Uber is here to stay – can we live with it?
There’s no doubt that the convenience of Uber has eroded bus travel to some degree – but how should the sector respond to that? Uber has become the elephant in the room (Photo: Shutterstock) Last week, I eavesdropped on some bus industry bods lamenting declining patronage levels on London buses and the...
Looking after the ‘stakeholders’
The value of good stakeholder relations can’t be underestimated. Who should do it, what should it involve and who does it well? Sometimes, the term ‘stakeholder’ gets used in a very depersonalised, almost token manner in business I do titter when I listen to business mumbo-jumbo – ‘drill down’, ‘helicopter vision’, ‘pain...
Keep an open mind about open access
Open access rail services have demonstrated that they can grow the market for rail without requiring subsidy. What’s not to like? Lumo’s open access services begun in October 2021 It was less than a month ago that Rail Partners shut up shop, but I for one am already feeling their loss. The...
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...
Breathing new life into redundant land