Second wave threatens bus and rail recovery
As further restrictions are imposed across different parts of the UK, the steady upward trend in public transport use looks set to flatten or decline Stagecoach revealed that commercial revenues from its bus operations outside London had returned to 50-60% pre-Covid levels Public transport operators are already seeing the steady recovery of passenger...
Hendy – we must all be proud of our response
As we return to print after a pause of six months, we join Sir Peter Hendy in paying tribute to the dedication of passenger transport professionals Facing up to the challenge: Govia Thameslink Railway’s St Albans station manger It has been six long months since Passenger Transport was last published. We took the...
How can the railway overcome fear factor?
Government’s strong ‘avoid public transport’ message has created the impression that it was ‘fundamentally unsafe’ and will be hard to reverse Fundamentally unsafe? Strong warnings to avoid public transport in the UK have created a culture of fear that will be difficult to reverse. This issue was discussed by speakers at last month’s...
GTR announce £55m fleet modernisation
270 Southern, Gatwick Express and Great Northern trains to be updated Govia Thameslink Railway and rolling stock lessor Porterbrook have announced a five-year, £55m programme to modernise the Southern, Gatwick Express and Great Northern ‘Electrostar’ fleets, 270 trains in all. Enhancements range from real-time passenger information screens and USB/power points to high-tech on-board...
Nexus reveals new colour scheme for Metro
New livery harks back to classic Metro livery Nexus has revealed a vibrant new yellow colour scheme for the Tyne & Wear Metro’s £362m new train fleet and has also announced a major public consultation on the interior design of the new fleet. The transport executive has chosen a modern and eye-catching yellow...
UTG calls for post-pandemic investment
Empower urban transport authorities to build back better, urges report Transport authorities can play their part in shaping a positive legacy of COVID-19 for the UK’s city regions, provided they are given both the funding and powers they need to respond to the challenges that lie ahead, according to the Urban Transport Group...
Translink orders 30 coaches for Goldline
Follow-up order follows 2019 deliveries One of the 30 new coaches on the Sunsundegui production line Translink, Northern Ireland’s state-owned has ordered a further 30 coaches from Spanish manufacturer Sunsundegui. Production of the vehicles is now underway and it follows delivery of 30 14.3-metre Volvo B11R triaxle coaches in 2019. The high specification...
FirstGroup reports patronage bounce back
Patronage improvements accelerating at UK bus division FirstGroup has reported an “encouraging acceleration” in the rate of patronage recovery in recent weeks at its UK bus division. In an update to the City this morning, the Aberdeen-based group says passenger volumes across the division have increased from around 10% of pre-pandemic levels at...
Grand Central’s service hits the buffers
Open access operator scraps plans as a result of pandemic Grand Central had acquired Class 90 locomotives and former LNER rolling stock to operate the new service Grand Central will not launch its planned North West route train service between Blackpool and London after Covid-19 rendered plans ‘unfeasible’. The open access train operator...
Giles Fearnley announces retirement
Janette Bell named as successor Janette Bell will join FirstGroup from P&O Ferries in October Giles Fearnley, managing director of FirstGroup’s UK bus division, has announced his retirement. He will be succeeded by Janette Bell who joins the group in October. Fearnley has been MD of First Bus since February 2011. Since then,...
Global bus and coach industry loses an ‘icon’
Bus and coach specialist Doug Jack has died, aged 78 Doug Jack: lifelong passion for buses Doug Jack, the widely respected bus and coach industry consultant, has died aged 78. He passed away peacefully in the early hours of Wednesday, September 2 after a short illness. Doug’s passion for the bus and coach...
Routemaster classic helps Go North East out
Extra buses, including a classic 1964 Northern General Routemaster, deployed to keep people moving Go North East, has deployed 56 extra buses to ensure there is sufficient extra capacity on its network as more schools and workers return and use the region’s buses. The extras are covering both Go North East’s and some...
