Adonis – rail must end ‘profiteering’ image
Former transport secretary has blunt message for rail bosses – the public doesn’t like you, you’re paid too much and it’s time to ‘eat humble pie’ Lord Adonis: pictured here during his time as secretary of state for transport A former secretary of state for transport, Lord Adonis, has urged the rail industry...
Profit plunge threatens First bus investment
FirstGroup’s 2016/17 financial results show that the operating profit margin for the UK bus business has dropped to just 3%, after restructuring costs Uphill struggle: First’s flagging profits threaten investment in the fleet. Pictured are two recent additions to the fleet at the Millbrook test track FirstGroup’s UK bus division has reported a...
Virgin targets drivers with ‘disruptive’ ads
Assertive campaign highlights car’s disadvantages Ad portrays rail as stress-free alternative to driving Virgin Trains has launched a high profile marketing campaign designed around a new, more assertive approach to promoting the benefits of choosing rail over car travel. The stated aim is to “disrupt” the market in favour of public transport. It...
Transport sector on alert in wake of attack
Increased threat level saw specially trained firearms officers patrol on board trains nationwide for the first time in effort to reassure the public Manchester Victoria station has now reopened The UK’s passenger transport sector is on a heightened state of alert following last month’s terror attack in Manchester. The bomb that detonated in...
A new bus for Switzerland
The first two of 19 Alexander Dennis Enviro500 buses will soon enter service with Swiss operator PostBus in the east of the country. They are the first British-built vehicles to enter service with PostBus and the first UK double deckers in Switzerland. With a total passenger capacity of 133 (80 of them seated) the...
Rail growth at lowest level since recession
Season ticket market share drops below 40% for first time Overall, patronage increased 0.8% during the year Patronage growth on Britain’s railways in 2016/17 fell to its lowest level since the recession seven years ago, figures released by the Office of Rail and Road show. Overall, patronage increased 0.8% during the year. On...
‘Metro mayors’ elected: Are they game changers?
This month’s election of six new ‘metro mayor’s in England has been hailed as ‘a new era for politics’, with massive implications for urban transport England has elected its first six ‘metro mayors’, with all promising far-reaching change to transport. West Midlands mayor Andy Street, previously MD of John Lewis, and Greater Manchester’s...
Public transport sector ‘entering a new era’
The biggest event in public transport returned this week, in Montréal, and discussion centred on rapid evolution in the sphere of urban mobility The opening ceremony of UITP’s Global Public Transport Summit in Montréal The global public transport community gathered in Montréal this week for UITP’s Global Public Transport Summit. And the secretary...
Stagecoach and SNCF team up for West Coast
Stagecoach and long time partners Virgin had been negotiating with Renfe, the Spanish state operator, but instead gave French operator a 30% stake SNCF operates 700 high speed services per day in France Stagecoach and Virgin have chosen French state train operator SNCF as their specialist high speed partner for their bid for...
Bus Services Bill passes the final hurdle
Bus industry lobbying saw new independent auditor requirement The Bus Services Bill finally received Royal Assent last week, ending fears that prime minister Theresa May’s decision to hold a snap general election on June 8 could have stalled this important legislation that has won broad cross-industry support. In the event the Bill was...
Can Buses Bill become law before the election?
England’s Bus Services Bill is close to becoming law, but time is running out following the prime minister’s decision to call a general election in June The Bus Services Bill faces a race against time after prime minister Theresa May’s decision to hold a snap general election on June 8. The Bill, which...
Hendy seeks outward-looking rail industry
Network Rail chair endorses Independent Transport Commission report concluding railway development too important to be left to rail industry alone Sir Peter Hendy Network Rail chair Sir Peter Hendy has endorsed a report from the Independent Transport Commission calling for the industry to become more outward-looking in order to attract local private and...
