Welcome to The ALBUM Report 2024, a publication from Passenger Transport devoted to Britain’s independent and municipal bus companies. Returning for an eighth year, this year’s report also incorporates the Conference Workbook for the ALBUM Conference 2024, hosted by Warrington’s Own Buses at Carden Park Hotel on April 23-24. We...
Issue 311 of Passenger Transport is published on April 19. Contents include: LEAD STORY Labour vows to fast-track bus franchising Party says that its plan will allow 250 million more bus passenger journeys a year, but ‘it will require no additional central government spending’ NEWS ‘Franchise your...
Party says that its plan will allow 250 million more bus passenger journeys a year, but ‘it will require no additional central government spending’ Labour launched its plans in the West Midlands. Left to right: Angela Rayner, Richard Parker and Louise Haigh Labour has promised to help local...
Polls suggest Labour’s Richard Parker will win mayoral election Labour’s launch event was hosted by National Express West Midlands Labour’s candidate in next month’s West Midlands mayoral election has pledged to bring bus services back under public control if he wins power on May 2. The Labour Party...
Order for 10 new trains could solve Alstom order desert Harper (right) met Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge this week Rolling stock manufacturer Alstom has confirmed that it is in “intense discussions” with transport secretary Mark Harper about the future of its Derby plant and a potential order for...
You won’t persuade me to join you on a camping holiday, but many others enjoy it – and bus companies should make a pitch for them A West Coast Motors bus photographed by the editor on a detour into Port Ban Holiday Park, Argyll and Bute I was...
Rail Reform Bill, aimed at legislating rail reforms, was included in last week’s King’s Speech but concerns linger about the pace of the process Winners celebate on stage at last week’s UK Bus Awards in London Go South Coast was named UK Bus Operator of the Year at this week’s UK Bus Awards...
Event at House of Commons saw industry leaders and MPs from all parties hear from members, supporters and allies of the new national initiative Members, supporters, and allies of the ‘Women in Bus and Coach’ initiative in Parliament last week Women in Bus and Coach, the initiative to support women in the bus...
With the government focussed on defying the odds and clinging to power, and Labour being cautious, transport is in the long grass The prime minister Rishi Sunak hosting a Cabinet meeting last week And so the long run into the general election has begun. It is the period of a Parliament when...
Public transport isn’t just about essential journeys. It can also be about fun days out, but this opportunity is too often overlooked I don’t think the transport industry does enough to extol the virtues of a trip out from a well-being perspective Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I guess...
Rail Reform Bill, aimed at legislating rail reforms, was included in last week’s King’s Speech but concerns linger about the pace of the process The recent King’s Speech has drawn attention to industry frustration with the sluggish implementation of rail reform and the implementation of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail. While the Rail...
Progressive and coherent in its approach to transport policy, the Welsh Government has plans to transform public transport Revamped:The Snowdon Sherpa network As you’ve probably noticed, it’s all happening in Wales. Of the four nations of the UK, Wales is taking by far the most progressive and coherent approach to transport. Making...
Closing ticket offices was a terrible idea that no-one wants to own. They should remain, but there are things we can do differently Thankfully, plans to close ticket office have been abandoned I said shame shame shame shame shame shame shame. Shame on you. It’s one of my favourite musical quotes and...
Tim Shoveller tells Calling All Stations podcast about the reasons behind his departure from Network Rail last summer to take charge at Freightliner Tim Shoveller left Network Rail to become CEO of freight operator Freightliner in July The railway must unify behind aligned goals and empower its local management. That is the message...
‘It’s a dream for me,’ says company boss Scott Dunn A demonstrator vehicle is already en route to the UK, and is due to arrive in mid-January Australian bus builder Custom Denning is targeting the UK market, and a demonstration electric bus is currently being shipped to the UK. Custom Denning, one of...
The month of November marks Inter-Faith week, a time to take stock, pause for a moment, strengthen ties between communities of different faiths and celebrate the UK’s religious diversity By Nafisa Nathani The month of November marks Inter-Faith week, a time to take stock, pause for a moment, strengthen ties between communities of...
Pushing forward plans to close ticket offices before addressing hugely inconsistent rail fares was putting the cart before the horse Campaign for Better Transport this week published its detailed review of fares and ticketing The grand old DfT. They marched them up to the top of the hill and they marched them...
Morale may never have been this low, but has the industry got the leadership skills and conviction to do anything about it? ‘Morale has never been so low’ remarked an on-train employee as I travelled on his service last week. It’s an old cliché and one which folk used to levy at me...
Transport must wait as election looms