Department in dock over GTR failure
Driver shortages have caused widespread service cancellations at Govia Thameslink Railway, placing the Department for Transport under scrutiny Commuters make their way past a Thameslink train on the platform at Blackfriars Station, London, in the morning rush hour The quality of the Department for Transport’s franchise management, aspects of its franchising process and...
West Yorkshire plans second trolleybus route
Combined Authority plans second NGT route for 2025 delivery An artist’s impression of an NGT trolleybus in Leeds The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has announced plans for a second New Generation Transport trolleybus route in West Yorkshire, despite the government not yet approving the planned first controversial route. The plans for the new...
Stagecoach beat East Coast rivals on quality
Quality rating was ahead of rivals First and Keolis/Eurostar An artist’s impression of an IEP train in Virgin branding Stagecoach/Virgin trounced its rivals for the new East Coast franchise, with a bid that was a clear winner on quality as well as price. Information released to Passenger Transport by the Department for Transport...
Why did Lesley Hinds stand by Ian Craig?
As details emerge of the complaints levelled against Lothian Buses boss Ian Craig, Edinburgh transport convenor Lesley Hinds is under growing pressure to explain why the council blocked a move to dismiss him Lesley Hinds (left) and Ian Craig, pictured on an Edinburgh tram earlier this year Staff at council-owned Lothian Buses are calling for...
Abellio won ScotRail on quality, not price
Runner-up National Express submitted a bid that required less subsidy but received the lowest quality score, allowing Dutch group to win contract Abellio plans to acquire the first Hitachi AT200 trains for ScotRail (artist’s illustration) Abellio won the new ScotRail franchise with a bid that required £29m more subsidy than second placed National...
State-owned bus and rail operator for Wales?
First steps towards non-profit Wales & Borders franchise Pictured: Heart of Wales line The Welsh Government is making the first moves towards the possible creation of a not-for-dividend rail company, potentially the first long term publicly-owned train operating company on the National Rail network. Last month, prime minister David Cameron said the Wales and...
Stagecoach bid £900m more for East Coast
Winning bid from Stagecoach/Virgin includes far more ambitious schedule of premium payments to Department for Transport than offered by rivals Artist’s impression of an IEP train in Virgin branding Stagecoach/Virgin has won the new intercity East Coast rail franchise with a commitment to pay the Department for Transport £3.3bn in premium payments over...
Howarth finds buyers for limping Greyhound
Weeks of speculation about the future of Cornish independent operator Western Greyhound have ended with the news the business has been sold Western Greyhound’s Mark Howarth is pictured with a Plymouth Citybus vehicle in Liskeard Weeks of speculation about the future of Cornish independent operator Western Greyhound have ended with the announcement of...
Rapid transit for Wales by 2020 – bus or rail?
The Welsh Government expects to implement a 13-mile ‘rapid transit link’ by 2020, but is undecided on the transport mode. Rhodri Clark reports Cardiff’s City Line provides a right of way through the inner suburb of Canton but its use for light rail might require tram-train technology, since the City Line is earmarked for...
Rail plans first national campaign since BR
Rail Delivery Group is working on post-privatisation railway’s first national advertising campaign, focusing on growth, future ambitions and wider role The Rail Delivery Group has started drawing up plans for the first national campaign to promote the rail industry since privatisation. Current thinking is that the multi-media advertising and promotion will focus on...
NCT crowned UK bus operator of the year
Nottingham City Transport wins the top prize for the second time in three years while Arriva leads the major groups by winning total of nine awards Pictured: The Nottingham City Transport managing director Mark Fowles Nottingham City Transport was again crowned Operator of the Year at last week’s UK Bus Awards in London....
Wales-wide smart ticketing abandoned
The Welsh Government is no longer working on its GoCymru-branded nationwide bus and rail smartcard for Wales. Rhodri Clark reports Pictured: Newport Transport’s freedom smartcard The Welsh Government has revealed it is no longer actively implementing a nationwide smartcard for buses and trains. In the week that Abellio predicted that one in three...
