The French franchising model
As more parts of the UK embrace franchising, they can learn from experience across the Channel Lyon has one of France’s largest urban bus networks, second in scale only to the Paris region (Pic: Shutterstock) BY Arnaud Léger, Trans-Missions Can France’s long-standing approach to franchising bus services offer useful lessons for British local authorities?...
Three policies stuck in the crawler lane
Coaches, parking and car pooling are policy levers overlooked by transport strategies. Why is that, and how could it change? The coach is never invited to the party when we talk about better public transport in England Some things just don’t count in transport policy. They barely get a mention in transport...
My hopes and fears for the year ahead
The passenger transport sector faces many challenges in 2026. Here are some things I will be looking out for as months progress Like an old British Rail train, ‘better late than never’ – my apologies, therefore, for any inconvenience caused by my customary ‘hopes and fears for the year’ article being a fortnight...
Let’s get on and fix rail replacement
A new report by CMAC has shed light on an often overlooked but frequent aspect of the railway’s customer service proposition 2026 has already brought two major shocks. FA Cup holders, my beloved, Crystal Palace, being knocked out of this year’s tournament by non-league Macclesfield, 117 places below them, was unwelcome. However, the...
Putting customers front and centre
Those taking decisions should always put themselves in the shoes of the passenger and ask whether what they will think reasonable Average bus speeds in central London are now down to 7.4mph (picture: Shutterstock) It was interesting to see the latest figures for bus passenger numbers (PT351). Most striking was the fact...
Utrecht’s multi-modal showcase
Last month’s POLIS mobility conference in the Netherlands put ‘Healthy Urban Living’ in the spotlight, highlighting best practice Utrecht’s central station This year’s POLIS mobility conference was hosted by the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands on November 26 and 27. Polis, based in Brussels, is composed of cities and regions, as...
Sales is a lonely and under-valued role
It’s not easy being a salesperson. The pressure to deliver and the constant rejection requires resilience. Here’s my survival guide Spare a thought for a few commercial folk in transport right now, as Christmas beckons and with it the bearer of good or bad tidings. At the time of writing, the outcome of...
Transport’s role in the bodge-it budget
After weeks of leaks, the chancellor revealed her budget last month. There was good news for transport, but questions remain Chancellor Rachel Reeves on budget day last month (picture: Simon Dawson / No10 Downing Street) You can sometimes come across situations which, if written into a situation comedy sketch for TV, would...
A landmark year for local transport
The government has started to deliver the tools we have asked for: meaningful devolved control and long-term funding certainty Liverpool City Region has a multi-modal vision For years, the transport sector has presented its wish list to successive governments with the perennial optimism of a true believer. At the top were three simple...
Our people-powered Great Bus Comeback
After years of uncertainty, the bus sector is regaining momentum. Visionary leaders and diverse teams are needed to take it forward Stagecoach CEO Claire Miles brings a broad commercial perspective Across the UK, buses are making a remarkable comeback. Once dismissed as the “poor relative” of public transport, they are now reclaiming their...
Should buses be free – or worth paying for?
In his campaign to become mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani promised free buses. Can – and should – it be done? Zohran Mamdani’s offer to New Yorkers A new day has dawned in New York City. So says Zohran Mamdani, the newly minted mayor-elect who will take office on New...
‘Go Local’ to attract more customers