We want to truly transform rail travel
With commuting patterns probably changed forever, many more train journeys now involve an active choice. We need to adapt – wrtes LNER boss David Horne David Horne Data released earlier this month by the Department for Transport shows that use of the National Rail network in Great Britain is back up to 55%...
Public transport sector braced for ‘pingdemic’
Hull-based East Yorkshire was already seeing up to eight bus drivers a day ‘pinged’ by the NHS Test and Trace App ahead of ‘Freedom Day’ on July 19 Bus and train operators across the country are bracing themselves for the impact of the ‘pingdemic’ as coronavirus cases soar and their staff are ‘pinged’...
Go-Ahead names new group chief executive
Christian Schreyer will take the helm on November 5 Christian Schreyer, 53, a German national, has been working for Transdev Go-Ahead Group has this morning announced the appointment of Christian Schreyer as group chief executive with effect from the conclusion of the group’s Annual General Meeting on November 5. He will join the...
Jam tomorrow – we need a plan for 2021
In many ways the Transport Decarbonisation Plan is ambitious – but promises for 2050 are easier to make than immediate actions Huw Merriman, chair of the Transport Select Committee, pictured in May at the launch of a campaign to get more people back on public transport. Let us see some ministers visibly on...
Bus operators make most of ‘Freedom Day’
National Express West Midlands, Go North West and Brighton & Hove are among those seeking to entice users back with offers and promotions Left to right: West Midlands mayor Andy Street; NXWM master driver Rekha Sehdeva; NXWM boss David Bradford Bus operators in England sought to capitalise on the removal of remaining Covid...
‘Face mask confusion will discourage travel’
CPT warns that ‘mixed messaging’ will stall the recovery as polls suggest that public want face coverings to remain mandatory on public transport Polls show support for face masks The ability of public transport to play a full role in the country’s recovery from the pandemic is being put at risk by the...
Brown: ‘Embrace it, be collegiate, be positive’
Go-Ahead Group chief executive David Brown urges audience of young bus managers to use the bus strategy as an opportunity for positive change David Brown will retire as Go-Ahead Group chief executive at the end of this year after more than 10 years in the role Go-Ahead Group boss David Brown has urged...
From Point A to B, with a bit of poetry
Transport authorities fought hard to bring trams back to our cities. How can we insulate light rail against Whitehall’s mood swings? The caff sits in the centre of the turning circle outside the station. A tram moves forward to pick up passengers heading into Lviv’s centre Leeds 1953 Leeds was one of...
£226m to aid recovery of England’s buses
‘Final’ tranche of emergency funding for bus operators in England will offer greater flexibility to adapt services to meet changing travel patterns Baroness Vere: ‘Buses are the lifeblood of our communities’ England’s bus operators will receive £226.5m of government funding to support their recovery as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, transport minister Baroness Vere...
What my transport journey taught me
After nine enjoyable and rewarding years in the transport industry, I’m moving on. But before I go, I want to offer some observations We must persuade more people to leave their cars at home As I prepare to bid farewell to The Go-Ahead Group, this month marks the end of a stint...
Flexible season tickets ‘a missed opportunity’
Commuters in England will be able to purchase paperless tickets that offer travel on any eight days within a 28-day period – but some are disappointed Transport secretary Grant Shapps: “They give us greater freedom and choice about how we travel, simpler ticketing and a fairer fare.” New flexible rail season tickets, reflecting...
Be like Rotterdam and ‘make it happen’