Whitehall insider imagines what’s going on inside the minds of the mandarins at Great Minster House, home of the DfT I’m going to break the habit of a lifetime and on this occasion will refrain from any grumbling. The situation we face today is too serious and any grumbling from me, no...
CAVs – Automatic for the people?
We must ensure that CAVs develop in a way that fits goals for inclusion, place-making, health, the economy and the environment Driverless cars: What is to stop big tech from using their familiar genius for the ‘innovative’ and ‘disruptive’ tactic of burning cash in the often vain hope that it will ultimately lead...
Micro-mobility opportunity for UK
As micro-mobility is legally enabled in the UK in the coming months, we can expect to see the regional and global players arrive A scooter in a cycle lane in Vauxhall, London Micro-mobility is a contemporary phenomenon that is broadening the range of mobility solutions available to travellers in cities across Europe...
Comfort or ‘capitalist realism’?
Many are unhappy about the utilitarian nature of modern train design in the UK. We could learn much from elsewhere in Europe NS is working on train designs that enhance the experience for customers There are a lot of new trains – faster and with more seats. So that’s good. Some of...
‘Taking back control’ could bite Shapps
The transport secretary appears to have developed an enthusiasm for bringing franchises back under public control – but will it help? Grant Shapps It was interesting for me as an amateur Kremlinologist with a ministerial background to listen to transport secretary Grant Shapps addressing the annual parliamentary reception for the Campaign for...
Six tests for PM’s London-style vision
The Prime Minister wants other UK cities to enjoy the kind of integrated transport system that London has. Can he deliver it? New Merseyrail trains and bus reform could give Liverpool city region a single, modern and fully integrated network Boris Johnson wants transport in the rest of the UK’s metro areas...
So what does 2020 herald for transport?
The New Year will bring change for Britain’s railways, a green light for HS2 and a greater focus on transport in the North of England The Labour government under Tony Blair had progressed a tram system for Leeds, only to cancel it The good people at Passenger Transport have once again asked me...
Turning declarations into decisive actions
The climate crisis moved up the agenda in 2019 and ambitious new targets were set – 2020 will be about how we achieve them Electrification of a larger bus network looks eminently doable even on the cliff edge timescales demanded by the climate modellers On and on we hurtle deeper into the...
Opening up space for positive change
The changing needs of residential parking in UK towns and cities are opening up opportunities for new sustainable mobility Suburban London residential street with parked cars Across the UK millions of people live on residential streets laid out in the Victorian era. These rows of low rise terraced housing are icons of...
Parties set out their transport policies
It’s encouraging that for most parties, the policies being advanced are set in the context of tackling climate change and air pollution What’s the collective noun for manifestos? An aspiration? An imagination? A deception? In any case, it’s election time so we are awash with them. Every party has to produce one, it...
Another green transport world
If we can join the dots on climate then public transport can thrive. It’s about doing all the right things, and all at the same time Swiss railways are part of a wider ‘Exemplary in Energy’ initiative The weather is losing some of its British reserve. Changing from introversion to extroversion. Records...
How will coronavirus change transport?