LCR selects Stagecoach and Go-Ahead

LCR selects Stagecoach and Go-Ahead

Stagecoach has been selected to operate the franchised bus network based in St Helens while Go-Ahead will operates services in Wirral   Mayor Steve Rotheram: buses aren’t a ‘nice to have’ – they’re a lifeline   Stagecoach and Go-Ahead Group have been selected as the first operators to run the...
Public transport’s ‘global family gathering’

Public transport’s ‘global family gathering’

Dubai will host the UITP Summit on April 21-23. We spoke to UITP’s secretary general, Mohamed Mezghani, about the event and what visitors can look forward to   Mohamed Mezghani: “For me, the Summit is about people”   Mohamed, the UITP Summit is heading to Dubai in April, less than...
Out now: The latest issue of Passenger Transport

Out now: The latest issue of Passenger Transport

What’s inside the latest edition of Passenger Transport:     LEAD STORY NPR rail improvements ‘will actually happen’ More than a decade after the Northern Powerhouse Rail project was first proposed, the government has unveiled a three-phase plan for its delivery   NEWS Cornwall probes bus regulation options Market engagement...
NPR rail improvements  ‘will actually happen’

NPR rail improvements ‘will actually happen’

More than a decade after the Northern Powerhouse Rail project was first proposed, the government has unveiled a three-phase plan for its delivery   The plans would see Manchester Piccadilly expanded   A three-phase plan for the long-promised Northern Powerhouse Rail project was unveiled by the government this week. The...
100 more bus routes in Wales and £2 fare cap?

100 more bus routes in Wales and £2 fare cap?

Labour has pledged an enhanced bus offer for Wales if it wins this May’s Senedd election, but will this be matched funding? Rhodri Clark reports   Welsh bus fares for adults aged 22 to 59 would be capped at £2   Labour has pledged 100 more bus routes in Wales...
Let’s get on and fix rail replacement

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...
Putting customers front and centre

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)....
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Northern Powerhouse Rail to be scaled back?

Northern Powerhouse Rail to be scaled back?

Liz Truss pledged to build long-awaited scheme in full but new transport secretary Mark Harper has hinted at a return to a scaled-back version   Transport secretary Mark Harper   Reverting to a scaled back version of the Northern Powerhouse Rail project would be a “serious setback to levelling up”, campaigners warned this week. Henri...
The mad ministerial merry-go-round

The mad ministerial merry-go-round

  In the last three months we have had three transport secretaries. And the latest incumbent is my former colleague, Mark Harper   Mark Harper   Another week, another prime minister, another transport secretary and another lot of new junior transport ministers. Perhaps Passenger Transport should turn into a weekly publication so we can keep...
£100 penalty fare is recipe for disaster

£100 penalty fare is recipe for disaster

  The rail industry should have got its house in order first before increasing penalty fares fivefold. Front line employees will suffer     “I’ll kill you. I’ll rip your f***ing head off.” These were the words of Michael Lucas just before he punched Colin Spicer, who was carrying out gateline duties at Wigan Wallgate,...
How can buses survive Austerity 2.0?

How can buses survive Austerity 2.0?

There won’t be much money for buses in the years ahead, but the sector can live without it if the government is willing to be brave   Brave courageous urban traffic policies don’t cost anything but will deliver much cleaner, liveable cities and contribute to meeting climate change targets   BY Robert Montgomery Ever since...
Buses 2.0 - reinventing bus travel

Buses 2.0 – reinventing bus travel

Welcome to the Buses 2.0 – reinventing bus travel The bus sector faces enormous challenges but it’s not standing still. This new publication focuses on how the workhorse of our public transport networks is being reinvented for the 21st century with new technologies and new ideas. Click on the image below to view the supplement....
Scottish Transport Awards 2022 Book of Winners

Scottish Transport Awards 2022 Book of Winners

October saw the return of the Scottish Transport Awards and you can read all about the winners in this official Souvenir Brochure. Click on the image below to view Scottish Transport Awards Book of Winners 2022.     If you are viewing the site on a tablet or mobile device, tap here to view.
Anxiety as DfT asked to find spending cuts

Anxiety as DfT asked to find spending cuts

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt warns that ‘decisions of eye-watering difficulty’ lie ahead with all government departments required to identify spending cuts   Transport secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said she would fight to retain the £2 fare cap across England from January to March   The public transport sector is braced for deep spending cuts after all government...
Lessons from the Covid experience

Lessons from the Covid experience

  The inquiry into the UK response to Covid is is only seeking evidence by invitation. So here’s my unsolicited viewpoint   The mayors were ahead of the game on arguing that face coverings needed to come in while the government and the industry pushed back   Winter is on its way. And there are...
Could SQRs squash true customer care?

Could SQRs squash true customer care?

  I initially lauded the railway’s new Service Quality Regime but I now fear it is too rigid and will constrain innovative thinking   LNER’s new Family Room at Kings Cross is an example of pro-active and innovative customer service   The Service Quality Regime (SQR) which was established by the Department for Transport to...
Let’s actually listen to each other

Let’s actually listen to each other

Black History Month is a time to champion the black community. Join in and use this opportunity to make a difference to our sector   Thameslink’s Siggy Cragwell, pictured in June at the unveiling of the National Windrush Monument at Waterloo Station   BY Nafisa Nathani Throughout October many of us have celebrated Black History...
Scotland braced for bus cuts after funding ends

Scotland braced for bus cuts after funding ends

Emergency support ended on October 9, despite warnings   As October 9 approached, transport minister Jenny Gilruth made clear that the government would not provide a further tranche of temporary support   Widespread cuts to bus services are predicted after the Scottish Government’s emergency support for the sector to recover from the pandemic came to...
Better seat utilisation is key to the future

Better seat utilisation is key to the future

Transformation of the industry’s approach to seat utilisation could benefit both the TOCs and passengers TOCs have three options to ensure seats are utilised in a more efficient way BY Matthew Flynn Despite promising figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) showing that rail services have returned to 95% of their pre-pandemic sales, train operators...