‘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...
Welsh strategy pledges to drive modal shift
The Welsh Government has published its new transport strategy which pledges a commitment to public transport An electric bus in Newport. Diesel buses will be phased out in Wales by 2028 The Welsh Government has outlined a raft of measures to “drive modal shift to public transport” in its new transport strategy. One...
‘I love buses’ – Boris begins bus revolution
Bus Strategy marks biggest bus reform since the 1980s to achieve ‘substantial and untapped potential’ Boris Johnson visited National Express’s depot in Coventry on March 15, the day that the National Bus Strategy was published Bus operators in England will no longer design and provide local bus services in isolation, in a major...
TfL prepares for £1bn farebox revenue slump
Andy Byford reveals TfL modelling suggests a likely scenario of patronage rebounding in the medium term to 80% of historical pre-Covid norms London’s transport commissioner has warned that patronage recovery on the capital’s transport networks may take far longer than many within the industry expect. Speaking at a virtual event hosted by the...
Battered by the storm, but staying optimistic
Our poll of passenger transport professionals serves as a large focus group, revealing how the sector feels about the Covid experience and the future Public transport is not the only sector of the economy to have been battered by Covid. In fact, some might argue that it has been relatively sheltered; permitted to...
‘Public transport is social justice’ – Shoaf
Urban Transport Group chair says now is a good time for the sector to remind itself, and those who work within it, of the essential role they play Laura Shoaf: networks must be “fully functioning and supported” The managing director of Transport for West Midlands has warned that any post-Covid cuts to public...
