Breaking down the transport bonanza
Sing Alleluia and let the word go forth: white smoke has billowed from the chimney atop Number 11 – we have a Spending Review The chancellor at Taff’s Well Rail Depot (image: Kirsty O’Connor / Treasury) Among the bountiful gifts bestowed by the Chancellor are a four-year funding settlement to underpin England’s...
Why so many embarrassing fiascos?
Why do so many of our public sector projects end up massively expensive, heavily over budget, late to be delivered, and faulty? HS2 will not be a particularly attractive journey, as most of the line will be in tunnels or cuttings How much does a door cost? Well if it’s replacement one...
£15bn package is ‘huge vote of confidence’
Chancellor announces £15.6bn of funding for local transport projects in England’s city regions, £2.3bn for other areas and extends £3 bus fare cap Rachel Reeves during her visit to Mellor This month’s Comprehensive Spending Review contained positive outcomes for the public transport sector. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced £15.6bn of funding by 2031-32 for...
Bus franchising ‘may not meet expectations’
Louise Cheeseman, former TfL director of buses, warns of lack of expertise while others say public expectation levels are high for franchising schemes Cheeseman: ‘My worry for bus reform going forward is lack of expertise’ Governments may have raised public expectations too high in their messaging on franchising and new municipal bus operators,...
Do we have our fingers on the pulse?
How well does public transport understand its existing and potential customers, and the societal trends that influence them? There has been a greater post-Covid recovery in women travelling by bus than men “Time is the most precious resource any of us has,” Marc Winsland remarked in his excellent article in the last...
Bee Network offers blueprint for Britain
As I bid farewell to the Bee Network and its striking yellow buses, I do so with immense pride. It’s a model that others can follow The Bee Network Bus franchising is a transformative approach to public transport management, granting local authorities the ability to regulate service quality, fares, and network integration....
Putting rail’s jigsaw puzzle together
We might not have all the pieces, but we have enough to make a very good start. Let’s begin transforming the UK rail industry If you’re the sort of person who plunges into a jigsaw puzzle without consulting the picture on the box first, you’ll know how hard it can be. You tip...
Smarter data, better buses
Collaboration with CitySwift has been a win for passengers, operators and Transport for London London’s buses carry around 1.8 billion passenger journeys each year London’s bus network is one of the largest and most mature in the world, with nearly 9,000 vehicles operating across over 600 routes. These buses collectively carry around 1.8...
£2.1bn Network North Wales plan announced
Unveiled at last week’s Welsh Public Transport Summit, the plan includes rail infrastructure projects, extra services and Pay as You Go ticketing Network North Wales forms an ambitious plan to upgrade transport in North Wales Ambitious rail proposals for North Wales for the next decade and beyond were announced by Ken Skates, Welsh...
Industry pays tribute to Go South Coast boss
Andrew Wickham, the managing director of Poole-based bus operator Go South Coast, passed away last weekend after a long battle with cancer Andrew Wickham: 1966-2025 BY Andrew Garnett The bus industry has reacted with shock to the news that Go South Coast managing director Andrew Wickham passed away last weekend after a long...
The missing buses of Britain
Passenger numbers have returned faster than bus services in the period since Covid. Are bus operators getting the balance right? Our industry has been put through the wringer once or twice in the AD era. 2025 is my 10th year working in the bus industry. It also marks five years since the...
Avanti and ALBUM shine in my report