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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‘Building a stronger, more inclusive future’

‘Building a stronger, more inclusive future’

Women in Bus and Coach holds third summit in Birmingham First bus driver Michele Elliot won the Best Woman in Bus Award   Women in Bus and Coach held its third annual summit at lead sponsor BT’s state of the art event facility in Snowhill Birmingham this week, bringing together industry leaders, stakeholders, frontline operators...
Safety is a right,  not a privilege

Safety is a right, not a privilege

Incidents of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) occur every day on public transport. What are we doing to prevent it?   Kayleigh Ingham   BY Kayleigh Ingham, First Bus Buses and trains are lifelines that connect people to work, education, healthcare, and their loved ones. But for too many women and girls, their journeys...
Insular Britain is staying at home

Insular Britain is staying at home

  An apathetic population is no longer making trips that were once routine. What does this mean for public transport operators?   Another week of travelling around the UK has made me realise just how market forces are conspiring against whole swathes of our landscape at the moment. I don’t know why I am surprised...
‘The bus industry in Britain is on the rise’

‘The bus industry in Britain is on the rise’

  There was an upbeat mood at last week’s UK Bus Summit in Manchester, with speakers expressing enthusiasm about the industry’s future Andy Burnham speaking at last week’s UK Bus Summit   Last week’s UK Bus Summit, organised by Transport Times in partnership with Passenger Transport, was the seventh to have taken place – but...
‘The most exciting time for buses in 50 years’

‘The most exciting time for buses in 50 years’

  Last week’s UK Bus Summit in Manchester saw political leaders, transport chiefs and bus companies express enthusiasm about the direction of travel   Metro mayors are keen to replicate – and surpass – what Greater Manchester has achieved   The overall vibe was a positive one at last week’s UK Bus Summit in Manchester....
Gilligan: NPR ‘makes HS2 look sensible’

Gilligan: NPR ‘makes HS2 look sensible’

Advisor calls for Elizabeth Line-style fix for the north’s railways Rumours suggest the NPR scheme could be revived within weeks   Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), the high-speed project designed to link Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds, has come under fierce criticism from former Downing Street transport adviser Andrew Gilligan. Rumours suggest the scheme could be revived...
Transdev completes Ticketer upgrade

Transdev completes Ticketer upgrade

Operator moves to TK300 consoles and Tap On/Tap Off tech Transdev has replaced its older TK200 units   Transdev Blazefield has completed the deployment of Ticketer’s Tap On/Tap Off (TOTO) contactless technology across its 472-strong Yorkshire bus fleet, alongside a fleetwide upgrade to the supplier’s TK300 driver consoles. The move marks a significant step in...
Going for growth, but lacking vision

Going for growth, but lacking vision

  Keir Starmer’s administration is all about ‘growth, growth, growth’ – there is money available but its transport policy is often ‘grey’   Is Keir Starmer presiding over a technocratic transport policy?   Keir Starmer is now into his second year as PM – but is transport a secondary priority for his administration? Yes and...
The view from the (UK Bus) Summit

The view from the (UK Bus) Summit

  Last week the bus sector gathering in my home city of Manchester led me to reflect on how far we have come, and where we’re going Last week’s UK Bus Summit in Manchester   Notwithstanding the wet and thundery weather, something that the city region is famous for, hosting the Transport Times UK Bus...
A sector failing to move with the times

A sector failing to move with the times

  A week of sub-standard public transport experiences exposed areas where the public transport sector has failed to evolve   The industry is in denial if it thinks, as some do, that Uber isn’t more attractive and represents far better value for money   As regular readers of this column will attest, I frequently extol...
‘We’ve put our money where our mouth is’

‘We’ve put our money where our mouth is’

In the wake of calls for the government to show more ambition on buses in England, local transport minister Simon Lightwood talked up progress   Lightwood: “stellar result”   Ahead of next week’s UK Bus Summit in Manchester, local transport minister Simon Lightwood has defended the government’s record on buses. It comes after the Transport...
Anyone I spoke to said: ‘You’re absolutely mad’

Anyone I spoke to said: ‘You’re absolutely mad’

FlixBus UK boss Andreas Schorling reflects on his company’s entry into the UK market, the exciting potential of AI and attracting new customers Andreas Schorling: ‘We are able to attract a new demographic’   Since launching in the UK in 2021, express coach operator FlixBus has served over five million passengers. This summer, the global...