Battered by the storm, but staying optimistic
Our poll of passenger transport professionals serves as a large focus group, revealing how the sector feels about the Covid experience and the future Public transport is not the only sector of the economy to have been battered by Covid. In fact, some might argue that it has been relatively sheltered; permitted to...
‘Public transport is social justice’ – Shoaf
Urban Transport Group chair says now is a good time for the sector to remind itself, and those who work within it, of the essential role they play Laura Shoaf: networks must be “fully functioning and supported” The managing director of Transport for West Midlands has warned that any post-Covid cuts to public...
Scotland’s target to cut car use is a ‘world first’
Transport secretary sets out plans to achieve modal shift Scotland’s transport secretary, Michael Matheson The Scottish Government’s commitment to cut car use by a fifth over the next decade was identified as being among a set of “bold policy proposals” to decarbonise transport by Scotland’s transport secretary, Michael Matheson. The target was announced...
ORR reveals significant punctuality improvement
Stats show 74.7% of trains arrived on time in late 2020 ‘On time’ performance was the third highest quarterly percentage since the time series began in 2014-15 The latest statistics from the Office of Rail and Road have found that between October to December 2020, there were 1.7 million trains planned (11% fewer...
Leaders reject ‘cheap and nasty’ option for NPR
Political leaders have sent a strongly worded letter to transport secretary Grant Shapps Liverpool City Region metro mayor Steve Rotheram is among the signatories of a strongly worded letter to transport secretary Grant Shapps Political leaders from Liverpool City Region, Warrington, and Cheshire West and Chester have joined forces to reject the government’s...
Transdev’s second phase of electric bus trials
Operator launches comparison trials using Yutong E10 battery-powered bus Harrogate Bus Company General Manager Frank Stanisauskis (left) and driver Ricki Tomlinson with the Yutong E10 electric bus A new trial featuring the latest zero-emission electric transport technology is now underway in North Yorkshire as Transdev Blazefield prepares for future investment beyond the pandemic....
Academic forum to guide investment planning
Transport for the North says move will help inform transport investment decisions The first meeting of the Forum will take place virtually on February 24 A new collaborative approach to infrastructure planning and policymaking is being introduced by Transport for the North (TfN) to ensure investment decisions are based on the most relevant...
Oyster-style ticketing ‘essential’ for Midlands
Could be up and running in some areas as soon as 2022, and implemented region-wide by 2024, if the chancellor provides funding ‘Swift’ in the West Midlands is the UK’s second biggest public transport payment system after London’s Oyster scheme MPs have urged the government to invest in a Midlands-wide ‘tap and cap’...
First fleet all set for Bath’s Clean Air Zone
Bus operator all set for March 15 introduction of CAZ First has used a combination of new buses and retrofit technology to existing vehicles to comply with the Bath scheme Bath’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) comes into operation on March 15 and local bus operator First West of England is working towards ensuring...
Go North West staff to stage all-out strike
Outdated working practices risk closure of business, company claims Company has offered drivers an upfront payment of £5,000 to accept new terms Bus drivers at Manchester-based Go North West have announced they will commence an all-out continuous strike from February 28. The Unite trade union says staff are walking out “as a result...
Brutally clear messaging for public transport
Recent government advice has been ill-advised The messaging for passenger transport users has been brutally clear Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK government has managed to undermine everyone who deals with passenger transport. This has taken the form of an instruction – do not use public transport – rather than informed advice....
Happy birthday, Passenger Transport!