Issue 312 of Passenger Transport is published on May 3. Contents include: LEAD STORY Taking control Six metro mayors in England – representing 11.6 million people – were elected last week having pledged to take back control of local bus networks NEWS EXTRA: Metro mayors Metro mayors...
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...
Group plots return to High Wycombe 24 years after sale Go-Ahead’s Carousel Buses operation will step in on most of the routes Arriva is proposing to withdraw Go-Ahead looks set to benefit from a rival operator’s retrenchment following the news that Arriva is consulting on proposals to close...
It’s time for bold and fresh thinking about how we design public transport to best serve a changed market in changing times There is nothing ‘off the shelf’ about the interiors of the new Danish IC5 trains A draining Covid epidemic and the ungainly pirouettes of government...
We keep hearing that the railway is short of money, but have we made the most of the commercial opportunities in front of us? Are we making the most of our amazing station infrastructure? I’m getting a little tired of hearing that the UK rail industry has...
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...
The transport community needs to recognise the country has big problems to solve and concentrate on where we can really help HS2 will no longer reach north of Birmingham. The government decided that there were greater priorities I know it might seem odd for me, of all people to say this, but...
Some of the real positives from the government’s Network North announcements have got lost in the malaise. Details are required Greater Manchester’s Bee Network is an example of what can be achieved I am writing this on what feels like the first proper day of Autumn and just over 100 days from...
How do we prevent short-term thinking and political expediency from driving critical decisions on tackling climate change? The Prime Minister’s Net Zero press conference in Downing Street last month Like so many, I could scarcely believe what I was hearing when prime minister Rishi Sunak made his Net Zero speech at Downing...
Brent Toderian, a passionate advocate of public transport, spoke at this month’s CPT Scotland Conference. Robert Jack reports Brent Toderian spent six years as chief planner for Vancouver, Canada Brent Toderian is an internationally renowned practitioner and thought leader on city planning and transport, consulting on cities and projects across the globe. He...
A total of 135 finalists have made the shortlist of this year’s prestigious UK Bus Awards, with the winners set to be announced on November 28 Koli Begum of Go-Ahead London won last year’s Top London Bus Driver award The UK Bus Awards, the flagship national award scheme, has announced a 135-strong shortlist...
Prime minister Rishi Sunak announces that high speed line won’t go north of Birmingham – but ‘every single penny’ saved will be invested in transport The government has scrapped HS2 north of Birmingham After a long and intense period of speculation, prime minister Rishi Sunak finally announced that his government is scrapping HS2...
‘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...
Rishi Sunak’s new ‘Plan for Motorists’ and his decision to cancel Phase 2 of HS2 are not ‘long-term decisions for a brighter future’ Rishi Sunak at his ‘Net Zero’ press conference last month In my last column for Passenger Transport, I observed that it never helps when No 10 or No 11...
Last week’s Great Transport Debate in Manchester brought together all modes of transport, and more. But what did we learn? A quirky venue (underneath a Concorde aircraft) and a quirky host (yours truly) I’m not going to lie but I make it my place to avoid corporate and social events. I am...
October marks Black History Month, an opportunity to build understanding and bridge divides The theme of year’s Black History Month is ‘saluting our sisters’ By Nafisa Nathani October marks Black History Month. The theme this year is ‘saluting our sisters’ – recognising the important role Black British women have played in modern Britain...
Welcome to Scotland’s Buses 2023. This special publication from Passenger Transport places the spotlight on Scotland’s bus and coach industry and its partners, celebrates their achievements and considers the challenges they face. Published in association with CPT for a sixth time, this year’s edition incorporates the official Conference Workbook for the 45th annual CPT Annual...
Forget Hs2 and focus on local investments