The albatross and the elephant
The Scottish Government’s Fair Fares Review has grabbed headlines but it cannot address the biggest transport challenges The launch of the £500m Bus Partnership Fund in 2019. It has now been paused BY Paul White “Continued delays to the updated climate change plan and further slippage in promised climate policies mean that the...
Pigs don’t fly but taxis are taking off
There’s nothing new about the concept of avoiding traffic by travelling overhead, but flying taxis could take this to another level What impact will air taxis have? Congestion: here is an issue to unite everyone from the extreme petrol heads through to the greenest environmentalist. Nobody benefits from this, not the motorists...
Survey shines light on customer views
The Your Bus Journey survey of bus users by Transport Focus provides insights and a league table we should all care about Levels of bus users satisfaction were high in East Yorkshire Who was surprised by the Transport Focus ‘Your Bus Journey’ scores? I certainly wasn’t and felt faintly reassured by the results...
Revolutionising suburban transport
The Grand Paris Express is potentially the most important and transformational urban mobility project underway in Europe The Grand Paris Express transport project I was in Paris, France for the Autonomy Mobility World Expo conference late last month. As an addition to the conference I was able to book a guided visit...
Poetry in motion – the Paris Metro
Andrew Martin’s new book on the Paris Metro led me to reflect on the fascinating confluences and divergences with London I used to take the view that Paris was an ugly city (quasi motorways alongside the Seine, the dreary Haussmann boulevards, the Eiffel Tower) but with a lot of beautiful details. As...
Why Andy Mellors is my low key hero
I am not saying that problems don’t exist, but my experiences of Avanti West Coast have been good – and it’s going to get better Andy Mellors Recently, I’ve heard a lot of folk suggest that the railway is in the worst shape ever. Even those who haven’t been on a train for...
What is the strategy for transport?
A pragmatic consensus on transport policy has been shattered by the return of ‘war on the motorist’ rhetoric. We must do better Our current PM has boxed his government into being the motorist’s friend I have been on a sabbatical for a few years and have been catching up on transport policy...
Women in Bus and Coach – Empowering diversity
The Women in Bus and Coach initiative (pictured last year on a visit to parliament) has emerged as a powerful force. Here are seven compelling reasons behind the pressing need for such initiatives BY Louise Cheeseman International Women’s Day is a really great opportunity to showcase the unique culture that women can offer...
Women in Transport – Driving forward diversity
The Women in Transport Diversity & Inclusion Bus Group can look back on five years of progress BY Sonya Byers March is a significant month for Women in Transport, especially with International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. This year marks a special milestone as the Women in Transport Diversity & Inclusion (D&I)...
Rolling stock has remained in sidings
Rolling stock issues have been surprisingly neglected in debates about the future of the railway, but there are big problems to solve SWR’s new Arterio trains are a rare example of new trains entering service The recent George Bradshaw address ‘election special’ contained few surprises. Rail minister Huw Merriman confirmed that he...
Devolution seeds will bear fruit
Against the precarious backdrop of public transport, mayors and local leaders in our city regions are planting seeds of optimism The new Headbolt Lane station in Kirkby I am not sure about you, but this year feels like it is flying by. The start of the new year only feels like yesterday...
Happy campers are potential bus users