Bee Network bounce inspires GBR rebrand
Ministers saw how Greater Manchester’s Bee Network rebrand changed public perceptions almost overnight – and want the same bounce for rail The new logo and branding will be different to a Great British Railways logo that was registered with the Intellectual Property Office’s online trade marks journal in 2022 The government is set...
Coppard commits to bus franchising plans
Mayor of South Yorkshire backs plans to take back control of the local bus network after consultation reveals overwhelming public support for plans Better Buses for South Yorkshire campaigners gathered outside the combined authority as Coppard announced his decision Bus services across South Yorkshire will move to a franchised model from September 2027,...
First meeting of bus manufacturing panel
Local transport minister joins bus manufacturers, metro mayors and others to discuss how to transform the fleet while supporting UK bus builders The UK bus manufacturing panel in Sheffield last week Greener bus travel, new UK jobs and bigger business was on the agenda as government ministers met local leaders and industry bosses...
An exciting future for Metro
Nexus MD Cathy Massarella tells us how a fresh vision for the Tyne and Wear Metro is taking shape Cathy Massarella, managing director of Nexus It’s almost 45 years since the Tyne and Wear Metro first opened, heralding a public transport revolution in North East England. It was a light rail system that...
Eye-watering price hikes can’t continue
The drop in attendances at this year’s Cheltenham Festival should serve as a warning against treating rail users as cash cows I had one of those earth-shattering, eyebrow raising afternoons last Tuesday when psychological price thresholds being broken were at the forefront of my mind. Three in the space of a few hours....
‘Mission not accomplished’
Ahead of International Women’s Day 2025, campaigners for greater diversity and inclusion in the UK’s passenger transport sector have restated their commitment to a more balanced workforce This International Women’s Day, train operator LNER is encouraging women to join the company as train drivers With US companies rushing to scale back diversity and...
Hendy – We can’t wait for legislation to kick in
The Railways Bill is expected to be in parliament later this year, but rail minister Lord Hendy wants work to integrate track and train to start today The Railways Bill is expected to be in parliament later this year, but rail minister Lord Hendy wants work to integrate track and train to start today...
Challenges are the enemy
Nexus MD Cathy Massarella struck a pragmatic tone at recent Young Bus Professionals meeting Cathy Massarella was appointed Nexus managing director in early 2024 By Andrew Garnett It’s a measure of how much the industry has changed. Back in June 2008, at the inaugural meeting of the Young Bus Managers Network in Birmingham,...
What does a fair deal for buses look like?
The forthcoming Spending Review will set out priorities for taxpayers’ funds up until 2030. It will be a big moment for buses Simon Lightwood, the minister for local transport, at the CPT’s annual conference in January By Alison Edwards Unless you’ve spent months hiding under your duvet, you will be aware that the...
Wimborne Wicko’s winning formula
The awards have been flowing towards Andrew Wickham and the Go South Coast business that he has led for 13 years. Here’s why Andrew Wickham (centre) with colleagues when Go South Coast was crowned ‘UK Bus Operator of the Year’ in 2023 Two awards in the matter of a month for the...
Bringing rail into the Bee Network
Integrating rail lines into our network is fundamental to our wider ambitions. It’s key to unlocking growth in our region and beyond At the start of the year, I set out ambitious plans to bring eight commuter rail lines into the Bee Network – the next big step for our joined-up public transport...
We need a vision for Britain’s railways