Getting it right for rural areas
Rural bus services face the twin challenges of lower patronage and longer mileage, but it’s not doom and gloom everywhere Bus patronage has increased in Cornwall (Image: Shutterstock) As I write this, I’m travelling to Hatfield for the first Quality Rural Bus Conference. By the time you read this, the event will...
Scottish Transport Awards 2025
The Scottish Transport Awards took place on June 19 in Glasgow and you can read all about the winners in this official Souvenir Brochure. Click on the image below to view Scottish Transport Awards Book of Winners 2025. If you are viewing the site on a tablet or mobile device, tap here to...
Free buses in return for c-charge in Oxford?
Key transport organisations across the city have united in support of Oxfordshire County Council’s proposed £5 daily congestion charge £5 daily congestion charge Broad coalition of organisations are backing the proposal Making Oxford’s park and ride buses free to use could become a reality if plans for a temporary congestion charge in the...
NAO calls for DfT lead on bus improvements
Despite significant bus investment in recent years, a new report by the National Audit Office calls for better strategy and targeted funding Report noted that bus franchising is complex and costly The Department for Transport must deliver clearer strategic direction and cohesive funding if local transport authorities in England are to reverse the...
French ambition contrasts with UK
In the 1980s, France’s TGV high speed train revolution left the UK well behind. Is the same now happening on local transport? Orléans is an example of what a public transport system can do in a small city Paris in the springtime but today we have given the conventional attractions of the...
Social media – it’s all or nothing
If you put the right level of resource behind social media, it can be game-changing, but if you get it wrong it’s best not to bother As part of my role, I do social media training for transport companies and detailed reviews of their approach and strategy Public transport is in the...
UITP Summit puts Hamburg on show
Germany’s second largest city is a showcase for innovation in transport policy, with ambitious targets to grow public transport Hamburg has an extensive U-Bahn network of four lines with 93 station The UITP Summit was held in Hamburg, Germany in mid-June 2025. Hamburg held the very first UITP Summit in 1891. This...
Does more choice mean cheaper fares?
The evidence suggests that open access competition has resulted in cheaper fares and grown the overall market for rail travel, says Andy Comfort Hull Trains will celebrate its 25th birthday later this year At 0614 on the morning of Sunday May 25, the first train to be nationalised by the Labour government...
Joint working group to save Scottish ADL jobs
UK Government and Scottish Government are working jointly to explore options to prevent the loss of 400 bus manufacturing jobs in Scotland ADL: This is a challenging time, and we are grateful for the active engagement from the Scottish and UK Governments A joint working group has been established by the UK Government...
Public transport must be a ‘climate priority’
More than 10,000 public transport professionals gathered in Hamburg last week for the UITP Summit – an event which is set to become annual UITP president Renée Amilcar in Hamburg last week “Public transport is not just a mobility solution in our cities – it’s a climate solution.” That was the message from...
SMEs to have focus in Welsh franchising plan
Transport for Wales confirms contracts will be structures in a way that protects and encourages greater involvement from the SME sector TfW envisages a ‘different playing fields’ approach to bus franchising Bus franchising contracts in Wales could be as small as two vehicles to ensure accessibility for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the...
Powering up revenue protection