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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Transport sector plays role in COP26 summit

Transport sector plays role in COP26 summit

Event offers chance to showcase success and raise awareness   Stagecoach partnered with ADL BYD to provide a fleet of electric double deckers to transport world leaders, including prime minister Boris Johnson (pictured), at this month’s COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow   The passenger transport sector used this month’s COP26 climate change summit in...
Funding and a finely balanced future

Funding and a finely balanced future

  The Comprehensive Spending Review heralded good news and not-so-good news for public transport. Tough decisions are needed   Boris Johnson at the launch of the National Bus Strategy for England in March   Now that the dust has settled from Comprehensive Spending Review, it’s becoming easier to see through the smoke and mirrors and...
My 10-point plan for rail replacement

My 10-point plan for rail replacement

  During the transition to GBR, it’s important that the age-old challenge of rail replacement provision doesn’t get forgotten   This is how many people feel about rail replacement services – and something must be done to change it   The Department for Transport’s excellent market engagement day to start the process towards the procurement...
Destination Net Zero: Decarbonising Transport

Destination Net Zero: Decarbonising Transport

Welcome to Destination Net Zero: Decarbonising Transport.     This special publication considers the scale of the Net Zero challenge for transport and examines the work that is being done by different organisations to reduce the impact of our mobility needs on the environment. It has been produced to co-incide with COP26, the 2021 United...
Next stop, Net Zero - COP26 offers showcase

Next stop, Net Zero – COP26 offers showcase

The passenger transport sector is selling itself as part of the solution to climate change ahead of COP26, but the government is being urged to do more to encourage modal shift     With global leaders preparing to gather in Glasgow next week for the COP26 climate summit, the UK passenger transport sector has been...
Travel by train? The price isn’t right

Travel by train? The price isn’t right

  Rail travel is becoming optional. There is no longer a captive commuter market and the case for fares reform must be heard   We’ve taken the message to No 10 and 11. Will they listen?   Last weekend, the media was given the good news that £7bn was going to be spent on green...
‘Give us a road map for zero emission buses’

‘Give us a road map for zero emission buses’

Treasury announces additional £355m of funding for zero emission buses, but the bus industry says pledge to deliver 4,000 vehicles is still at risk   Tom Randall, Conservative MP for Gelding (left) and Buta Atwal, CEO of Wrightbus   The bus industry welcomed news of additional funding for transport schemes in this week’s Autumn Budget,...
£7bn transport funding bonanza for city regions

£7bn transport funding bonanza for city regions

Ahead of this week’s spending review, chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the seven ‘metro mayor’ city regions will share £7bn over five years   Greater Manchester metro mayor Andy Burnham hailed the funding announcement as a demonstration that regional leaders and Whitehall were at last now more aligned in their thinking   Ahead of this week’s...
Concerns mount over growing driver shortage

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...
New autonomous mass transit system launches

New autonomous mass transit system launches

World’s first operational system will open in 2025 at the National Railway Museum in Shildon, but UK-based firm plans global transport revolution   A visualisation of ‘floc®’ technology   A driverless, zero-emission mass transit technology – comprising autonomous electric “pods” capable of traveling on both road and rail – launched this week by UK-start up...
Party conferences and a crunch-point

Party conferences and a crunch-point

  The big issues were debated at this year’s lively party conferences, but there are huge questions to be answered on transport policy   A vision of Greater Manchester’s fully integrated network, championed by mayor Andy Burnham   It felt like the fallow Covid period has reinvigorated party conferences as institutions that previously felt like...
The final nail in the franchising coffin?

The final nail in the franchising coffin?

  Govia being stripped of Southeastern should bring the curtain down on franchising and hasten the introduction of concessions   A Southeastern 465 Unit at Gravesend   Shall we just knock it on the head now? I mean, franchising. With the demise of Southeastern, it’s tempting just to expedite the move towards National Rail Concessions...