Which direction will GBR take us?
Great British Railways is emerging – but details are still in short supply. Despite some of my misgivings, I’m cautiously optimistic Last week’s heinous stabbing incident on the LNER train from Doncaster to London and the derailment at Shap on the Avanti service two days later showcased, in adversity, the very best of...
The right way to take back control
Bus networks across the country will transition to public control over the coming years. What’s the best way to make that journey? Greater Manchester’s Bee Network has proved the doubters wrong on every point It was tough getting the powers to franchise. Well worth the struggle though. The success of public control...
Climate crisis, what crisis?
Ministers understand the science, but they have been cowed by the attacks on net zero. The budget is an opportunity for change The chancellor during a visit to Gatwick Airport last month (picture: Simon Walker / HM Treasury) If you are old enough, you might remember the very effective TV advert for...
Earning the right to become GBR?
Train operators transferring into public ownership have haughtily been told ‘earn the right’ to carry a brand hasn’t delivered anything “Operators must meet rigorous, bespoke standards to earn the right to be called Great British Railways, so we can rebuild a world-class public service”. What? You’re having a laugh, surely? Yes, in the...
‘It’s not just about trains – it’s about us’
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 On 15th September 1830, a journey between two neighbouring cities took place and changed the world. The opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, though marred by the tragic...
We must re-learn lessons of Hatfield
The Hatfield disaster – which took place 25 years ago – is a telling history lesson, particularly during this period of structural change It’s not difficult to think that the rail industry is caught in a ‘rinse and repeat’ cycle, like the children’s TV show The Magic Roundabout, particularly as it lurches through...
Safety is a right, not a privilege
Incidents of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) occur every day on public transport. What are we doing to prevent it? Kayleigh Ingham BY Kayleigh Ingham, First Bus Buses and trains are lifelines that connect people to work, education, healthcare, and their loved ones. But for too many women and girls, their journeys...
Insular Britain is staying at home
An apathetic population is no longer making trips that were once routine. What does this mean for public transport operators? Another week of travelling around the UK has made me realise just how market forces are conspiring against whole swathes of our landscape at the moment. I don’t know why I am surprised...
Going for growth, but lacking vision
Keir Starmer’s administration is all about ‘growth, growth, growth’ – there is money available but its transport policy is often ‘grey’ Is Keir Starmer presiding over a technocratic transport policy? Keir Starmer is now into his second year as PM – but is transport a secondary priority for his administration? Yes and...
The view from the (UK Bus) Summit
Last week the bus sector gathering in my home city of Manchester led me to reflect on how far we have come, and where we’re going Last week’s UK Bus Summit in Manchester Notwithstanding the wet and thundery weather, something that the city region is famous for, hosting the Transport Times UK Bus...
A sector failing to move with the times
A week of sub-standard public transport experiences exposed areas where the public transport sector has failed to evolve The industry is in denial if it thinks, as some do, that Uber isn’t more attractive and represents far better value for money As regular readers of this column will attest, I frequently extol...
A career focused on unlocking growth