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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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)....
The levelling up white paper seeks London-style transport for all, but service cuts are now looming and we risk moving backwards Prime minister Boris Johnson and ‘levelling up secretary’ Michael Gove launched the white paper last week with a visit to Blackpool Transport Is that it? That was the pithy and somewhat...
Welsh Government wants European model and ‘single guiding mind’ Lee Waters wants a “single guiding mind” for buses in Wales By Rhodri Clark. The Welsh Government is planning to omit partnerships from its future bus services legislation and to focus on franchising services across Wales. Bus operators were dismayed to discover last month...
A recent trip led me to reflect on one of the key selling points of bus travel – interactions with people and the passing streetscape We need to enthuse young people about bus travel benefits On Tuesday, I had a meeting with probably the most senior person I ever met. It was...
There are widespread fears that England’s National Bus Strategy won’t live up to expectations, but transport minister Baroness Vere doesn’t share them Baroness Vere: “We asked local transport authorities to be ambitious, and lo and behold they were” With the prime minister battling to remain in Downing Street after successive waves of allegations,...
Municipal makes move in response to 5% vacancy rate Pay award sees top rate of pay increase to £13.10 per hour Nottingham City Transport has announced significant pay increases for driving staff and new starters that will make them amongst the highest earners in the country outside London. In December the council-owned bus...
Despite the ongoing impact of the pandemic, no emergency funding support for public transport is available after March 31 It wasn’t meant to be this way. The national bus strategy for England, launched by the prime minister in March 2021 (pictured), envisaged a new dawn for buses It’s been a shaky start...
Rail users lacked trust in train operators before the cuts were announced. Should they have faith that their services will return? Victoria station: Will the commuters return? Back in 2014, Transport Focus produced a compelling paper in relation to trust. It revealed that trust in train operators was pretty low. Indeed, the...
Martin Dean, managing director, business development at Go-Ahead Group, wants private sector expertise to retain a place in railway operation There are differing views over how much credit the commercial train operating companies can take for patronage growth The Go-Ahead Group is urging the government to ensure that the skills of the private...
Welcome to UK Bus & Coach 2022. Welcome to UK Bus & Coach 2022. This special publication accompanies the Confederation of Passenger Transport’s second annual UK Bus & Coach Conference 2022, which will take place virtually on January 25 and 26, 2022. Speakers at this event include transport minister Baroness Vere and shadow...
Who are the rising stars in UK public transport? Passenger Transport has teamed up with Tracsis Transport Consultancy, the executive search, selection and interim management specialists, to identify 51 dynamic passenger transport professionals to keep an eye on Alex Warner writes – Our industry continues to adapt to change, and we owe a lot...
Ministers have shown imagination and commitment in producing the National Bus Strategy, but its lofty ambitions risk falling flat The National Bus Strategy was launched by the prime minister in March 2021 There may have been champagne corks popping when the government finally committed to introduce a National Bus Strategy for England,...
The rail industry is giving the impression of a complete dereliction of duty when it comes to taking steps to prevent fare evasion It wasn’t always like this. Pictured is South Central boss David Franks checking tickets in 2002 Between Christmas and New Year, I caught two trains and a tram with...
Is this ‘levelling up’, or falling flat?