Culture: the missing piece in rail reform
The establishment of Great British Railways provides a unique opportunity to reshape and, in certain areas, reset the rail industry We are at a pivotal moment for the UK rail industry. With the creation of Great British Railways (GBR) and the imminent renationalisation of passenger services, the sector has an opportunity to set...
Make a great scenic bus journey soon!
If you believe in buses don’t just talk the talk, walk the walk by taking yourself and others on one of many hidden gems out there East Yorkshire’s excellent Beachcomer ‘Use it or lose it’ is a famous but wise old cliché often used among folk to cajole them into supporting businesses...
Should Heathrow say goodbye to Woldbye?
The response to the recent power outage at Heathrow Airport has lessons for crisis management in the public transport sector Heathrow Airport CEO Thomas Woldbye The power outage at Heathrow Airport a fortnight ago was fascinating in the way that it shone a lens on CEO Thomas Woldbye’s reaction to the crisis...
We need a vision for Britain’s railways
The process of putting the railway back together has now begun – but a vision is required if the railway is to meet its potential Liverpool Lime Street station. A new regional express network would open up new markets The interminable death throes of rail privatisation are finally coming to an end....
Eye-watering price hikes can’t continue
The drop in attendances at this year’s Cheltenham Festival should serve as a warning against treating rail users as cash cows I had one of those earth-shattering, eyebrow raising afternoons last Tuesday when psychological price thresholds being broken were at the forefront of my mind. Three in the space of a few hours....
What does a fair deal for buses look like?
The forthcoming Spending Review will set out priorities for taxpayers’ funds up until 2030. It will be a big moment for buses Simon Lightwood, the minister for local transport, at the CPT’s annual conference in January By Alison Edwards Unless you’ve spent months hiding under your duvet, you will be aware that the...
Wimborne Wicko’s winning formula
The awards have been flowing towards Andrew Wickham and the Go South Coast business that he has led for 13 years. Here’s why Andrew Wickham (centre) with colleagues when Go South Coast was crowned ‘UK Bus Operator of the Year’ in 2023 Two awards in the matter of a month for the...
Bringing rail into the Bee Network
Integrating rail lines into our network is fundamental to our wider ambitions. It’s key to unlocking growth in our region and beyond At the start of the year, I set out ambitious plans to bring eight commuter rail lines into the Bee Network – the next big step for our joined-up public transport...
Call out corruption and don’t cover it up
Expense-fiddling and backhanders occur in all walks of life and transport is not immune. Employers should always be vigilant Fraud can permeate itself throughout organisations Of all the news stories doing the rounds, the alleged expenses fiddle and CV exaggeration saga involving chancellor Rachel Reeves fascinates me. Last week, the BBC released...
Beware the allure of capping single fares
Fare caps are an easy way to grab attention, but what happens after they end and could funding be better invested elsewhere? England’s £2 bus fare cap morphed into a three-year experiment – into which the government will have ploughed £630m by the time it expires at the end of this year ...
Buses must embrace unorthodox thinking
To navigate this make-or-break period of major upheaval successfully, the bus sector needs bold leadership and open minds A more diverse range of voices – whether in terms of gender, ethnicity, professional experience – can only strengthen decision-making With major changes to how services are planned, funded and delivered, the UK bus...
Keep an open mind about open access