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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Smarter data, better buses

Smarter data, better buses

  Collaboration with CitySwift has been a win for passengers, operators and Transport for London   London’s buses carry around 1.8 billion passenger journeys each year London’s bus network is one of the largest and most mature in the world, with nearly 9,000 vehicles operating across over 600 routes. These buses collectively carry around 1.8...
£2.1bn Network North Wales plan announced

£2.1bn Network North Wales plan announced

Unveiled at last week’s Welsh Public Transport Summit, the plan includes rail infrastructure projects, extra services and Pay as You Go ticketing   Network North Wales forms an ambitious plan to upgrade transport in North Wales   Ambitious rail proposals for North Wales for the next decade and beyond were announced by Ken Skates, Welsh...
Industry pays tribute to Go South Coast boss

Industry pays tribute to Go South Coast boss

Andrew Wickham, the managing director of Poole-based bus operator Go South Coast, passed away last weekend after a long battle with cancer   Andrew Wickham: 1966-2025   BY Andrew Garnett The bus industry has reacted with shock to the news that Go South Coast managing director Andrew Wickham passed away last weekend after a long...
The missing buses of Britain

The missing buses of Britain

  Passenger numbers have returned faster than bus services in the period since Covid. Are bus operators getting the balance right?   Our industry has been put through the wringer once or twice in the AD era.   2025 is my 10th year working in the bus industry. It also marks five years since the...
From Istanbul to London by train

From Istanbul to London by train

  I experienced trains, trams and trolleybuses on a recent journey across Europe – and spied some interesting contrasts with Britain   A tram in Budapest   I have just completed my longest train journey ever, and no, it wasn’t one marred by rail replacement buses, driver shortages and signal failures on the West Coast...
Bus franchising is  not a silver bullet

Bus franchising is not a silver bullet

We share the Welsh Government’s goals for buses – but to achieve those goals, reform must build on what already works   Buses are the most used and most accessible form of public transport in Wales   By Martin Gibbon Bus franchising has a part to play in delivering service improvements across South Wales, but...
Bus operators urged to get out and make deals

Bus operators urged to get out and make deals

A growing number of areas want bus franchising but ALBUM Conference is told opportunity still exists to shape policy in many parts of the country     This month saw the West Midlands become the latest region of England to commit to franchising and newly-elected ‘metro mayors’ express their support for taking bus services back...
Opportunity lies amid  a world of uncertainty

Opportunity lies amid a world of uncertainty

Britain’s small and medium-sized bus companies are adjusting to rapid changes, but ALBUM Conference speakers also identified opportunities. Robert Jack reports   East Midlands mayor Claire Ward   Within the ALBUM grouping of Britain’s remaining municipal and independent bus companies, there is understandable pride at their combined contribution to the bus sector. ALBUM members are...
UK Bus Summit 2025 programme revealed

UK Bus Summit 2025 programme revealed

Buses minister and ‘metro mayors’ are confirmed speakers Event takes place in Manchester on September 11   The programme for the UK Bus Summit, which will be held in Manchester on September 11, has been confirmed. Organised by Transport Times in partnership with Passenger Transport, the event will bring political leaders, transport professionals and industry...
West Midlands latest to opt for franchising

West Midlands latest to opt for franchising

Mayor Richard Parker and the West Midlands Combined Authority have approved plans to franchise the region’s bus network from 2027   Richard Parker visited Wolverhampton Bus Station following the decision   By Andrew Garnett Bus services in the West Midlands will be brought back under public control for the first time in nearly four decades,...
Breathing new life into redundant land

Breathing new life into redundant land

  Thriving new community spaces have been created from the redundant former public transport estate, and more can follow   Tilburg in the Netherlands was one of the country’s rail manufacturing centres   Transport reconfigures the landscape time and again with each fresh wave of technological change. The coming of canals, railways, motorways, airports and...
Uber is here to stay  - can we live with it?

Uber is here to stay – can we live with it?

  There’s no doubt that the convenience of Uber has eroded bus travel to some degree – but how should the sector respond to that?   Uber has become the elephant in the room (Photo: Shutterstock)   Last week, I eavesdropped on some bus industry bods lamenting declining patronage levels on London buses and the...