Leisure drives public transport bounce-back
With many Covid restrictions still in place, there are encouraging signs of bus and rail patronage recovering – especially among leisure travellers Scarborough’s Beachcomber buses Recent statistics confirm that leisure travel is driving a post-pandemic resurgence on public transport, with the last Sunday in May seeing buses outside London carry 80% of the...
‘Time is running out’ – Vere urges action
Transport minister Baroness Vere offered new insights into her thinking on buses at an online meeting of the Young Bus Managers Network last week Baroness Vere With a few notable exceptions we’ve seen some pretty unenthusiastic buses ministers over the years. Baroness Vere is not one of them. It has now been more...
The rail review to end all rail reviews?
Keith Williams (and transport secretary Grant Shapps published their long awaited rail White Paper last week – but will it stand the test of time? Keith Williams (left) and Grant Shapps It was more than two and a half years ago that former British Airways CEO Keith Williams was signed up to chair...
‘Too early to commit to long term bus funding’
The government has committed to spend an additional £3bn on buses over three years – Baroness Vere says it’s too early to say what happens after that Baroness Vere The government is not ready to commit to additional funding for local bus services in England beyond its existing commitment to invest £3bn over...
‘Public transport is both safe and desirable’
Broad coalition urges Boris Johnson to help high streets and avoid gridlock by restoring confidence in public transport Clean, safe and ready to go With lockdown restrictions continuing to ease prime minister Boris Johnson has been urged to send a “loud and clear” message of support for public transport. An unprecedented coalition of...
‘Recalcitrant’ LTAs pressed on bus strategy
Local authorities must produce ‘ambitious’ Bus Service Improvement Plans or ‘we will go back to them and say it is not good enough’, minister warns Baroness Vere (centre) pointed out that extra funding was available for “those that I call my recalcitrant local authorities” Local transport authorities in England have been warned not...
‘One third expect to use public transport less’
Research by Edinburgh Napier University suggests pandemic will deter public from using buses and trains, hindering key government objectives 36% anticipated using buses less and 34% using trains less The Covid-19 pandemic may have long-term repercussions for the use of public transport in Scotland, a new study by Edinburgh Napier University suggests. A...
‘Government must fly flag for public transport’
Transport secretary Grant Shapps says public transport ‘will be the natural first choice’ – but campaigners are urging action to encourage modal shift The survey suggests that the government has a long way to go to get its messaging right and reverse the damage done during the pandemic Government ambitions to achieve modal...
FlixBus talks big with renewed assault on UK
German-based operator aims to be largest in UK by 2025 Initial network of 18 routes between 12 cities Following an abortive assault on the UK scheduled coach market during lockdown last year, FlixBus has announced it is to relaunch domestic UK services next week. This latest attempt to take on National Express and...
Abellio reports ScotRail losses of £64.5m
Operator blames the impact of the pandemic for spiralling losses despite lockdown only coming into force in the last days of the accounting year Abellio has blamed the early phases of the coronavirus pandemic for growing losses at the ScotRail franchise. The operator had previously reported a pre-tax loss of £11.0m in the...
Franchising – Burnham takes back control
Mayor decides to implement bus franchising in major milestone for transport in Greater Manchester Transport for Greater Manchester will introduce a single brand for all buses The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has made a historic decision to take control of buses in the biggest shake-up to Greater Manchester’s transport network in...
‘TfL will never hit pre-Covid patronage’
Demand will remain around 40% less than pre-pandemic levels Transport for London is unlikely to see patronage on its networks recover to pre-pandemic levels according to analysts at ratings firm Moody’s. The warning comes after Andy Byford, London’s transport commissioner, warned last month that patronage recovery on the capital’s transport networks may take...
