Transport operators seek to ‘break the bias’
Bus and rail providers marked International Women’s Day this week with new research, podcasts, films and operation of an all-female bus route Stagecoach ran an all-female driver bus route in Ayrshire to mark International Women’s Day The passenger transport sector celebrated its female talent this week in aid of International Women’s Day on...
£150m extra Covid support for bus and tram
Bus operators had warned of significant cuts to services if the government stuck to its plan to end emergency funding on April 5 Grant Shapps: this funding will also help authorities and operators work together to provide even better services for people right across the country Bus and light rail operators in England...
‘Unless they act at once the damage will be done’
On March 1 bus operators in England will notify traffic commissioners of extensive cuts to services – unless the Treasury extends emergency funding South Yorkshire mayor Dan Jarvis (second from right) led a statement by seven of England’s nine metro mayors The Treasury is being urged to extend emergency funding to support local...
Innovative model for UK’s biggest e-bus deal
Zenobe’s ‘Electric Transportation as a Service’ offering will supply, support and maintain a fleet of 130 electric double deckers for National Express Coventry will be the UK’s first zero emission bus city The UK’s largest ever deal for electric buses incorporates a new funding model that promises to make bus travel “easier, cheaper,...
Bus cuts close doors onto the world
As the funding cliff-edge approaches, we should consider the impact the bus service cuts have on those who depend on them The young and the elderly have the highest propensity to use bus, as do people in the lowest income quintile “It’s like a forgotten world. It makes you feel depressed… we’ve...
Has morale finally hit rock bottom?
It’s an oft-said phrase in public transport over the years, but I fear we may have reached a nadir. The sector can and must respond It’s noticeable, in some cases, how despairing some staff are When you trawl social media, there’s no shortage of folk masquerading as experts in mental health, spouting...
Can you level up while scaling back?
Can you level up while scaling back? Better public transport is at the heart of the government’s ‘levelling up’ plans, but networks face huge cuts Boris Johnson visited Blackpool Transport last week to publicise the levelling up white paper The government’s plans to spread opportunity and prosperity to left-behind communities include “local public...
Is this ‘levelling up’, or falling flat?
The levelling up white paper seeks London-style transport for all, but service cuts are now looming and we risk moving backwards Prime minister Boris Johnson and ‘levelling up secretary’ Michael Gove launched the white paper last week with a visit to Blackpool Transport Is that it? That was the pithy and somewhat...
Franchising favoured over bus partnerships
Welsh Government wants European model and ‘single guiding mind’ Lee Waters wants a “single guiding mind” for buses in Wales By Rhodri Clark. The Welsh Government is planning to omit partnerships from its future bus services legislation and to focus on franchising services across Wales. Bus operators were dismayed to discover last month...
The simple pleasures of a journey by bus
A recent trip led me to reflect on one of the key selling points of bus travel – interactions with people and the passing streetscape We need to enthuse young people about bus travel benefits On Tuesday, I had a meeting with probably the most senior person I ever met. It was...
Vere relaxed about bus strategy’s funding gap
There are widespread fears that England’s National Bus Strategy won’t live up to expectations, but transport minister Baroness Vere doesn’t share them Baroness Vere: “We asked local transport authorities to be ambitious, and lo and behold they were” With the prime minister battling to remain in Downing Street after successive waves of allegations,...
My 10-point plan for boosting morale