Who is offering the best plan for transport?
Ahead of next week’s general election, Robert Jack reports on the key transport pledges in the manifestos of Great Britain’s main political parties Addressing a conference in London last month, Professor David Begg warned that the UK was lacking a vision for transforming transport in a way that will delivery essential economic, social...
BYD aiming to make inroads into UK market
BYD has launched the ‘viable’ BD11 double decker in a move that will see the Chinese manufacturer launch a full-scale assault on the UK market London is the first target market for the BYD BD11 BY Andrew Garnett Every now and then, a new vehicle will be introduced to the industry that ostensibly...
Metro mayors plan bus franchising revolution
If metro mayors deliver on their manifesto pledges, almost three-quarters of bus journeys in England will be on publicly-controlled bus networks From left: Pete Bond, TfWM director of integrated transport services, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker and Cllr Stephen Simpkins, leader of City of Wolverhampton Council and WMCA Board member This autumn it...
SPT says franchising is the only game in town
A new report by the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport has concluded that bus franchising is the only option to stem long-term network decline BY Andrew Garnett Strathclyde could become the first region in Scotland to franchise its bus network after Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) members approved plans for a consultation about the...
ADL goes it alone with new electric bus range
After several years working with Chinese manufacturer BYD, Alexander Dennis has launched two new electric buses engineered fully in-house ADL said the two new products feature a ‘stunning new design language that emphasises their zero-emission credentials’ BY Andrew Garnett Alexander Dennis (ADL) has worked closely with Chinese battery and electric vehicle giant BYD...
Waters attacks ‘grubby’ Westminster tactics
The Welsh Government’s deputy minister for climate change used the National Transport Awards to hit back at critics and issue a rallying cry Lee Waters: ‘We have to make the right thing to do, the easiest thing to do’ The National Transport Awards is a great opportunity to recognise those who are going...
Why isn’t multi-modal integration a priority?
‘It’s the thing everyone wants but in so many ways it remains elusive. Last week’s Great Transport Debate examined why we can’t join up journeys The debate brought together executives from the air, rail, bus, micro-mobility, taxi and active travel sectors in Manchester Airport’s Concorde Hanger Why hasn’t more progress been made to...
RDG confirms plans for ticket office cull
Rail industry launches long-anticipated consultation into proposals that could see the vast majority of railway station ticket offices closed The public consultation over the proposals will close on July 26 BY Andrew Garnett The Rail Delivery Group (RDG)confirmed perhaps the worst-kept secret in recent industry history on July 5 when it announced that...
All change as franchise winners are revealed
Go-Ahead subsidiary Go North West has been named as the winner of the first two major contracts to franchise bus services in Greater Manchester Andy Burnham reveals the first franchise winners The first step towards dismantling deregulation in Greater Manchester took place on December 23 when Andy Burnham, the region’s mayor, announced the...
Concerns mount over growing driver shortage
The bus industry is short of 4,000 drivers and there are fears this could do untold damage to the future commercial viability of the sector The Confederation of Passenger Transport estimates there is a national shortage of 4,000 bus drivers BY ANDREW GARNETT There are deepening concerns in the bus industry about the...
Brown: ‘Embrace it, be collegiate, be positive’
Go-Ahead Group chief executive David Brown urges audience of young bus managers to use the bus strategy as an opportunity for positive change David Brown will retire as Go-Ahead Group chief executive at the end of this year after more than 10 years in the role Go-Ahead Group boss David Brown has urged...
‘Boris in Wonderland’ plan will ‘end in tears’
Bus entrepreneur Julian Peddle offered his own bleak and controversial assessment of the National Bus Strategy for England at a meeting last week Prime minister Boris Johnson at the launch of Bus Back Better in March The National Bus Strategy for England is flawed and “will all end in tears”, bus entrepreneur Julian...
