‘Operators should not rush back to normal’
New research by Transport Focus concludes that operators need to keep up additional Covid-19 measures and communications to reassure passengers Wearing a face mask is the key safety measure for more nervous passengers Although restrictions have eased and passenger volumes continue to recover, public transport operators have been warned not to “rush back...
Barbara Castle showed how to get things done
Harold Wilson said he wanted a ‘tiger in the tank’ of his transport policy when he appointed Barbara Castle – and that’s what he got Barbara Castle showed us that you need to go out there and relentlessly sell radical change On September 8th more than 350 people took part in the first...
Don’t get complacent about punctuality
Punctuality and reliability soared when lockdown took rail users away. We must not now regard the return of delays as inevitable Unless we’re all over the detail, a trend of worsening punctuality could become a crisis in a few months’ time “The problem with you is that you are always looking for...
Rethinking the railway for a post-Covid world
We have an opportunity to fundamentally reconsider how we use space on trains as well as the role of the national rail network Before the pandemic, Dutch railway NS worked on train designs that enhance the experience for customers The last 18 months have been a time of unparalleled change and disruption...
‘Governments need to get real’ – Stagecoach
Launching group’s new sustainability strategy, boss Martin Griffiths called for ‘radical behaviour change and incentives to reward the right choices’ Martin Griffiths: We need to be more honest about the scale of the challenge Stagecoach has issued a blunt warning to governments to turn warm words on greener travel into practical actions that...
A27 – a billion pound act of vandalism
The proposed new dual carriageway between Lewes and Polegate reveals the flaws in the government’s £27bn road building plan View of the A27 from Mount Caburn As the COP 26 event in Glasgow approaches, greater scrutiny than usual is rightly being paid to the government’s environmental promises and, more pertinently, their actions....
It’s time to swap Teams for trains
The rail industry must radically rethink its proposition to business customers in order to lure them out of their online bunkers A radical reinvention is needed What’s strange is how quickly people have changed! I’ve noticed a few times recently some bemused looks from industry folk when I’ve explained, often as a...
Scheduler of the Year Award returns for 2021
The Joe Wood Scheduler of the Year, sponsored by CitySwift, will again raise awareness of the profession and its importance to buses Richard Sherratt: Joe Wood Scheduler of the Year 2020 The Covid crisis has challenged the capabilities of all bus company employees – not least the schedulers. Many regarded them as unsung...
Bus and Coach Awards are open for entries
The UK Bus Awards and UK Coach Awards will go ahead this year with a joint video presentation on November 16. Nominations are welcome Bus services were vital to key workers during the pandemic Prior to Covid-19 the UK Bus Awards had held an awards ceremony in London for 24 consecutive years –...
Railway urged to share data on Covid risks
London TravelWatch wants RSSB to publish data that predicts potential deaths from Covid caught on trains, but safety body insists that ‘risk is low’ London TravelWatch is urging the rail industry to release its data on the risks of catching Covid on trains. The watchdog says it is “irresponsible” to launch a campaign...
Rising confidence for patronage recovery
Rail and bus operators have expressed a growing confidence for the future of the sector as rail minister says he believes passenger numbers will rebound LNER has seen patronage bounce back to 94% over the last three weeks There is a growing sense of optimism across the public transport sector following the easing...
We must get better to lure motorists