Read the latest insight, opinion and analysis from contributors who are at the heart of the transport business, view our reports and access our full monthly archive.
28 NOV 2023
Caroline Romback, Director at Copper Consultancy looks closer at the challenges facing the highways sector.
20 NOV 2023
Martin looks at the opportunities MaaS presents to cut down on the use of private cars in our cities.
14 NOV 2023
8 NOV 2023
19 OCT 2023
How do we prevent short-term thinking and political expediency from driving critical decisions on tackling climate change?
17 OCT 2023
11 OCT 2023
With road worker safety a major concern, Iain shares his views on the technology and product innovations aiming to reduce time on site.
5 OCT 2023
28 SEP 2023
Former Transport Minister, Norman Baker, gives his assessment of the Government's Net Zero strategy in our latest Insight article.
26 SEP 2023
The question is, how do we create a digital railway over the next decade?
18 SEP 2023
The future of HS2 is in jeopardy as the Government looks to review the scheme amid rising costs. Stuart Thomson looks into what this could mean for the project.
25 JUL 2023
Mike Muldoon, Business Development Director at SYSTRA, puts forward a strong case for rail and explains how we got here.
18 JUL 2023
12 JUL 2023
With the era of the Smart Passenger rapidly approaching, Marcus Mayers and Prof David Bamford explain what the industry needs to do, to prepare
3 JUL 2023
Claire Haigh, Founder & CEO Greener Vision publishes her consulation on tackling the climate crisis which will run over the summer.
28 JUN 2023
Adam Tyndall, Programme Director for Transport, BusinessLDN explains why rail legislation need not be the only way to reform the railway
20 JUN 2023
19 JUN 2023
13 JUN 2023
Campaign for Better Transport is launching Better Transport Week – a week-long celebration of sustainable transport
6 JUN 2023
Apprenticeships are a great way to bring fresh, diverse talent into rail but the proportion of under-25-year-olds in the rail industry has halved since 2016. How do we buck this trend? Neil Robertson, CEO of NSAR explains
3 MAY 2023
The Government's plans are full of hope about what transport can achieve. But getting to those sunny uplands is proving much more difficult. How can we make the bright transport future a reality?
25 APR 2023
Technology such as contactless payments, multi-modal mobility and Account-Based Ticketing (ABT) are transforming travel as we know it, elucidates Krishna Desai, Senior Global Marketing Manager at Cubic Transportation Systems.
21 MAR 2023
14 MAR 2023
28 FEB 2023
21 FEB 2023
Transport Focus looks at the impact the £2 capped bus fare scheme has had on patronage
23 JAN 2023
Dr. Stuart Thomson, highlights a potential change of direction within Labour's transport policy.
17 JAN 2023
Glenn Lyons, Professor of Future Mobility at Mott MacDonald announces a report from the Road Investment Scrutiny Panel and explains the key questions for road investment and spending.
13 DEC 2022
"What would be a credible and politically deliverable framework for the decarbonisation of transport that will deliver the necessary emissions reductions in the shortest time possible whilst mitigating any negative social impacts?"
29 NOV 2022
Following the Autumn Statement, Dr Stuart Thomson explains what battles lie ahead for transport.
23 NOV 2022
Martin Howell analsyses the recent House of Lords' Built Environment Committee's report into public transport in towns and cities
22 NOV 2022
Following the Autumn statement, Sal Copley explains why it's more important than ever to prioritse investment in sustainable transport
9 NOV 2022
With passenger priorities changing at a faster rate than usual since the pandemic, Derek Halden looks at whether we can we serve people, place and planet better
26 OCT 2022
Dr. Stuart Thomson analyses the recent political turmoil and looks at what implications this could have for transport
10 OCT 2022
The JFG Communications team – Becky, Alex and Joe - led by Founder & CEO Jo Field, reflect on party conference season. Here's their analysis of the transport policy announcements and insights from the Labour and Conservative conferences.
4 OCT 2022
Martin Howell analyses this week's announcement on Great British Railways and calls on an industry wide collaboration and focus.
27 SEP 2022
21 SEP 2022
Roch Muraine, Worldwide Sales Director for Transportation at Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise takes a look at the journey to green design within transport
13 SEP 2022
Claire Haigh analyses what needs to be done to address climate change and cost of living crises
6 SEP 2022
Aaron Hand explains the role that transport can play in the success or failure of city centres
29 AUG 2022
Martin Howell shares his thoughts on MaaS and analyses the struggles in getting a large-scale solution off the ground
28 JUL 2022
Stuart Thomson shares his thoughts on why he believes transport policy is so confused and how we got here
26 JUL 2022
Derek Halden shares his thoughts on the delicate balance needed between economic, environmental, and social factors to achieve sustainable travel.
19 JUL 2022
Martin Howell shares his thoughts on the results of a recent public transport passenger survey carried out by #worldline
12 JUL 2022
With an infrastructure investment plan for the UK in the region of £650 billion over the next decade, how do we measure value for money?
6 JUL 2022
Carrie Armstrong shares her thoughts on what bidders can learn from the English freeport process
28 JUN 2022
Martin Howell, Worldline UK&I Director of Transport Markets, shares his thoughts on the critical choice facing the industry
21 JUN 2022
Dr Murray, shares her thoughts on what the transport industry needs to boost skills, diversity and inclusion.
15 JUN 2022
Claire Haigh shares her thoughts on the need for decisive action from the Government for a joined-up response that gets to the root cause of the climate emergency – our dependency on fossil fuels
1 JUN 2022
Giles Fearnley, Senior Consultant at Tracsis Transport Consultancy, shares his thoughts on the opportunities and challenges facing the bus industry
25 MAY 2022
Alex Froom, CEO of Zipabout, discusses the rising threat of cyber-attacks on railway infrastructure, and how the industry is responding with technology.
18 MAY 2022
Cllr Tony Page, Vice Chair of South East Councils, shares his views on the need for a joined up approach to transport planning and investment.
11 MAY 2022
Coventry aims to build on its proud transport history to define transport innovation for generations to come.
3 MAY 2022
How the UK is leading the world through real time data analytics and agile operational response.
26 APR 2022
The emerging structural changes in the way customers travel, inflationary cost pressures and the planned withdrawal of Government grants, are creating unprecedented challenges to the finances of UK transport authorities
19 APR 2022
Claire Haigh shares initial conclusions from a series of roundtable discussions on how to deliver the demand reduction that is critical for the UK to achieve its net zero targets for transport.
12 APR 2022
Transitioning away from Big Data towards predictive analytics to map consumer behaviour can unlock the sustainable transport evolution.
5 APR 2022
Without a clear road map, it's time for bus companies to engage constructively to create a system that works for passengers, public finances, and the environment.
31 MAR 2022
A recent report from Transport Focus, 'Transforming Rail – What Do Passengers Want' sees the organisation take a radical approach in pulling together everything it knows and has published on the subject.
22 MAR 2022
And as a historic city, with a world-beating cultural scene, Edinburgh's response to the climate emergency must be custom-made.
14 MAR 2022
Climate change is no longer a distant threat. As we experience extreme weather events of increasing ferocity and frequency, we can hear its impacts knocking ever more loudly and insistently on our door. But have we heard the wake-up call?
7 MAR 2022
The concept of net-zero means creating an ongoing circular transport economy process, but greater consistency and clarity is needed in the way these net-zero processes are presented to help manage the transition process.
1 JUL 2021
Three recent news items should ring alarm bells for everyone working in transport. The first was a leaked report from the IPCC. The second was the Climate Change Committee's annual report to parliament.
29 JUN 2021
A few days ago, I stood, with some apprehension, on my local railway station platform waiting for the train to trundle to a stop and the doors to open.
26 MAY 2021
Public support for devolution is growing at precisely the moment that enthusiasm appears to be waning in Number 10.
7 MAY 2021
If we are going to hit our 2040 rail decarbonisation and 2050 net-zero targets, we need to get on with electrifying more of our railway now.
5 MAY 2021
With the target of achieving net zero by 2050, the rail industry has a lot of work to do. As TOCs prepare for the return of normal services, is there an opportunity to accelerate decarbonisation programmes at the same time?
28 APR 2021
We stand at a crossroads on UK roads policy.
26 APR 2021
For six weeks now, we have been taking steps to unlock. But whilst each domestic step has been taken confidently, progress in unlocking our international connections has been more of a hesitant shuffle.
21 APR 2021
There's an old saying that runs something like 'to keep the conversation round the dinner table light it's best to avoid the topics of religion, politics and money'.
14 APR 2021
Having been Samaritan's CEO for just under six months, I have been really inspired to learn about the rail industry's commitment to supporting the charity and the nation's mental health.
31 MAR 2021
The climate crisis is already hitting worst case scenario levels that if left unchecked will lead to the collapse of entire ecosystems. Our thinking needs to change if we are to rise to the scale of the challenge.
22 MAR 2021
I'm a metal-head.
I understand it can be good to start an article like that - to connect with your base.
16 MAR 2021
I have only once in my professional life been described as an eternal optimist
9 MAR 2021
Schools in England are returning this week, much to the relief of many parents, myself included.
26 FEB 2021
Options for removing carbon from the atmosphere are limited so, for most sectors of the economy, net zero means absolute zero.
25 FEB 2021
Paul Campion, in his recent article Decarbonising Transport: what will it really take? poses some challenging strategic questions
23 FEB 2021
In 2018 -19 road vehicles raised approximately £40bn in taxation (6.3% of total government revenue).
22 FEB 2021
There is no doubt the pandemic has severely disrupted the transport industry.
18 FEB 2021
Now 'low' is no longer enough, so today LowCVP becomes Zemo Partnership to accelerate the transition in transport to zero emissions.
17 FEB 2021
In November 2021 the world's eyes will be on the city as it hosts the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26
16 FEB 2021
2020 resulted in many global changes due to the impact of the Covid19 crisis. The impact on transport was particularly severe. The need for social isolation and lockdowns has accelerated the earlier gradual trends to flexible working and, for many,
11 FEB 2021
"Never let a good crisis go to waste", as Winston Churchill may once have said. Covid has been a disaster for public transport but it also made the unthinkable, thinkable.
8 FEB 2021
The role of transport has always been to bring people together. From early days transport underpinned urban creation through people coming together to exchange/market goods.
4 FEB 2021
The telling thing about this year's now annual RAC Foundation survey of the state of highway bridges is not the headline total of those not able to carry the heaviest vehicles on Britain's roads but the gap between how many
2 FEB 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many challenges for businesses – and the rail industry is no different. Although passenger numbers have only slightly recovered from the 85% decline seen during the height of lockdown, this is no time to
1 FEB 2021
In November, an anonymous government source told The Times that Chancellor Rishi Sunak was considering national road pricing to fill a "£40 billion tax shortfall created by the switch to electric cars."
29 JAN 2021
Ahead of 'Time to Talk Day' (4 February), Naomi Thompson, Head of Organisational Development at Benenden Health, discusses the best ways to effectively implement a mental wellbeing policy in the workplace,
25 JAN 2021
"As with anything unpleasant, the sooner you start, the sooner it will be over". This is the sort of thing I probably said to my children as they hesitated on the brink of one or other of life's daunting little
21 JAN 2021
The Rubicon was not a large river for Julius Caesar to cross in January 49 B.C. The river flows from the Apennines in Central Italy into the Adriatic Sea, close to the modern resort of Rimini and in those times
18 JAN 2021
UK-based transport operators with an international dimension should be mindful of the myriad of rules which may apply to their personal data processing from 1 January 2021.
14 JAN 2021
The role of transport in the delivery of the climate change agenda is fundamental. The Government has made a series of high-profile announcements, not least bringing forward the date for ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and
8 JAN 2021
If transport planning seeks to facilitate the movement of people and goods from A to B, and urban design seeks to make A and B more attractive places, then what is the discipline seeking to bring A and B closer
6 JAN 2021
Cheryl Lythgoe, Matron at Benenden Health, shares five useful tips to support positive wellbeing and help employees beat the January blues as we enter the new year.
21 DEC 2020
Ambitious decarbonisation targets are now set in stone, with net zero by 2050 ingrained in our consciousness, along with the more challenging target of 2030 for the ban of new petrol and diesel car sales.
16 DEC 2020
Short-termism is rarely a good thing for policy, particularly when it comes to environmental matters. Too often relegated to the bottom of the agenda, 2020 has seen no exception to this rule, and a good example of that is the
15 DEC 2020
It's been over six months since the Rail Supply Group (RSG) was asked by Government to set up and lead the rail industry Covid-19 Taskforce to drive forward an industry-wide recovery and stronger bounce back.
14 DEC 2020
If the UK Government is serious about wanting to deliver its own legally binding target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, the public's acceptance and engagement with the need for behaviour change is absolutely vital.
11 DEC 2020
Never waste a crisis, they say. In a crisis we do things that would otherwise have been unthinkable. So now is a time to think the previously if not unthinkable then at least the implausible.
10 DEC 2020
The Government has made a series of welcome announcements this year prior to COP 26. The PM's 10 Point Plan for a "green industrial revolution" includes bringing forward the date for a ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles to
9 DEC 2020
The digital transformation of our highways will require our industry to grow and embrace a whole new skill set.
8 DEC 2020
In 2019, Essex County Council didn't declare a climate emergency, the Authority instead went further by committing to a significant and sustained programme of climate action.
7 DEC 2020
Against the backdrop of the pandemic, rumours of the death of public transport have been greatly exaggerated (with apologies to Mark Twain).
4 DEC 2020
So, the starting gun has been fired and 2030 is the deadline for phasing out cars and vans with a standard internal combustion engine (ICE).
3 DEC 2020
The pandemic, the climate emergency and the US presidential election have thrust experts and their forecasts into the frontline of politics in divided societies.
2 DEC 2020
The end of the sale of internal combustion engine cars has been brought forward to 2030. This must be greeted with enthusiasm. It's a big step and I am glad the government has done this.
1 DEC 2020
The Coronavirus pandemic has led to changes to how we all live, work and travel. As we look to the future, we must make Covid-19 a defining moment to make fundamental changes in how we manage mobility and put sustainability
30 NOV 2020
It all come out last week. A Budget (understandably set for one year only); a National Infrastructure Strategy (Government's formal response to the National Infrastructure Commission's advice from 2018); and a review of HM Treasury's Green Book.
27 NOV 2020
I am a lifelong rail engineer, not a philosopher yet during these COVID times with more time to read, write and philosophise, I was drawn to a recent statement made by Bill Gates who summed up my thinking — "COVID-19
26 NOV 2020
South East Wales is home to some of the most populated areas of Wales, including the capital Cardiff and the city of Newport.
24 NOV 2020
Centrepiece of the Prime Minister's 10 Point Plan for a "green industrial revolution" was the announcment on ending sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030. Let's not underestimate how significant this is as a statement of UK
20 NOV 2020
One of the main misconceptions about HS2 is that its sole purpose is to allow commuters and leisure travellers to get to London more quickly than is currently the case.
19 NOV 2020
Buses play a fundamental role in creating and maintaining a fully integrated transport system. Bus patronage has steadily declined since the 1960s, despite buses being the dominant mode of public transport.
18 NOV 2020
John F Kennedy wrote in "Profiles in Courage" that he admired politicians who put policy before politics. The policy on road pricing has been one of the best fiscal changes that any government could have made over the last generation.
10 NOV 2020
Most of us are breathing toxic fumes the minute we step outside our front door. With a rise in e-commerce, we need a concerted effort to decarbonise our transport system and clean up our air.
5 NOV 2020
Waiting for a rail review to conclude can take as long as the wait for the trains to arrive. In 2019 we were expecting change to our daily commute with more integration, so things were sorted out quicker when things
3 NOV 2020
Coronavirus has caused myriad problems that will be with us for many years to come. We shouldn't allow rising pollution and poorer air quality to add to that list.
2 NOV 2020
Writing in this column earlier this year, during the first wave when some started to proclaim that for rail: "we're all doomed", I suggested a step-by-step outlook. As patronage grows from a trough of single figure percentages of pre-Covid levels
29 OCT 2020
The Covid-19 pandemic has had terrible consequences, for people and the economy. We may have a vaccine soon but and the crisis is far from over and more restrictions and adaptation seem inevitable. How will this impact decarbonisation of transport?
28 OCT 2020
The Scottish Transport Awards looked a little different in 2020. Instead of being announced in the company of 450+ industry professionals to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow in June, as originally planned, the award winners were announced in a
26 OCT 2020
In this moment of acute crisis for the UK, with Covid raging and Brexit threatening to tear the four nations apart, the concept of the Union will need to be completely rethought. At the same time, a crisis of unimaginable
22 OCT 2020
The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted us all to think about new and innovative ways to improve health, space and the way we move around. It has also encouraged us to think differently about how we shop, including the increased use
19 OCT 2020
In April this year, the Department for Transport published a policy paper, setting out its intentions for decarbonising UK transport. However, with Government's much-needed rail electrification programme recently put on hold due to a lack of funding, is it serious
15 OCT 2020
Imagine public transport so good that you'd rather not use your car. Imagine a system that was designed to move people rather than vehicles. Imagine a system that allows people to get wherever they want, whenever they want, without having
13 OCT 2020
This month the Leopard pub in my hometown of Burslem closed its doors and was put up for sale by the brewery. Calling last orders on a much loved local hostelry in a town that drove the industrial revolution with
9 OCT 2020
I often start the day by scrolling through the latest posts on LinkedIn, because it's quiet and I tend to wake up at least an hour before anyone else in the house. Today I found myself reading a post by
8 OCT 2020
Climate emergency declarations are like a rash. There was a pre-COVID sense of urgency developing, energised by the movement led by Greta Thunberg.
7 OCT 2020
Demand for trains is likely to rise again "assuming at some point there will be a vaccine and we will return to some sort of normal" said the Chief Executive of HS2 recently. His assumption might be right, but vaccines
6 OCT 2020
Sometimes it is hard not to be fatalistic. Climate change is gathering pace, a trend that can only increase as the poles melt and the frozen permafrost of the tundra releases its massive store of methane.
5 OCT 2020
I recall my first day at work. It was with London Transport in their Bus Operating Department. My boss stressed to me "We are not in business to run buses. We're in business to carry passengers". A simple message that
2 OCT 2020
The publication of Transport Scotland's road safety consultation in early September follows a UN resolution and the Stockholm Declaration earlier in the year calling for a reduction in road traffic deaths and serious injuries by at least 50% from 2020
1 OCT 2020
Earlier this year, the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT) published its policy position on active travel and a further policy position on e-scooters. Hannah Bartram, Chief Operating Officer for ADEPT talks about the importance of
29 SEP 2020
What does the UK need to do to demonstrate the kind of leadership the world needs? The pandemic may have distracted attention from the climate crisis, but the imperative of tackling that overwhelming threat has far from diminished.
28 SEP 2020
No one likes being stuck in traffic or experiencing a delayed or cancelled train. Working in the industry we understand the cause and our alternative options, yet it's abundantly clear the public don't.
24 SEP 2020
Transport planners, we have failed. In the past decade, there has been little to no progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from surface transport in the UK. Due to reductions in emissions from other sectors, it is now the highest-emitting
23 SEP 2020
What lies ahead for HS2?
In the final session of last week's Transport Times UK Rail Summit, chair Professor David Begg reflected on the aim set out by the Northern Way for HS2 back in Autumn 2009 – to get Leeds
22 SEP 2020
Today is World Car Free Day when all around the world towns and cities allow people to experience streets free of motor traffic. As people support this day all over the world Eunomia wonders what is really stopping us from
21 SEP 2020
England's railways are facing the greatest period of change and uncertainty since their development. Our assumptions about how they are planned, delivered and used are being challenged in a way that would have been inconceivable only a few years ago.
17 SEP 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a profound impact on our health and wellbeing, on business, the economy and transport, climate change has taken a bit of a back seat.
16 SEP 2020
With Covid putting our health and wellbeing top of mind, we should ask ourselves a question. Is it truly acceptable for polluting diesel cars to rattle around our towns for the next 30 years?
15 SEP 2020
Without the distractions that tend to make life hectic the recent lockdown has provided an opportunity for reflection and contemplation and a chance to gain a deeper, perhaps more insightful, perspective of the issues that confront us all.
10 SEP 2020
It is super-welcome to see decarbonisation rise up the political agenda. Better late than never. Yet it is of course neither a new topic nor the first time it has come to prominence in the UK. The solutions that enable
9 SEP 2020
Pre-pandemic, the UK's rail network was a runaway success on patronage growth but an industry facing a comprehensive redesign after being let down by a cumbersome structure which passengers and politicians lost patience with for its day to day performance
8 SEP 2020
Would you decide the fate of today's young and future generations on the toss of coin? No, nor would I. But that's exactly what we are doing when it comes to climate change.
3 SEP 2020
How do we get to net zero? The easy bit is passing the legislation for a 2050 net zero target. The difficult bit is working out what needs to be done, and how to make a difference to
1 SEP 2020
Chances are you or someone you know has uttered the words 'my next car will be electric'. And why not? The environmental benefits of electric vehicles (EV) are clear and significant global investment is carrying EVs into the mainstream.
27 AUG 2020
In the next ten years, if all goes to plan, we could see the sale of new diesel and petrol cars phased out in this country as part of wider efforts to decarbonise our transport system in the quest to
25 AUG 2020
We are at a critical juncture with transport, and how we approach the myriad challenges of rebuilding from Covid-19 has far-reaching consequences. People's eyes have been opened to the difference it makes if we have quieter streets, if we walk
20 AUG 2020
There's no getting around it: when it comes to reducing carbon emissions, transport is not doing well. In the UK, domestic transport emits more carbon than any other sector, but the good news is that the Government has recognised this
19 AUG 2020
In a crisis, Milton Friedman once famously observed, politicians act "on the ideas that are lying around". The basic function of academics, writers and campaigners is "to keep them alive and available until the politically impossible becomes the politically inevitable."
18 AUG 2020
In discussions about transport and decarbonisation, there is a strongly expressed view from some quarters that while it might be possible to decarbonise transport in cities, outside these there is no alternative to cars for any of the journeys people
13 AUG 2020
Mass transport is vital not only for decarbonisation but also for an inclusive, congestion-free future. Without effective mass transport (alongside active travel), our towns and cities will grind to a halt and many people will become excluded from society -
12 AUG 2020
The annual UK Rail Summit is moving online on 18th September 2020! We're delighted to bring you our very first virtual event, this Autumn. Book now to secure your place at the UK Rail Summit, and enjoy all the usual
11 AUG 2020
In 'Decarbonising Transport: Setting the Challenge', Government takes the welcome approach of viewing all modes of transport together. Ensuring that more trips can be made by foot is a crucial part of the solution – and the new
10 AUG 2020
As European cities have unlocked, a relatively familiar pattern has emerged. A month after restrictions are removed, public transport networks are carrying about 40% of their pre-pandemic ridership. Two months after, that rises to around 60%. In London, more than
7 AUG 2020
I have been reading Allen Andrews entertaining book "the Mad Motorists", which tells the tale of the Peking to Paris car race of 1907. In it he quotes one of the drivers, Auguste Pons, as saying "We came out here
6 AUG 2020
I recently participated in the DfT roundtables on decarbonising transport, making the case for a radical policy experiment to trial a substantial shift away from car use.
4 AUG 2020
Transport professionals are itching to set the 'new normal' for transport on a sounder environmental footing. In the rail sector, there is a view that now is a once-in a lifetime chance for a fundamental re-set, sweeping aside all recent
30 JUL 2020
Rising demand for car and van travel one of the central reasons why transport emissions in the UK remain stubbornly high. Electrification has a part to play but it goes nowhere near far or fast enough. More fundamental changes in
28 JUL 2020
In February 2020, the Department for Transport announced £5 billion of new funding over the next five years for bus services and cycling. Of this total, £2 billion has been allocated to 'active travel' and £3 billion to buses.
10 JUL 2020
Delivering an integrated rail plan for the Midlands and the North is key to achieving better economic balance across the UK. It will ensure infrastructure that connects communities with cities, distributes opportunities, and provides a driving force of positive change
6 JUL 2020
Will Covid-19 be the defining moment in the fight against climate change?
This year we have had a glimpse of a world with clean air. The lockdown emptied the roads and cleared the skies. But as economies open up, global emissions
3 JUL 2020
After a delay due to the current covid-19 restrictions and resulting challenges, we are now able to reveal the shortlist for the 2020 Scottish Transport Awards. We're aware that our entrants have been waiting for some time to know the
1 JUL 2020
Most of us would like to believe that a better world awaits us when a crisis is over. It is also human nature to interpret a crisis as vindication of our views and repudiation of our opponents.
29 JUN 2020
The way we once chose to categorise travel may have stultified policy-makers' ambitions, even shaped policy organisations in the past, but right now, a fresh look at travel categories could be really helpful.
26 JUN 2020
The Chancellor is due to publish a stimulus package next month. The fight against COVID-19 is far from over, but the first phase and economic measures that anchored it are coming to an end. Short-term measures will need to be
19 JUN 2020
Recent history is littered with supposed tipping points, when a momentous occurrence heralds an optimistic future where things will be different. Most of these have proved to have been false dawns, but no-one now seriously doubts that the changes wrought
17 JUN 2020
We have had a glimpse of a world with clean air, but it is fading fast. The lockdown emptied the roads, cleared the skies and precipitated a 60% drop in nitrogen dioxide levels.
3 JUN 2020
For some years now the Royal Automobile Club has set an annual design challenge to the students on the Royal College of Art's Intelligent Mobility masters programme, and more recently invited the RAC Foundation to get involved.
1 JUN 2020
Walk, cycle, or get in your car. There are no other acceptable options – unless you are key worker. Right now, our transport options have shrunk. Active or inactive (car) travel: take your pick.
29 MAY 2020
The difference could not be more stark; in a matter of weeks the desire for accessible travel on-demand, shared-mobility options and for an ever-increasing number of journeys has transformed into a need for space, safety, and low-risk mobility. The thought
22 MAY 2020
Net Zero: How We Stop Causing Climate Change by Dieter Helm is a must read for anyone serious about tackling climate change. It blows apart the myths and self-delusions that block us from seeing clearly. With laser like precision it
20 MAY 2020
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the world, yet its potential as a clean, green, zero emission fuel is only beginning to be realised.
15 MAY 2020
We are in a new normal now. And, hopefully, this will end after a few months. But when we go "back to normal" we won't go back to the old normal.
13 MAY 2020
As the UK moves from the first, health crisis, phase of tackling Covid-19, unclear messages and unintended consequences risk the second phase turning into a transport crisis.
30 APR 2020
How prepared was the transport sector for the Covid-19 pandemic and has it responded as expected?
27 APR 2020
Another week in the new world is passing. All of us, personally, professionally and in business, continue to adapt to new ways of working...
24 APR 2020
It seems every vested interest and every campaigner is busy explaining that when Covid-19 is over, we'll need to adopt their particular hobby-horse. Widen pavements, or pedestrianise city centres; create more open spaces, re-configure unwanted offices, build lots of garden
9 APR 2020
What impact will Covid-19 have on efforts to tackle climate change? The delay to COP26 makes sense, but the priority for the next UN climate summit must be to ensure that economic recovery is built on low carbon infrastructure.
8 APR 2020
Once Coronavirus has passed we will be left with familiar transport policy problems including: finding more cash for local road maintenance, bus services and other local transport; funding ambitious national infrastructure plans; and the imperative to reform road fuel taxation
7 APR 2020
On my one permitted exercise-plus-dog-walk of the day today I found myself striding – ok – sauntering past my local railway station and it struck me that I was doing so for the first time since the 1980s without being
6 APR 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has torn up the rulebook for government spending the world over. Some parts of these huge packages of funding measures to support businesses and employees through the next few months have been relatively simple to construct, whilst
30 MAR 2020
There is so much we can't know about what lies ahead. Our world is being changed by Covid-19. In due course, but we don't know when, restrictions will be eased and travel and transport will re-start.
23 MAR 2020
We have been closely monitoring the developing situation with COVID-19 and with only 12 weeks until the Scottish Transport Awards and Summit, we cannot in good conscious continue to plan towards the events taking place as scheduled. The safety of
19 MAR 2020
Marion Gourlay from consultancy Steer recently met Andrew Haines, the Chief Executive of Network Rail the publicly run organisation with an annual turnover of £5billion, which owns, operates and develops Britain's railway infrastructure. We wanted to learn more about his
18 MAR 2020
The prime minister needs a thriving aviation industry. He won last year's election on two clear promises: to create a Global Britain outside the EU and to level up all nations and regions of the UK. In an interconnected economy,
13 MAR 2020
The people and organisations that make a real difference to transport across the capital were recognised at the 2020 London Transport Awards last night. Attended by over 350 industry professionals, the ceremony was hosted by comedian Laura Lexx in Vauxhall's
In light of the current situation with COVID-19, following careful deliberation we have taken the decision that the UK Rail Summit can no longer be held this month.
11 MAR 2020
The Government's "levelling up" agenda faces its first major test on 11 March with the publication of the Budget. However, levelling up the national economy is not the Government's only flagship policy commitment. The UK's legal commitment to reach zero
4 MAR 2020
Who wants slower journey times, higher travel costs and less reliable journeys? There is little doubt that many current transport trends are unpopular. Yet over the last 50 years, transport policy appears to have had a weakening influence over transport
2 MAR 2020
The UK has the worst regional inequality of advanced OECD economies. The London region is the richest in Europe, but six out of Europe's poorest regions are in the UK. This sharply differentiated pattern is deepening. On current trends, well
21 FEB 2020
We were told decades ago to expect this. Ciara, and in quick succession Dennis, have wreaked havoc and devastation to thousands of homes and livelihoods. Tragically the death toll from these extreme weather events continues to rise, and we are
20 FEB 2020
We're delighted to announce that following the success of the inagural Midlands Transport Summit in 2019, the event will return to Birmingham in July 2020.
14 FEB 2020
Buses are Britain's most frequently used form of public transport, with the latest Government data indicating that 59% of all public transport trips in Great Britain were made by bus in 2017-18...
13 FEB 2020
The Prime Minister has announced the Government's decision to go ahead with High Speed 2 (HS2), the new rail route from London to the cities of the Midlands and the North, despite the dramatic escalation in construction costs, from £37.5bn
10 FEB 2020
It will be fascinating to see what comes out of the citizens' assembly convened to discuss how...
7 FEB 2020
In launching the COP26 UN climate summit earlier this week the Prime Minister made it clear that he personally intends to keep the UK in the vanguard on this agenda.
5 FEB 2020
Tomorrow's UK Bus Summit is the premier bus event covering all parts of the UK. This year there will be particular focus about the wider social, economic and environmental benefits of bus. Gareth Powell will speak on a panel in
3 FEB 2020
The Infrastructure Commission for Scotland last month called for "a presumption in favour of enhancing, re-purposing, or maintaining existing infrastructure over developing options for new infrastructure".
28 JAN 2020
Next week's UK Bus Summit is the premier bus event covering all parts of the UK...
22 JAN 2020
Next month's UK Bus Summit is the premier bus event covering all parts of the UK. This year there will be particular focus about the wider social, economic and environmental benefits of bus. Anthony Smith will chair our first session
20 JAN 2020
There is a lot riding on COP26. The last decade was the hottest on record. Global greenhouse gas emissions need to fall by 7.6% every year to 2030, but there is no sign even of emissions peaking in the next
16 JAN 2020
The Scottish Transport Summit returns to Glasgow for 4th consecutive year.
8 JAN 2020
Bus services account for around half of all journeys on public transport but get little attention from policymakers and politicians.
18 DEC 2019
Having achieved a healthy majority, now it is the perfect time for the Government to demonstrate that it can move past Brexit and prioritise the tackling of every-day issues. Rail policy is a key area where Boris Johnson should be
17 DEC 2019
The Shortlist for the 2020 London Transport Awards has been announced and is available for download here.
11 DEC 2019
The point of no return on climate change is in sight and hurtling towards us. "Do we really want to be remembered as the generation that buried its head in the sand, that fiddled while the planet burned?" asked the
9 DEC 2019
In less than two years, trials for self-driving vehicles for the public, are due to begin in the UK...
5 DEC 2019
As I write this column, with the general election only a matter of days away, we have seen the election manifestos which will inform our choices on 12 December.
2 DEC 2019
In mid-November, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced a "£500m Beeching Reversal Fund" to start "re-opening rail lines axed under Harold Wilson's Government". Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he suggested this would start in the North.
28 NOV 2019
Shared transport has mostly been approached as a service.
27 NOV 2019
The entry process for the 2020 Scottish Transport Awards is now open. Now in its 18th year, the prestigious Scottish Transport Awards brings together the transport community to recognise and celebrate industry achievements across Scotland.
26 NOV 2019
Transport Times is delighted to announce that the UK Rail Summit will return to London on 24th March 2020. It will once again take place at KPMG in Canary Wharf.
22 NOV 2019
In November 2020 Glasgow will host what promises to be an influential UN Climate Change Summit, the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26). With a year to prepare for COP26 Glasgow City Council leader Councillor Susan
20 NOV 2019
Expanding aviation capacity in the South East will be good for consumers. It will mean more destinations for holidaymakers. More opportunities for exporters. An end to the delays that come with the routine "stacking" of incoming flights in holding patterns.
11 NOV 2019
Whilst there is no guaranteeing that Labour will win the General Election, they do appear to be winning the battle for ideas across the transport sector.
8 NOV 2019
Pressure to deliver a credible plan for net zero will weigh heavily on whoever is in Number 10 on the 13th December. Heightened levels of public concern about climate change will be in even sharper focus next year when the
5 NOV 2019
The recent sale of UK operator GB Railfreight to infrastructure fund InfraCapital highlights investors' increasing confidence in the predictability of the European rail freight market after 15 years of progressive liberalisation – much of it forced on unwilling national governments
1 NOV 2019
The best of the Nation's transport industry were honoured last night at the 19th Annual National Transport Awards at the Westminster Park Plaza in London. Hosted by stand-up comedian, host, and comedy writer Jo Caulfield, the awards attracted over 600
30 OCT 2019
The North of England Transport Summit due to take place on 26th November is being rescheduled due to pre-election purdah.
The event will now take place on Wednesday 12 February 2020
29 OCT 2019
The National Infrastructure Commission says substantial investment will be required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure communities...
25 OCT 2019
The announcement by the Transport Select Committee of an inquiry into national road pricing could not have come at a more opportune time.
17 OCT 2019
Transport for the South East's thirty-year transport strategy sets out a bold and compelling vision for our region's future – and a framework to get us there.
16 OCT 2019
For reasons I shan't go into here I've recently had cause to sift through my Mother's photograph collection.
11 OCT 2019
Reflecting on the party conference season, Jo Field analyses transport policy announcements and insights from the Lib Dem, Labour and Conservative party conferences.
10 OCT 2019
Doug Oakervee's review of HS2 comes a nearly decade on from the High-Speed Rail White Paper.
7 OCT 2019
Here in the Liverpool City Region we're doing a lot right with bus.
4 OCT 2019
With commercial vehicle operators under more pressure than ever, they are faced with the day-to-day task of maximising profits, while ensuring they comply with current and future emission regulations.
30 SEP 2019
Two weeks ago, Germany's coalition government decided on a course of action unimaginable until very recently. Short haul aviation taxes are to be doubled, and a minimum air ticket price has been introduced.
27 SEP 2019
Young people are often forgotten about when it comes to policy and transport is no different.
25 SEP 2019
Martyn Bellis, Sales Manager, Transportation, Siemens Financial Services in the UK explains how in the low point of an investment cycle, flexible finance can maximise capability to future proof bus fleets.
23 SEP 2019
Transport Times is delighted to announce that the 6th annual UK Bus Summit will return to the QEII Conference Centre in Westminster, London on 6th February 2020.
11 SEP 2019
A number of new transport technologies have entered the market recently or are under development.
6 SEP 2019
Entries are now being accepted for the 2020 London Transport Awards with the deadline fast approaching on 18 October. We are delighted to announce this year's judges, who will decide the shortlist and
5 SEP 2019
It is rather strange that bus use is declining in many parts of the country. Yet, those who use bus like it. Indeed, Transport Focus's most recent Bus Passenger Survey showed that nearly nine out of ten passengers liked their
4 SEP 2019
You could be forgiven for losing count of the broken promises from Westminster politicians about Northern Transport.
30 AUG 2019
There is an intriguing chapter about transport governance in the draft national transport strategy for Scotland published in July. The draft strategy proposes immediate action in three key areas: increasing accountability; strengthening evidence; and managing demand.
28 AUG 2019
HS2 looks like it's going over budget, so let's review whether it's still worthwhile. Really? As if most of our major projects come in on time and budget? And think about it: a review itself means delay, in this case,
27 AUG 2019
The UK has committed to a target of net zero emissions by 2050. However, speculation of an early general election in the weekend's papers was accompanied by speculation that fuel duty would be cut in an emergency budget next month.
22 AUG 2019
Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is about creating a seamless travel experience, integrating different transport types into a single mobile app;
15 AUG 2019
Barely a day goes by without a climate- or pollution-related story being on the front page of the UK's newspapers.
14 AUG 2019
Rail fares should be based on the official measure of inflation and trials of new formats cannot arrive too soon, says Anthony Smith, Chief Executive of Transport Focus
7 AUG 2019
Emerging high-tech aviation solutions, including flying taxis and drone delivery services, will require fundamentally different airspace infrastructure and regulation than traditional rotary and fixed wing aircraft. 'Integration' - merging these disruptive concepts in existing airspace - infers an attempt to
6 AUG 2019
The entry process for the 2020 London Transport Awards is now open.
5 AUG 2019
London has a problem with air pollution. Over two million people live in areas with unacceptably high levels of air pollution and the poorest suffer the most.
2 AUG 2019
'We don't do buses'. Former Transport Secretary Chris Grayling's parting shot to the Transport Select Committee may have come both as some relief, and no surprise, to long-suffering bus passengers across the country.
1 AUG 2019
I am intrigued to learn what comes of my chum Glenn Lyons's "Driverless Cars Emulsion" initiative.
25 JUL 2019
Firstly, may we congratulate you on your appointment. We are encouraged to hear that you asked for this role. Whilst transport may not be the most sought-after brief in Government, for those in the know it is one of the
22 JUL 2019
The last time your train was late, did you claim compensation?
19 JUL 2019
The Shortlist for the 2019 National Transport Awards has been announced and is available for download here.
11 JUL 2019
In the UK, air pollution is the highest environmental risk to human health, with road transport being the biggest contributor...
10 JUL 2019
Transport Times is delighted to announce that 4th annual North of England Transport Summit will return to Manchester on 26th November 2019. It will once again take place at etc Venues (Minshull Street, Manchester).
9 JUL 2019
As Project Director for the HS2 Main Works Construction Contracts S1/S2, for the Skanska Costain Strabag Joint Venture, I am responsible for the team currently developing the design, schedule and estimate, who will go on to deliver the 26km section...
8 JUL 2019
Last Thursday, Transport Times organised the inaugural The Midlands Transport Summit, welcoming over 130 delegates to KPMG's Snowhill offices in Birmingham. With delegates attending from across the region, the one day conference brought key industry figures together to discuss the
5 JUL 2019
Last week Parliament passed legislation to commit the UK to net zero emissions by 2050. For those of us who have been campaigning for Government to make climate change a much higher priority this was a big step forward. Whilst
4 JUL 2019
Making progress and moving forward is all about building momentum. In the literal sense, momentum gets us from A to B. In the figurative sense, momentum can be the difference between success and failure.
1 JUL 2019
The switch to cleaner energy solutions has never been more pertinent. Over the past few months, we've seen a huge push from the public for decisive action on climate change, with movements like the extinction rebellion in London and the
28 JUN 2019
Last week was Loneliness Awareness Week. What did we learn from it? That loneliness is now endemic and action needs to come not just from the individual but also, most importantly, from the community they live in...
27 JUN 2019
Over 30,000 rail passengers told us about their last rail journey in the period from February to mid-April this year. The latest wave of the 20 year old National Rail Passenger Survey – the largest published representative survey of rail
26 JUN 2019
Today marks an exciting new chapter in the future of the Midlands' railway network. An opportunity for us to right some of the wrongs that hold our society back, to bring the east and west of our region closer together
21 JUN 2019
Getting the UK's aviation strategy right over the coming decades will be critical for the economic prospects of London and the UK. As the Government's consultation "Aviation 2050 – the future of UK aviation" closes for submissions today, it is
20 JUN 2019
What if there was a technology, already well developed and relatively inexpensive that could make fuel savings of up to 10%, reduce vehicle emissions and at the same time help to reduce congestion and increase road capacity
18 JUN 2019
Despite considerable investment in infrastructure projects and new trains, public trust in the railway is fragile. Repairing trust will require a careful balance of doing what is supposed to be done, showing care for customers and demonstrating a human sense
17 JUN 2019
As the Williams Review moves into its second stage, it is striking how many of the objectives it has set for the railway surround what I think should be one of our most fundamental goals - getting the cost of
14 JUN 2019
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson MSP welcomed 450 industry professionals at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow, last night, to celebrate the people and organisations that make a real difference to transport across Scotland. Hosted by
11 JUN 2019
Thinking about Keith Williams' challenges in chairing his Rail Review, I confess to a recurring fear that the mantra of 'aligning incentives' across a fragmented industry might emerge as a key reform measure.
10 JUN 2019
How is the quality of connectivity defined? Which connections need investment? High speed global electronic connections must be complemented with viable investment in transport to support competitive locations and enabled people.
5 JUN 2019
And so we line up to say our welcome to Michael Ellis, the new roads minister at the Department for Transport.
3 JUN 2019
A month ago, the Institute for Fiscal Studies released a new product developed for the National Infrastructure Commission. Under the heading Estimating the benefits of transport investment, the new web-based software tool estimates how land values respond to transport changes.
29 MAY 2019
There's not long left for you to secure your places at the third annual Scottish Transport Summit, which is being held on 13 June in Glasgow. With only 14 days to go you won't want to miss out!
17 MAY 2019
If ever there has been a moment in time for transport planners to step up, step in and save the planet, then this is surely it. Recent events in the UK have converged to produce the opportunity of a lifetime,
15 MAY 2019
If we're serious about achieving net zero every aspect of how we do things is going to have to change. And nowhere is this more the case than in how we tackle our housing crisis. The decisions we make now
14 MAY 2019
It's widely accepted that a city or region with strong connectivity can expect to enjoy increased levels of trade and tourism.
We are very pleased to announce that Daisy Narayanan will join the Scottish Transport Awards judging panel for the 2020 awards.
13 MAY 2019
It's now a full four years since Highways England came into being and Transport Focus convened its Road User Panel to ensure that it could keep abreast of views across all users of England's motorways and major 'A' Roads.
10 MAY 2019
The entry process for the National Transport Awards 2019 is still open. Entries will now be accepted online until Friday 24th May 2019.
8 MAY 2019
Who can fail to be affected by the school strikes and climate change activism of Extinction Rebellion? Whilst some have criticised their tactics, few disagree with their objectives.
7 MAY 2019
The relationship between the availability and accessibility of transport and the prosperity and inclusivity of cities is widely recognised.
3 MAY 2019
London has always been a leader in transport innovation and design. But the way we charge drivers for using London's roads is stuck in the past. With only Singapore at the helm, for a long time London was ahead of
1 MAY 2019
Housing is one of our greatest infrastructure challenges. It is widely recognised that the UK is going to need to build 300,000 new homes every year for the foreseeable future.
30 APR 2019
What an astonishing impact Greta Thunberg has had. And what an advantage Europe has in enabling her to travel from Stockholm to Strasbourg, Rome and London and back to Stockholm in some comfort by train, rather than...
29 APR 2019
For Scotland's economy to reach its potential, Glasgow needs to be firing on all cylinders. Fixing the city's long-term strategic transport challenges shouldn't be seen a local concern – it is an urgent national priority.
26 APR 2019
Whether it's targeting emissions in London, or congestion in New York, user charging is back in the news.
25 APR 2019
Competition is generally good for consumers, forcing standards to rise and prices to fall. In rail, there is some competition...
24 APR 2019
Change is an integral part of the transport industry - it's what drives us to do things differently.
17 APR 2019
First, a disclaimer. The views set out here are my own and not those of my employer, the City of Edinburgh Council. Dull, I know, but important to be clear. In local government (or any government for that matter), formal
15 APR 2019
Our transport networks are the economic arteries on which our economy depends. Wherever in the country you live we all rely on the ability to get people and goods to where they're needed.
10 APR 2019
In March, I went for it and splashed out on the bright red Mazda MX-5 RF which is now allowing me to finally unleash my inner Penelope Pitstop! The only thing tempering my delight with this new 'girl's toy' is
8 APR 2019
With budgets in transport authorities under increasing pressure, the option of introducing workplace parking levies (WPL) has been increasingly in the news, such as the BBC's story "Motorists who drive to work could have to pay hundreds of pounds a
2 APR 2019
For reasons I needn't go into there is much attention being paid, as I write, to a certain parliamentary petition which has attracted several million signatures.
1 APR 2019
As you will know, central to any attempt to meet national carbon reduction targets is the need to curtail emissions from the problem sector: transport. Accounting for a third of all our carbon emissions, transport has proved the one 'sticky'
29 MAR 2019
The shortlist for the 2019 Scottish Transport Awards has been announced and is available for download here.
26 MAR 2019
Devolved railways and the rail strategies across the UK was focused on in our final session. David Fowler reports on the this session.
Transport for the North, England's first subnational transport body, was focused on the economy and transport working together,
25 MAR 2019
2018 was "a game changer" for smart ticketing on rail, said Steve Montgomery, First Group managing director of UK Rail, because the DfT had decided to invest via the £80m Smart Ticketing on National Rail programme, announced in October 2017.
22 MAR 2019
HS2 will be like a tree, with its roots in London, its trunk running to the West Midlands, and its two principal branches connecting the Manchester and Leeds. This initial network will connect eight of the UK's 10 biggest city
19 MAR 2019
"The railway has been asleep at the wheel," Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines admitted, at last week's UK Rail Summit. Opening the first session, on Improving rail performance: working partnerships between operators, industry partners and Network Rail, he noted
18 MAR 2019
Since December 2017, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), with support from KPMG, has been investigating how our system of rail fares can be brought into the 21st century. The complexity of UK rail fares has long been seen as undermining
14 MAR 2019
How do passengers rate their journey on local bus service?
Almost 50,000 bus passengers in England and Scotland have had their say in Transport Focus's annual Bus Passenger Survey. Almost nine in 10 passengers using buses were satisfied with their last
13 MAR 2019
In the transport industry, certain issues capture the public's attention, while others fail to, time and time again. In pubs up and down the country, debate rages about the UK's innovative new high speed rail network, season ticket fares and
Since being reappointed to the Department for Transport in November last year, Rail Minister Andrew Jones MP had spent time travelling around the country meeting people working on the railway at all levels....
12 MAR 2019
World over, the buzz around driverless cars is growing. As science fiction evolves into fact, the question on the minds of policymakers, industry leaders, journalists, and citizens is – will policy, innovation culture, infrastructure, and consumer willingness keep pace with
11 MAR 2019
The entry process for the National Transport Awards 2019 is open. Entries will be accepted online until Friday 17th May 2019.
I am very much looking forward to taking part in one of the panel sessions at the Transport Times Rail Summit on 13 March. There I will be able to give the Hitachi/Bombardier Joint Venture (JV) perspective on why there
7 MAR 2019
The best of the Capital's transport industry were recognised on Thursday 7th March at the 16th annual London Transport Awards. 400 industry professionals were in attendance to celebrate the achievements of those who work hard to make a real difference
5 MAR 2019
I took this job last summer because I'm passionate about what the railway can do for people, the economy and society. Coming back into this industry after 10 years away, I have been reminded of the thousands of dedicated employees
4 MAR 2019
It is good to hear that Keith Williams will be speaking at the upcoming Rail Summit where David Sidebottom, Transport Focus director and I will both be chairing sessions.
26 FEB 2019
Whenever I tell people what I do for a living I'm always surprised by how many people respond by saying it's their dream job.
25 FEB 2019
While the rest of us are in various states of stasis with just 32 days to go to Brexit day, others are quietly planning for the longer term.
22 FEB 2019
At this month's UK Bus Summit, hosted by Transport Times, attendees were in agreement that the bus sector has to change if it is to serve the needs of modern society.
21 FEB 2019
We are delighted to announce that Keith Williams (Independent Chair, Williams Rail Review) has been added to the agenda for the UK Rail Summit
19 FEB 2019
"Putting buses at the heart of air quality" was the theme of the fourth and final session of the UK Bus Summit earlier this month. David Fowler reports on this.
18 FEB 2019
"Getting passengers on board buses" was the theme of the third session of the UK Bus Summit earlier this month. David Fowler reports on this.
15 FEB 2019
"Why buses are central to the future of mobility" was the theme of the second session of the UK Bus Summit. David Fowler reports on this.
14 FEB 2019
My mother learned to drive fairly late in life. Until I was in my teens she was happy to leave the driving to my father. But after she passed her test she said something that stuck with me: "up to
12 FEB 2019
Taking the bus can have its stresses. Every passenger has stood in the rain worrying that their late bus isn't coming at all and asked: "why didn't I take the other option?"
11 FEB 2019
Last week industry leaders came together for the fifth UK Bus Summit. In five years the annual conference has established itself a key date in the bus industry calendar.
8 FEB 2019
The rise of social media has resulted in the explosive growth in volume and influence of the younger generation. As the bus industry gathered for the UK Bus Summit this week so too should they take heed.
6 FEB 2019
Communities across the UK will benefit from over 260 new low emission buses, thanks to £48m funding from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles, transport minister Nusrat Ghani revealed today. She was speaking at the fifth annual UK Bus Summit,
5 FEB 2019
Young people are the future of bus travel so it made absolute sense for us, as part of the Liverpool City Region Bus Alliance – a formal partnership between Merseytravel and the area's two largest bus operators, Arriva and Stagecoach-
4 FEB 2019
Over the past 20 years, there has been considerable investment in infrastructure and rolling stock, and more emphasis has been placed on customer service ... yet too many people still do not get the service they deserve. Passenger satisfaction scores
1 FEB 2019
Like me, I'm sure many of you are ambassadors for the fantastic careers and opportunities the transport sector has to offer. We all know that transport plays an essential role in our everyday lives. From our daily commute, or to
30 JAN 2019
We all know how important buses are. With nearly 4.5bn bus journeys every year, it is the most commonly used form of public transport.
The problem is, it's the best kept secret. We need to change that.
29 JAN 2019
In the latest results from our National Rail Passenger Survey published this morning, overall satisfaction with passengers last journeys fell to 79 per cent, its lowest level since 2008.
28 JAN 2019
A key part of our national highway network is the Major Roads Network, rightly identified in a study by David Quarmby and Phil Carey for the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund in 2016 as being neglected territory and in need of
25 JAN 2019
The Shortlist for the Bus Operator of the Year and Rail Operator of the Year at the 2019 London Transport Awards has been announced and is available for download here.
24 JAN 2019
It's billed as the defining infrastructure project of a generation, the most ambitious scheme in Europe, and has always drawn cross-party support in parliament. How is it then, less than two years after Phase One secured Royal Assent, some claim
21 JAN 2019
There is little new under the sun.
Recently, I read a post on LinkedIn by the CEO of a US affinity marketing agency in which he promoted the 'new' concept of issuing a memo setting out the issues prior to the
16 JAN 2019
The past few years have been a challenging time for the bus industry.
Against a background of declining passenger numbers, much of our energy has been engaged in debates around the nature of regulation, and what form of relationship we as
15 JAN 2019
Join us at the Grand Central Hotel on 13th June for the 3rd annual Scottish Transport Summit.
14 JAN 2019
The Transport Focus national Bus Passenger Survey 2018 will be published in March and will include results for Scotland. It's expected to show broadly good levels of satisfaction (with some very good!) but it's a survey of those who are
11 JAN 2019
Can the chaos at London airports from drone sightings be used as a prompt to encourage action on the long-debated topic of drone regulation? The July 2018 Flying High report by UK innovation champion Nesta, showed that the UK was
2 JAN 2019
As the last of the Christmas turkey is cleared away and we slump in front of the TV to while away the afternoon watching the traditional 007 film, we find ourselves daydreaming about James Bond's future transport ...
24 DEC 2018
It's that time of year, when we look ahead and try to predict what the future will hold. 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of SYSTRA in the UK, across the company we've been thinking about the future and what it
20 DEC 2018
The Shortlist for the 2019 London Transport Awards has been announced and is available for download here.
18 DEC 2018
The entry process for the Scottish Transport Awards 2019 is now open. Entries will be accepted online until Friday 15th February 2019.
17 DEC 2018
Across all sectors, we have seen customer expectations increase dramatically over the past few years. Indeed, areas of service that once delighted customers and gave them a 'wow' moment, are often now seen as the bare minimum service offer with
11 DEC 2018
TRL, the Transport Research Laboratory, has completed an independent analysis into Hyperloop...
10 DEC 2018
For centuries, some of the world's most successful settlements have been built around critical linear infrastructure – rivers, canals, roads and railway lines.
6 DEC 2018
Transport Times is delighted to announce that The UK Rail Summit will take place in association with KPMG on 13th March 2019. It will be held at the KPMG offices in Canary Wharf, London.
4 DEC 2018
As Mike Brown says, TfL expects to be no longer accept paper-based travel cards within 5-10 years and see Oyster card usage decline as more people switch to paying with bankcards or mobile phones
29 NOV 2018
Today we published new research that shines a much-needed light upon the experience of disabled road users, explains how much can be done to make the road system more inclusive, and widens the discussion on making transport accessible beyond the
27 NOV 2018
Is it too early to start talking about Christmas? I only ask because the Chancellor – not someone usually confused with Santa Claus – has just announced in his Autumn budget statement a £37m boost for development of Northern Powerhouse
21 NOV 2018
In the 1970s whilst still at school, I became interested in what made for a successful suburb. We lived in North West London in the heart of Metroland and I travelled to school by London Transport.
19 NOV 2018
Advances in technology, data and analytics have paved the way for smarter, faster and more robust decisions, but are asset-intensive organisations in the transport industry ready for digital transformation?
12 NOV 2018
Having worked as a transport planner in variety of positions at Transport for London (TfL) for the past eight years, I have experience in different fields, from road safety and transport management to survey design and data analysis.
8 NOV 2018
In mid-October the Institution' of Civil Engineers launched their 2018 state of the nation report on infrastructure funding. This report came a few days after the Department for Transport closed their current consultation on their transport appraisal methods to inform
6 NOV 2018
Look around you. Virtually everything you can see has been delivered on a truck. The efficient distribution of freight becomes more important by the day as online shopping booms.
5 NOV 2018
There is widespread consensus that as a country we need to build significantly more homes if we are going to address the national housing crisis; to the tune of some 300,000 per year. At the same time, the role of
2 NOV 2018
To the extent that there is any media coverage of buses, it tends to be bad news. The stories are about cuts in services leaving people isolated, declining use and fares increases. I've helped contribute to this over time –
31 OCT 2018
The organisational structure of the UK's railways is no longer working. Passengers have endured 18 months of turmoil, culminating in the May timetable chaos. Secretary of State Chris Grayling has ordered a "root and branch" review.
30 OCT 2018
Key figures from the Transport Industry respond to the 2018 Budget
29 OCT 2018
What do we all know about new technology? It was a question I found myself musing on whilst at the recent Transport Technology Forum gathering in sunny Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
26 OCT 2018
Bus use in London has now fallen c 8-10% from its quarterly peak in Q1 January-March 2014 to the latest data covering the period until June 2018.
24 OCT 2018
Developments over the last few days highlight the complexities of agreeing the terms of the UK's exit from the European Union, never mind establishing our future political and economic relationships. The chances of a "No Deal", or an acceptable deal
22 OCT 2018
The battle of Otmoor raged in 1980 and resulted in the M40 taking a swerve around it. It is a Nature Reserve managed by RSPB, and lies astride the 'east of Oxford' options for the planned Oxford-Cambridge Expressway (a motorway
19 OCT 2018
Last Thursday the transport industry gathered to recognise and celebrate the organisations and people who have made a real difference in the past 12 months.
The judges nominated a number of individual winners including Stephen Joseph OBE who took away the
17 OCT 2018
In his role as Service Director for Transport and Infrastructure Nigel has led the successful application for a 4 year Public Service Obligation to support the Newquay to London air service, and the Cornwall Rail Improvements Package.
15 OCT 2018
The 'Outstanding Contribution to National Transport' honour was awarded to Transport Scotland's Chief Executive Roy Brannen.
Roy took over as Chief Executive in November 2015 after having held several different positions in the Scottish Government since joining in 1999. He is
12 OCT 2018
The best of the Nation's transport industry were honoured last night at the 18th Annual National Transport Awards at the Westminster Park Plaza in London. Hosted by former Broadcaster and Presenter Jeremy Vine, the awards attracted over 600 senior transport
10 OCT 2018
It doesn't take governments, city authorities or academics to tell us our cities are getting increasingly congested and, consequently, trickier to navigate. We are all witness to gridlocked roads, inefficient train timetabling, overcrowded subway systems and backed up buses. And
3 OCT 2018
The email pinged into my inbox. The money pinged into my account. Virgin trains compensation for the delay to my train to Manchester, really easy just the way it should be. Of course, this type of automatic compensation only works
27 SEP 2018
The stock response to Labour's ongoing left turn is to cite "a return to the failed policies of the 1970s" and to calculate the enormous costs of acquiring the equity of the companies targeted. This kind of commentary then goes
26 SEP 2018
The UK is a market leader in maximising the intensity with which our transport assets are utilised. Over recent decades we have worked to squeeze ever more capacity out of our transport infrastructure – whether it be London's Underground system,
24 SEP 2018
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy fans know the answer is usually 42, but this year's National Infrastructure Assessment goes one better. It wants £43bn spent on transport in regional cities to improve productivity, reduce congestion and underpin growth in housing
21 SEP 2018
The pace of change in the UK's mobility landscape is arguably at its fastest ever. New forms of transport are emerging, and customer expectations are continually being redefined by experiences that would once have been unimaginable.
19 SEP 2018
The British railway network is littered with bad planning decisions. For all the vim and technical precocity of the Victorian era's market-led approach to railway construction, Britain's rail network has remained a series of unconnected lines and branches leaving a
17 SEP 2018
John Lewis is an imperfect but interesting template for the UK Rail industry
John Lewis has long been one of Britain's most admired companies. Like much of Britain's middle class I sleep on John Lewis sheets, eat Waitrose food and look
12 SEP 2018
The announcement that the DfT is considering yet another "fundamental review" of the UK's rail architecture was, perhaps, an inevitable response to a summer of timetable problems amidst the populist appeal of Labour demands for full-scale renationalisation of the sector.
5 SEP 2018
The entry process for the London Transport Awards 2019 is now open. Entries will be accepted online until Friday 19th October 2018.
Now in their 16th year, the London Transport Awards are supported by Transport for London, London councils, London TravelWatch
30 AUG 2018
One of my favourite films is the Player (less than a fiver on Amazon – a bargain) a darkly humorous look at what it takes to get on in the film industry; working in production rather than as an actor.
28 AUG 2018
What was your path into transport planning?
My first taste of transport planning was through joining the transport planning graduate scheme at Transport for London in 2013, shortly after graduating in Geography from Durham University. It wasn't hard to motivate myself
24 AUG 2018
Soon enough, we will get an official report from the ORR on what went wrong with the major timetabling changes made in May this year.
22 AUG 2018
There's a certain amount of risk that comes with roads; driving 1.5 tonnes of metal at 70mph is an activity we should never take lightly.
We and our supply chain work in and around this environment and all understand the care
20 AUG 2018
Of all parts of the GB rail supply chain, it is arguably the rolling st.ock leasing and supply market that...
14 AUG 2018
There is an assumption that if you work for Transport for London (TfL), then you must be a Tube driver, Ticket Inspector or a Customer Services Assistant. To some extent, this is unsurprising – these are the jobs at TfL
8 AUG 2018
There are many transport planners who end up in the profession and wonder how they got there. But there are also transport planners who chose the profession deliberately.
6 AUG 2018
Having swept through the USA, and now available on a dockless hire basis in Paris and in at least four German cities, e-scooters have much to offer. In the States, they are seen as a solution to the 'last mile
2 AUG 2018
The UK's transport infrastructure is holding us back...
31 JUL 2018
How has the rail industry managed to turn a good news story into the #timetablecrisis? The current chaos on Thameslink, Great Northern and Northern is deeply frustrating for passengers. Passengers need a stable timetable – one they can rely to
27 JUL 2018
Japan is famed for its high speed Shinkansen bullet trains, but it is not so well-known for the consistent high quality of all its transport, from conventional trains, through tramways and buses to taxis.
25 JUL 2018
The Shortlist for the 2018 National Transport Awards has been announced and is available for download here.
23 JUL 2018
Women in construction are a minority, making up around 14 per cent of construction industry professionals. However, Kimberly is leading the way for women in construction through an apprenticeship with Transport for London (TfL). After completing her Level 3 in
10 JUL 2018
Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is a new mobility model that relies on digital platforms to integrate end-to-end trip planning, booking, electronic ticketing, and payment services across all modes of transportation in an urban setting. It is a marked departure
5 JUL 2018
How is the risk of transport failure managed? From a bus breaking down to a major bridge failure, the resilience of transport systems depends on clear allocation of responsibilities for coping with each contingency. As the final statements are made
27 JUN 2018
I began writing this piece thinking romantically of the Waterloo Bridge (my favourite of all the London Bridges). I had been told from an early age (by parents who told me and my two siblings that whatever your gender you
25 JUN 2018
I have, on occasion, been accused of being cynical. Sometimes I have felt this to be unduly harsh criticism, but other times it is a badge I wear with honour - so long as we are talking about 'cynical' defined
18 JUN 2018
On Tuesday 12 June 2018, members of the Transport for the North partnership board met in Manchester to discuss the issues regarding rail service disruption across the network operated by Northern.
15 JUN 2018
The people and organisations that make a real difference to transport across Scotland were recognised at the 2018 Scottish Transport Awards last night. Attended by over 450 industry professionals, the ceremony was hosted by comedian and radio presenter Fred MacAulay
11 JUN 2018
It is clear that the bus sector is facing some very strong challenges as a result of changing societal trends and continued growth in car ownership outside London. These trends are likely to continue to create a drag on bus
6 JUN 2018
The final session at the UK Transport Infrastructure Summit considered the question of how to pay for properly connected, liveable cities...
4 JUN 2018
The whole of session three was devoted to the National Infrastructure Commission, which used the opportunity to survey delegates' opinions on three key questions to feed into the forthcoming National Infrastructure Assessment.
1 JUN 2018
Increasing costs for road users is politically difficult. This is one of the reasons why we have had seven years and eight consecutive budgets where fuel duty has been frozen at a time of historically low oil prices and
31 MAY 2018
In the second session at the UK Transport Infrastructure Summit, last week, speakers focused on digital technology and how smart transport can reduce infrastructure.
David Fowler reports on the session below...
29 MAY 2018
Last week's UK Transport Infrastructure Summit offered key delivery organisations the opportunity to communicate what they see as their priorities for major infrastructure projects within the UK.
David Fowler breaks down our first session below
23 MAY 2018
In a few weeks time the National Infrastructure Commission will publish its first National Infrastructure Assessment."It will be truly ground-breaking, offering an analysis of the UK's long-term needs, assessing national policy and looking across several key sectors," promised commission
22 MAY 2018
With the current UK political scene dominated by discussion of Brexit and the implications that this will have on building a Britain fit for the future, it is easy to forget that in the transport sector, there are things that
17 MAY 2018
Away from the volatile spotlight of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is the distributed ledger system that allows these digital economies to function. Blockchain is about trust and transparency – and features prominently as an important technology and innovation trend that
8 MAY 2018
Good transport infrastructure underpins economic growth. That's why this conference is so timely.
Britain has never needed direct connections to the growing economies of the world more than it does today. In coming weeks the UK Parliament is expected to
1 MAY 2018
I'm not a health expert so I'm not qualified to talk about the benefits of salt intake in the body. As director of Operations at Highways England, however, I can tell you about the challenges we faced during the winter,
30 APR 2018
In an uncertain and fast changing world, resilience has never been more important for the transport system. Recent events show that transport systems are far from being fail safe and that much more could be done to make the case
24 APR 2018
I like electric vehicles – cars and motorcycles. I've driven and ridden quite a few over the last decade or more. And here I'm simply speaking about the driving experience, rather than extolling their environmental qualities. Smooth and quiet for
23 APR 2018
Glasgow City Council's Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, Cllr Anna Richardson will be speaking in the Scottish Transport Summit. Below she gives an insight into what might be discussed.
16 APR 2018
Following its reclassification to the Government Balance Sheet, the days of Network Rail delivering billions of pounds worth of investment each year, financed by borrowing against its regulatory asset base are gone. Indeed, whilst DfT has allocated £10bn of funds
10 APR 2018
When I was at the DfT a decade ago, the main activity late on a Friday afternoon was a call from the likes of the Sunday Times demanding comment on the latest transport controversy. This would invariable spark a search
21 MAR 2018
The shortlist for the 2018 Scottish Transport Awards has been announced and is available for download here.
13 MAR 2018
You wait a long time for an article on interurban bus, dear reader, and then three turn up in just a few weeks.
At a time when bus use elsewhere is declining and services are being cut back, the interurban segment
12 MAR 2018
Not a day goes by without further news of new trials and technology advancements in respect of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) and the associated potential for platooning and ride sharing. And yet, for the average person, the advent of
8 MAR 2018
In the latest Scottish Transport Statistics published in February there is an interesting analysis of the patronage at railway stations opened since 1970. The context in 1970 was of a railway network that had seen decades of falling patronage. In
5 MAR 2018
Jim Steer makes a strong case for the Interurban bus but in reality the situation in the UK is far from ideal. For every high quality, frequent service like the 36 from Leeds to Harrogate and Ripon there are dozens
2 MAR 2018
The most inspiring projects and organisations across London's transport industry were honoured last night at the London Transport Awards with 350 industry professionals in attendance. The night marked the 15 year anniversary of the ceremony and was hosted by Leon
28 FEB 2018
The LowCVP is hosting a Low Emission Bus Workshop in Glasgow on the 8th March in collaboration with Glasgow City Council and Transport Scotland. The free event is aimed at local authorities and bus operators wishing to learn more about
26 FEB 2018
It is a great pity that the world is not a more straightforward place. Complexity is the bane of the soundbite era. It confounds the politicians and the policy-makers for whom the holy grail is a simple, single, ideally affordable,
23 FEB 2018
Good engineering changes people's lives for the better. Almost every product and service we use in life has an engineering content to some extent. Fundamentally, it is at the core of what we do at Highways England.
22 FEB 2018
Last month on this blog, my KPMG colleague Ian Clarke alluded to the role of Land Value Capture (LVC) in supporting investment in urban transport infrastructure to boost productivity and re-balance the economy. He pointed to the windfall gains on
21 FEB 2018
Not all bus services are in decline. Quality scheduled buses operating between major towns and some cities – call them interurban – are doing well. And their role, especially in providing connectivity for smaller and more remote places, is overlooked.
19 FEB 2018
The critical role of transport infrastructure in supporting economic growth is widely recognised by politicians and policymakers alike. Yet we still face significant challenges in both funding new projects and in persuading decision makers that the full benefits of transport
15 FEB 2018
David Fowler reports on the fourth session at last week's UK Bus Summit - 'What impact will disruptive technology have on the bus sector?', chaired by Anthony Smith, Chief Executive, Transport Focus.
13 FEB 2018
David Fowler reports on the third session at last week's UK Bus Summit - 'Why buses are central to city economies', chaired by Professor David Begg.
10 FEB 2018
David Fowler reports on the second session 'The road map to zero emissions', chaired by Anthony Smith of Transport Focus, at yesterday's UK Bus Summit 2018.
9 FEB 2018
Yesterday's UK Bus Summit gave key industry professionals the time to examine why buses are an integral part of the solution to Clean Air Zones (CAZs) rather than the problem. The event gave speakers and delegates the opportunity to disseminate
8 FEB 2018
In her first formal speech since joining the DfT, new transport minister Nusrat Ghani announced £40m of funding to allow 20 local authorities to retrofit buses with clean technology. Speaking at the UK Bus Summit at London's QEII Centre today,
2 FEB 2018
What would transport systems look like if they were designed by users? From the Carillion collapse to controversy about bus and rail fare rises, the public discourse in 2018 has been more about who should deliver transport infrastructure and services,
1 FEB 2018
UK BUS SUMMIT 2018 | 8TH FEBRUARY | LONDONDavid Brown, Chief Executive, Go-Ahead: The bus is such an important part of every community
David Brown will be speaking at the event next month, in a session on the the role
29 JAN 2018
UK BUS SUMMIT 2018 | 8TH FEBRUARY | LONDONGiles Fearnley, Managing Director, First Bus: We must seize the opportunity on air quality
Giles Fearnley will be speaking in a session entitled 'The road map to emissions' and below he discusses
26 JAN 2018
UK BUS SUMMIT 2018 | 8TH FEBRUARY | LONDON
Anthony Smith will be chairing two of the sessions at the UK Bus Summit next month. Below, in his blog he discusses the relationship between local authorities and bus companies in order
24 JAN 2018
It was very exciting to be present at the reopening of the new London Bridge station a few weeks ago. Not only is it a widely-acclaimed piece of architecture, it is part of the railway's long-term plan for change that
22 JAN 2018
Many of the most productive jobs are in our major cities, so the 'north – south' question is framed too crudely. The debate should be about how we make all of our major cities as productive as they can be...
19 JAN 2018
Claire Haigh will be speaking at the event next month, in a session on the role of the bus in reducing emissions. Below, in her blog she gives a brief foresight into
16 JAN 2018
Starting the New Year with a bang, Heathrow are set to kick-off a public consultation on plans for its expansion. Supporters and opponents will be watching carefully. The battle is now start in earnest.
On 17th January, Heathrow Airport Limited will,
15 JAN 2018
Understandably, most rail sector people are anxious about the consequences of major re-organisation under a Labour Government committed to a "fully integrated railway in public ownership".
But the party's rail policy adviser, Ian Taylor, argues that fragmentation has been damaging and
12 JAN 2018
Paul Buchanan will be speaking at the event next month, in a session on the impact disruptive technology may have on the bus sector. Below, in his blog he gives a brief
3 JAN 2018
Since Highways England became a Government Company in 2015 we have completed 18 schemes on or ahead of schedule and have a further 15 major projects currently in construction.
Within the £15bn Road Investment Strategy we have some specific designated funds.
20 DEC 2017
The value of data has been growing, but so have the costs of managing it. To be competitive in 2018 transport operators will need to be increasingly smart in the way they use data and the UK Data Protection Bill
18 DEC 2017
The Shortlist for the 2018 London Transport Awards has been announced.
The winners will be announced at the 15th Annual London Transport Awards on 1st March at the Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel.
The event will be hosted by Leon Daniels, who retires
15 DEC 2017
The world is on the cusp of a transport and societal revolution which, over the next 10 to 15 years, "will drive change on the scale of the Industrial Revolution".
So said KPMG global head of public transport and UK head
13 DEC 2017
The successes of Britain's rail franchising system are well established. A doubling of passenger numbers since privatisation, steady increases in punctuality and passenger satisfaction between 2001 and 2013 and a rail system with the best safety record in Europe are
11 DEC 2017
The news that yet another person has died in a road crash makes for grim but depressingly-frequent reading in the press.
We are reassured that our national road safety record stands up well to global comparison. In international terms we have
4 DEC 2017
Recent announcements suggest policy-makers get the significance of transport in meeting wider economic and social aims. As Stuart Thomson put it recently when writing for Transport Times about the Government's newly published Industrial Strategy, 'Transport
30 NOV 2017
The best of Northern England's transport industry were honour on Thursday 30th November at the 2nd Annual North of England Transport Awards, with 300 senior industry professionals in attendance. Hosted by BBC Breakfast Presenter Steph McGovern, the ceremony was held
28 NOV 2017
The Industrial Strategy White Paper is one of the most important documents this Government will release. Not only is the Strategy trying to overcome our persistent productivity issue but it also shows what our post-Brexit economy could look like. Transport
27 NOV 2017
A few comments from younger bus passengers taken from our forthcoming work on 14-19 year olds and bus services:• "Display bus fares at the bus stop, with the timetable. Advertise any discounts more. They could have child, teen
23 NOV 2017
On many occasions, when I'm out in my car, I see examples of very good driving, but occasionally of really dangerous driving too.
I care a great deal about road safety and for Highways England it's our number one imperative.
People working
22 NOV 2017
(Image Source: Getty)
Key industry figures comment on transport within the Autumn budget 2017
20 NOV 2017
'Brand UK' is characterised internationally as representing a stable open trading nation, but in a fast-changing world the role of nation states is changing. Transport is perhaps the most tribal of all economic sectors with many 'ists' and 'isms' applying
17 NOV 2017
Prior to carrying out research on vehicle emissions earlier this year I subscribed to the view that all diesel vehicles should be banned from Clean Air Zones. I now see the latest Euro VI Diesel bus as a crucial part
16 NOV 2017
In Merseyside we've just celebrated 12 months of the Liverpool City Region Bus Alliance – a formal partnership between Merseytravel, Arriva and Stagecoach, who together make up around 80 per cent of our commercial bus market.
And what a 12 months
9 NOV 2017
Partnerships are strongest when the parties involved respond to change together. In families, in teams, in organisations and as a nation, we grow stronger when we confront change with a shared sense of purpose.
Delivering the improved railway that Britain's commuters
6 NOV 2017
As the National Infrastructure Commission says in its current assessment, now out to consultation:
"It will be crucial to get more out of existing infrastructure, and technology, pricing and demand management will all have a role to play. But while these
3 NOV 2017
A strong aviation industry is crucial to the UK's status as a global, outward looking nation; it is particularly important following our decision to leave the European Union. The British aviation industry is the largest in the EU and the
30 OCT 2017
Motorway services are an essential part of a long journey. Whether you are a family heading off on holiday or a lorry driver travelling hundreds of miles every day they offer the chance to rest and refresh. People's needs are
27 OCT 2017
This week the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, took the biggest step towards improving London's air quality since the introduction of the congestion charge 14 years ago.
The capital's air quality has frequently breached EU limits in recent years but the
26 OCT 2017
One of the railway's most frequent and expensive safety issues begins on the road network. Every year in Britain there are about 2,000 bridge strikes, where road vehicles hit railway bridges and viaducts – that's an average of more than
13 OCT 2017
The people making a real difference to transport across the UK were recognised at the prestigious National Transport Awards at the Westminster Park Plaza in London last night. Hosted by former Labour Communications Director Alastair Campbell the awards attracted over
9 OCT 2017
When Secretary of State Chris Grayling spoke in Manchester on September 22nd of the need to consider Digital Railway technologies in the north as well as the south of the country, few would disagree. And he was right to point
4 OCT 2017
In a growing and congested city, and to make best use of aviation capacity, it is really important that passengers can easily access airports by public transport.
However, our research has shown major shortcomings in surface access for each of London's
2 OCT 2017
In a bid to encourage the use of electric cars, the UK government recently announced a controversial plan to ban the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2040. As traditional petrol
29 SEP 2017
TfL's decision to ban Uber may have come as a surprise to trendy Londonists, and Hoxton's artisanal cupcake bakers, but to economic historians, the drama highlights the extraordinary policy continuity of what we used to call "London Transport"...
27 SEP 2017
This is a time of change for transport planning, with a move to breaking down the artificial barriers created by local authority boundaries. The creation of bodies such as Transport for the North has generated impetus to improve transport links
25 SEP 2017
Local Growth Fund resources of over £7bn have been channeled through Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) since 2014 to fund projects up to 2020/21. The Transport Knowledge Hub has been established to ensure that LEPs have the right tools and knowledge
21 SEP 2017
Last year's party conference season saw the Conservatives riding what many believed to be an insurmountable lead with a new Prime Minister in the form of Theresa May and a new mission to take the UK out of the European
20 SEP 2017
The recent criticism of the Government for not giving sufficient priority to the North of England on transport investment does not stand up to scrutiny either historically or on a regional basis.
It is has been a common occurrence for envious
18 SEP 2017
How bad can the disruption be for passengers, when one of Britain's busiest railway stations is closed for more than three weeks?
Investment in Waterloo Station is welcome. But this major engineering work was a considerable challenge, particularly as the franchise
15 SEP 2017
Over half (54%) of tourism businesses in Kent believe that HS1 has specifically benefitted their own business. For every HS1 leisure journey made to Kent in 2016, £81 was added to Kent's local economy.
Almost 6,000 tourism sector jobs in Kent
14 SEP 2017
Speaking in the first session of yesterday's UK Rail Summit, entitled Is Franchising Working, FirstGroup chief executive Tim O'Toole said: "I represent the status quo. " Defending the current environment, he said its record on a range of statistics from
Network Rail chair Sir Peter Hendy opened the second session, on "The Challenges Facing Network Rail" by welcoming the secretary of state's remarks about better integration of track and train and said the organisation had been actively pursuing this aim.
"Under
London Transport Commissioner Mike Brown talked about priorities identified in the Mayor's Business Plan, covering five years, and Transport Strategy, looking 25 years ahead.
Improving suburban rail services would play a key part, he said. Concerning the argument for TfL taking
13 SEP 2017
Britain's railways have been in a constant state of flux since World War II, Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling told today's Transport Times UK Rail Summit.
Nationalisation had been followed by a succession of reorganisations, all attempts by the
11 SEP 2017
The Scottish media has been dominated by one story in recent weeks: The Queensferry Crossing. Whilst undoubtedly an amazing engineering feat, the bridge represents a worrying trend in Scottish transport of increasing priority for private cars ahead of public transport.
Public
6 SEP 2017
Securing a resilient road crossing of the Forth has been a political tightrope for 25 years so there are big celebrations about the opening of the iconic new Queensferry Crossing. The opening of the new bridge to traffic will provide
The Shortlist for the 2017 North of England Transport Awards has been announced.
We are delighted to say that we have once again received an overwhelming number of entries for this year's awards from right across the North of England.
4 SEP 2017
When not just one project, but a whole programme runs late and way beyond budget, there is only one option: blow the whistle and have a stand-still period. The Secretary of State was right to be shrill in the case
24 AUG 2017
There has been a lot of comment in the press over recent announcements from the Department of Transport. Firstly, and positively, the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling confirmed the HS2 Phase 2b routes from Crewe to Manchester, and from the West
21 AUG 2017
For the third consecutive year of our annual report on customer service and experience, public transport operators have come out as providing the worst customer experience.
Nearly four in 10 (38%) respondents cited public transport & train operators as one of
14 AUG 2017
How a train company handles their contact with passengers when things can go wrong can cement their view of the company. This applies to how they handle complaints. Handling complaints well can inspire trust. Most passengers are pragmatic and accept
9 AUG 2017
So, the age of the internal combustion engine is finally coming to a close: the game is up for diesel and petrol vehicles on British roads.
That's what the Government's new strategy for combatting air pollution would have you believe at
31 JUL 2017
The recent announcements from Chris Grayling on Crossrail 2 and rail electrification seem to have driven a divide between the North and South of England but if any investment is to be secured then unity needs to be the way
26 JUL 2017
Rail passengers in London and the South East and Scotland are more satisfied withtheir railway journeys after a long period of patchy performance.
Transport Focus's has just published the latest National Rail Passenger Survey which measured satisfaction of more than
21 JUL 2017
The Shortlist for the 2017 National Transport Awards has been announced.
We are delighted to say that we have received over 330 entries for this year's awards from right across the UK.
It is over 200 years since road pricing was first suggested but there are only three significant schemes in operation: London, Singapore & Stockholm. All are ongoing and popular, even though they cover only a small % of the city
18 JUL 2017
At last an agreement has been reached that will allow Elizabeth line (Crossrail) services to reach Heathrow's Terminal 5 from December 2019. The agreement the airport has reached with DfT and TfL will see two Elizabeth line trains an hour
14 JUL 2017
Why should roads be free to use at the point of use? We don't expect to use airports or railways without paying for them, but when we're on the roads we forget the cost of building and maintaining them –
10 JUL 2017
When things don't go to plan it is time for a new strategy. The realities of new technology, changing demography, rising fiscal stress, and evolving social attitudes are that most UK transport strategies need a fairly fundamental revamp. To create
5 JUL 2017
These are revolutionary times. The digital technology revolution is happening at break-neck speed, made possible only because those leading the charge are the millennial generation that grew up in a world mediated by mobile software systems, behind which the physical
3 JUL 2017
It's just over two years since Highways England came into being and we are making good progress, delivering what we committed to in our delivery plan and making our contribution towards growing the country's economy.
We continue to focus on our
28 JUN 2017
This was the week the NIC demonstrated it will be no docile pet of government, and unafraid to use its bark – and if necessary bite – to hold Ministers to account on infrastructure planning and delivery.
Coming after a Queen's
22 JUN 2017
Industry figures comment transport within the Queen's Speech
21 JUN 2017
The Mayor's Transport strategy is a breath of fresh air-and not just in a metaphorical way. It is visionary and robust. It gets the balance right between enticing Londoners to continue the shift away from car travel to more sustainable
19 JUN 2017
The Government's new plan sidesteps charging in clean air zones and, by focusing on emissions per vehicle rather than per passenger, proposes targeting vehicles in reverse order of the pollution they cause.
16 JUN 2017
The best of Scotland's transport industry were honoured last night at the 15th Annual Scottish Transport Awards, with 370 industry professionals in attendance. Hosted by writer, presenter and actor Sanjeev Kohli, the ceremony was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel
7 JUN 2017
The publication of general election manifestos naturally had us all poring over their details hunting for mentions of our pet projects. This is understandable insofar as big schemes like Crossrail 2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail have been pitched against one
5 JUN 2017
The need to consider the implications of Brexit for the transport sector will be one of the first issues the new Secretary of State must get to grips with.
Over the last few weeks, DfT officials will have prepared for all
30 MAY 2017
One of the main questions I've been asked this past week is what the party manifestos mean for the next generation of major transport infrastructure schemes, and for Crossrail 2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail in particular.
Northern Powerhouse Rail has so
22 MAY 2017
In a Brexit-dominated election, issues like transport will struggle to get noticed. But the next Government of whatever shape will face a number of transport challenges which can't be ducked or ignored.
The first is air pollution: how to clean up
15 MAY 2017
What will the election mean for Transport?
With the election approaching and a Conservative victory widely predicted, it is a good time to wonder what a popular mandate for "Mayism", unfettered by a slender Commons majority, might mean for transport...
8 MAY 2017
It's not widely appreciated how far Europe contributes to UK infrastructure planning and funding, but it will be necessary to create a structure to replace it by the time the UK leaves the EU.
For the next two years, the big
2 MAY 2017
The delay to the Government's response to the High Court ruling on air quality is a pity. Though the official line is that it has been delayed because of the election, it is a missed opportunity for the Government to
26 APR 2017
The UK Rail Summit due to take place on 4th May is being rescheduled due to pre-election purdah.
An annoucement on the new date will be made in due course.
14 APR 2017
DEFRA is due this month to publish its new Air Quality Plan. Government has already lost two court cases on this issue, so the pressure is on.
Concern over air quality is no longer just the preserve of environmental groups and
10 APR 2017
The Vehicle Technology and Aviation Bill seeks to prepare the ground for a future of driverless cars and electric vehicles as well as protecting pilots from the misuse of laser pointers, says John Hayes
Winston Churchill wrote that "the future is
6 APR 2017
The Shortlist for the 2017 Scottish Transport Awards has been announced and is available to download here.
In association with Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government, Transport Times has launched the Scottish Transport Summit which will be held alongside the Scottish Transport Awards on 15th June in Glasgow.
The aim of the Summit is to bring together key decision-makers, practitioners and thinkers
31 MAR 2017
Local Enterprise Partnerships have a big task on their hands. The last government gave them responsibility for distributing the Local Growth Fund, which brought together a number of funding streams from several Whitehall departments – much of it from transport
27 MAR 2017
Greener Journeys is pleased to be a sponsor of the Transport Knowledge Hub, which launches today at the LEP Annual Conference at the QEII in Westminster.
Transport is central to unlocking growth, which is why transport infrastructure investment accounts for such
20 MAR 2017
Rail privatisation led to an influx of new ideas. But the pace of progress has slowed. A return of the pioneering spirit is needed to meet the challenges the industry faces.
What is the future of transport? Is it Elon Musk's
13 MAR 2017
Current governance structures allow connectivity problems to be passed around rather than solved. Reforms to allow communities to take more control are overdue.
Connectivity is a widely stated goal, but not everyone is clear what connection they want. Electronic broadband connectivity
8 MAR 2017
A £690m competitive fund for tackling congestion was a surprise but welcome announcement in chancellor Philip Hammond's first Budget today.
The fund was one of a number of allocations from the £23bn National Productivity Investment Fund set up in last year's
6 MAR 2017
An incremental approach holds sway in investment decisions when a bolder approach such as total route modernisation would allow improvements to be introduced faster and more cost-effectively.
Like it or not, the rail sector is going to have to use the
3 MAR 2017
The best of London's transport industry were honoured last night at the 14th Annual London Transport Awards with 400 industry professionals in attendance. Hosted by Channel 4 News Presenter Cathy Newman the ceremony was held at the Park Plaza Riverbank
27 FEB 2017
The third UK Bus Summit earlier this month wavered between optimism and pessimism. There was confidence that features such as free Wi-Fi, USB chargers, real-time information and better-appointed interiors, together with bus priority measures, have the potential to attract new
20 FEB 2017
Research from Transport Focus discovered that road users accept that disruption is unavoidable if improvements are to be made to the road network – but only up to a point.
Is there a typical user on the strategic road network? Probably
13 FEB 2017
Traffic is rising fastest among lorries and vans rather than private cars, a result of retail and consumer trends. The challenge is to limit the increase without harming productivity.
Road traffic just keeps on growing, just like in the cheap oil
9 FEB 2017
Progress of the Bus Services Bill has been slower than expected, but the Government is committed to it becoming law before the mayoral elections in May, bus minister Andrew Jones told the third UK Bus Summit today.
But the Government would
6 FEB 2017
Buses are England's most used form of public transport, accounting for over 4.5 billion passenger journeys a year. Buses support our economy and connect our communities to the workplace, as well as to vital public services such as healthcare and
30 JAN 2017
The London Assembly transport commitee's dramatic intervention last week looked set to reignite the congestion charging debate.
Congestion has been rising again on the streets of the capital, fuelled by increasing numbers of delivery vans and private hire vehicles, and reallocation
23 JAN 2017
Transport for London is addressing demands from users for buses that are greener, more reliable, affordable and convenient.
London's bus network is crucial to how our capital city functions. It carries almost 2.4 billion passengers a year – more than all the
16 JAN 2017
Planning for the UK's long-term growth and prosperity will need an integrated approach to infrastructure, connecting railways with roads, ports, airports and freight depots
By setting out its preferred route for the second phase of HS2 earlier this month, the Government
19 DEC 2016
Engineering work over the holidays is vital to accomplish over £100m of improvements under the Railway Upgrade Plan, addressing capacity issues and supporting economic growth
For most people, Christmas is a time to be spent with family and friends; a welcome
12 DEC 2016
The introduction of smart motorways is the biggest upgrade to motorway capacity in a generation, Jim O'Sullivan describes how Highways England is working to improve driver's knowledge and awareness of them
When the first motorway opened almost 60 years ago near
8 DEC 2016
The people making a real difference to transport across Northern England were recognised at the inaugural North of England Transport Awards at the Midland Hotel in Manchester last night. Hosted by BBC Breakfast Steph McGovern, the awards attracted over 350
7 DEC 2016
All the UK's major cities should have smart pay as you go ticketing within the next two years, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling told today's North of England Transport Summit. "There is no reason why only London should have smart ticketing,"
28 NOV 2016
A new grant regime designed to reflect the environmental benefits of moving freight by rail could be a stimulus to the sector that would pay for itself
When you lose 78% of your prime market in a single year, you have
24 NOV 2016
Chancellor Philip Hammond said he faced in his autumn statement the challenge of resolving how to protect the recovery and build on the economy's strengths, while at the same time responding to warnings of a difficult period ahead due to
21 NOV 2016
One of Philip Hammond's first pronouncements on being made Chancellor of the Exchequer in July was to signal that he was open to a "reset" of the economy if post EU referendum conditions demanded it.
Sterling has plummeted since the Brexit
14 NOV 2016
If transport operators can use the potential of technology to forge closer relationships with customers, investment will follow
How can transport attract the investment it needs to provide smart, integrated efficient services? Smart networked places are growing rapidly across the world.
7 NOV 2016
New technology, new vehicles and competition for space demand fresh thinking on provision of roads. The 2017 Wolfson Economics Prize will award £250,000 to the best proposal.
What kind of vehicle will we use in 2030? And what kind of road
28 OCT 2016
Changes on a scale not seen for a century are afoot, if we are ready to grasp the opportunities offered.
A century ago, Henry Ford's Model T heralded a new era of transport. Ford's vision was to "democratise the automobile".
He wanted
25 OCT 2016
The long-awaited Government decision to back a third runway at Heathrow finally arrived as expected this morning. The cabinet committee charged with making a decision followed the recommendations of the Airports Commission from 18 months ago, stipulating that expansion must
24 OCT 2016
In recent years Greener Journeys has built up an extensive suite of evidence on the considerable economic value that bus services provide to their communities and the UK as a whole.
But policy cannot be about economic value alone. Policy must
17 OCT 2016
The Transport Select Committee is conducting five interrelated inquiries into the future of rail with a view to identifying ways to improve capacity, connectivity, affordability and reliability
With the oldest railway system in the world, the UK has a long and
14 OCT 2016
The people making a real difference to transport across the UK were recognised at the prestigious National Transport Awards at the Westminster Park Plaza in London last night. Hosted by comedian Hugh Dennis, the awards attracted over 700 senior transport
12 OCT 2016
"We need HS2 more than ever," said Transport Secretary Chris Grayling "for the capacity it will bring, the space it will create elsewhere on our transport network, the boost it will give to the economy and the jobs it will
Mr Kirby said that as he prepares to move to a new post at Rolls-Royce, his successor would have the job of managing the transition from planning to construction. "The organisation stands ready to deliver HS2," he said.
As an engineer,
9 OCT 2016
Public transport services are often inconvenient, unreliable and unresponsive to local needs. A serious analytical approach can create rational and effective networks instead.
Rail nationalisation is back on the political agenda. How firmly it's back depends on your view of Jeremy
3 OCT 2016
New signalling systems and technology such as traffic management could mean big capacity increases, but the entire industry needs to join forces to make the benefits a reality.
Digital technology has transformed our daily lives. Most notably, a smartphone in your
26 SEP 2016
The rail industry is a complex mix of public and private, and bringing franchises back into the public sector would not make as much difference as its backers claim
Rail has been getting a bad press through the summer. The dispute
21 SEP 2016
Having received over 120 entries for the inaugural 2016 North of England Transport Awards, the judges have made their decision on the final shortlists for 14 categories.
19 SEP 2016
Continuity and decisive action, with the interest of travellers centre stage, will be my watchwords.
After a summer of historic change for Britain and political change in Westminster, the August recess provided a welcome opportunity to focus on my new job. I
12 SEP 2016
After the hiatus of the summer recess, Parliament is returning to work, and the priorities of Theresa May's new administration are becoming clearer.
One thing that seems apparent is a determination to finally make a decision in the long-running controversy over
5 SEP 2016
Major transport infrastructure projects create the opportunity to change the game on gender balance in the UK with the support of women engineers from Europe.
Investment in new railways over the next decade will put UK engineering firms and their engineers
30 AUG 2016
Garry Pratt, senior project manager on London Underground's Four Lines Modernisation programme, started his career as an apprentice. Here's his story...
"It all started when I went to my local careers office during the six week holiday in 1998 after my
22 AUG 2016
Transport emissions are rising again, despite strong grassroots campaigning to change behaviour. The trend will only be reversed when it becomes more expensive and less convenient to drive.
The recent progress report from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) makes for
15 AUG 2016
Provisions to encourage partnership could allow targets to be agreed to address passengers' top ten priorities as identified by Transport Focus research.
Though the news is dominated by bigger political issues, something significant is happening in the transport world: legislation on
8 AUG 2016
Transport models often discount or ignore the local effects of a new transport project. But in many cases these can form a significant proportion of total demand.
It is a mistake to assume travel patterns are largely fixed, unchanged by infrastructure
1 AUG 2016
As we adjust to Britain's new status outside the European Union, we face challenges but also opportunities. But we do so from a position of strength, after six years in which the economy has been transformed, our deficit as a
25 JUL 2016
The logic behind the Northern Powerhouse remains compelling. Re-balancing the economy will be good for the UK as a whole.
If there's one thing that is certain in the wake of the EU referendum it's that there is going to be
21 JUL 2016
Having received over a record-breaking 385 entries for the 2016 National Transport Awards, the judges have made their decision on the final shortlists for the 19 categories.
18 JUL 2016
A decision on whether to accept the Airports Commission's recommendation on capacity in the South East has been postponed once again. The lack of a decision will only add to the eventual costs.
Almost exactly a year ago the Airports Commission published
11 JUL 2016
Britain urgently needs new rail capacity. The rail industry must be bold in its vision for the digital railway and install it on a busy main line, where its benefits would be most visible. Because the UK has the most
4 JUL 2016
Industry leaders and politicians spoke with one voice at the launch of the Northern Powerhouse Independent Economic Review in Liverpool on Thursday, endorsing continued momentum behind the North's plans for a cohesive programme of economic expansion.
Commissioned by Transport for the
27 JUN 2016
The referendum vote in favour of the UK leaving the European Union puts the economy, the nation and the continent into uncharted waters.
17 JUN 2016
The best of Scotland's transport industry were honoured last night at the 14th Annual Scottish Transport Awards, with 400 industry professionals in attendance. Hosted by comedian and presenter Fred MacAulay, the ceremony was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in
13 JUN 2016
A more diverse workforce would benefit the whole rail industry, A concerted effort is needed to attract the new generation needed to build projects such as HS2.
Too often, it seems to me that the rail industry is stuck in the past.
31 MAY 2016
The latest Transport Focus research offers insight into how bus operators can build better relationships with their passengers, at a time when overall satisfaction has fallen on average.
Does it really matter if bus passengers trust the industry and local authorities to
23 MAY 2016
Passengers' levels of satisfaction with rail fares and services vary widely, and information on claiming compensation is patchy. The Transport Select Committee will be looking into the issue.
The UK has some of the highest railway season ticket prices in Europe. Many
16 MAY 2016
Investment by international companies, liberalised markets making it easy to distribute goods, and influence over European laws are powerful reasons to remain in the EU.
In less than two months, Britain will go to the polls once again.
This time, it's not
9 MAY 2016
Local enterprise partnerships have the potential to play a pivotal role in stimulating economic growth as local devolution progresses. But crucial elements of the strategy are missing
Centralisation has for too long been choking off growth. There is a clear consensus
25 APR 2016
The fundamental principle of getting more people on buses and attracting them away from cars must not be lost in discussions about the best way to provide services.
With congestion estimated to cost the UK £33bn a year by 2030, operating sustainable
18 APR 2016
Thirty years ago, had you asked the board of British Rail for their vision of the railways in 2016, I don't know whether they would have predicted the huge passenger growth we've seen. However, I am certain they wouldn't have
14 APR 2016
Investment in transport infrastructure is higher on the political agenda than it has been for decades. The National Infrastructure Commission has been created to develop long-term plans and encourage political consensus. The Government has pressed ahead with plans for High
11 APR 2016
In advance of tomorrow's UK Transport Infrastructure Summit, experts from KPMG set the scene by looking at key issues.
After decades of underinvestment, the UK has grasped the importance of infrastructure investment to our economic future. This government has big plans to
7 APR 2016
Having received over 100 entries for the 2016 Scotland Transport Awards, the judges have made their decision on the final shortlists for 17 categories.
4 APR 2016
Rail North is set to become the franchising arm of Transport for the North. Director David Hoggarth tells Jeanette Bowden about the "transformational" changes about to be introduced across the northern rail network
Rail services across the North of England will
21 MAR 2016
Published as the Chancellor completed delivery of his 2016 budget speech, the Shaw Review addressed questions of funding and organisational arrangements at Network Rail (disclaimer: Steer Davies Gleave acted as advisers to the Shaw Report Team).It will be seen
17 MAR 2016
Business wanted a steady, workmanlike Budget, and that's what we got. The Chancellor listened to our calls to avoid higher business taxes and costs – and indeed moved to lower them in a number of areas. He has finally taken
Motorists might be forgiven for heaving a sigh of relief yesterday after the Chancellor resisted the siren calls to hike fuel duty and limited the increase in insurance tax to a modest 0.5 %, and those who regularly cross the
With so little strategic planning for transport in the North for years, suddenly, like buses, three reports come along at once.
Transport for the North's spring update to the Northern Transport Strategy provides plenty more detail on its main priorities and
This Budget wasn't focussed on big giveaways, but it contained some clear and important commitments on transport.
At Alstom we warmly welcome the Chancellor using this opportunity to back both Crossrail 2 and HS3. These are important projects, supported by the
This was the week that the rookie National Infrastructure Commission earned its spurs. The Chancellor embraced the NIC's reports on Crossrail 2 and transport in the north, and so Andrew Adonis has succeeded in making more progress with government in
Transport investment continued to be blessed in the Spring 2016 budget, with development funds for Crossrail 2 and rail & highway schemes in the north. Both had just received the thumbs up from Lord Adonis' National Infrastructure Commission.
With £300m going
The most important transport announcement in the Budget was arguably what the Chancellor chose not to do - raise fuel tax. In so doing, he failed to make the cost of driving more representative of the costs in imposes, or
14 MAR 2016
The chancellor is due to address an unusually large number of transport issues in this week's Budget, from priorities for the north of England to the future of Network Rail, says Mike Indian
When George Osborne leaves 11 Downing Street on Budget
7 MAR 2016
Britain has a long history of rejecting plans for major new infrastructure. Intensive work from the outset is helping to minimise the risk of projects failing, says Patrick McLoughlin
Nine months into the new parliament, and the Department for Transport is
4 MAR 2016
The people and organisations that make a real difference to transport across London were recognised at the 13th annual London Transport Awards last night. The London Borough of Camden picked up the top award of the night for Transport Borough
29 FEB 2016
In January the Scottish Government published a "refresh" of the National Transport Strategy for Scotland. The big announcement was that the process had been more helpful in asking big questions than answering them. Minister for Transport and Islands Derek Mackay
22 FEB 2016
London's ticket system evolved over many years. Expectations for rapid progress in the North must be tempered by the knowledge that there are numerous hurdles to cross
Londoners are stunned when they realise that other parts of the country don't have Oyster,
12 FEB 2016
The overriding aim of the Buses Bill is to increase bus passenger numbers, transport minister Andrew Jones told yesterday's Transport Times UK Bus Summit 2016.
Mr Jones confirmed that the Bill, due to be introduced to Parliament in the near future,
5 FEB 2016
The Transport Times UK Bus Summit may only be in its second year, but it is already established as a key event in the transport calendar – and one the Department for Transport is delighted to support.
The bus industry today
1 FEB 2016
Stuart Ross, Transport for London's Director of News, lost the bravest of battles with cancer on Friday 22 January. He was 42.
No words can really do justice to Stuart's contribution to London and making TfL a world-leading organisation. A deluge
25 JAN 2016
The UK is in the vanguard of the manufacture and adoption of green buses.
In the past decade there has been a green revolution in the UK bus market. Lower carbon, low emission Euro VI buses are running in most of
18 JAN 2016
2016 will be a year of great opportunity for transport infrastructure but it will also be a year of great challenges. If it fails to make the most of the opportunities then it risks the major investment and projects that
11 JAN 2016
How should we organise the railway so that it is safe, cost-efficient, innovative and ready to meet future challenges?
Two days spent in Brussels talking to other European infrastructure managers has given me valuable insights into the parallel challenges facing our colleagues
21 DEC 2015
There was much to be welcomed for transport in the spending review two weeks ago. But as 2015 draws to a close a great deal of uncertainty surrounds many areas of the sector.
First, the good news. The spending review reaffirmed
16 DEC 2015
Having received 100 entries for the 2016 awards, the judges have made their decision on the final shortlists for the 13 categories.
14 DEC 2015
A parliamentary question answered by Aviation Minister Robert Goodwill on 23 November reminded DUP MP Jim Shannon of Prime Minister David Cameron's pledge that a final decision on airport expansion would be made by the end of 2015. Little over
7 DEC 2015
Investment in rail offers the opportunity to revitalise civic pride and bring about a resurgence of interest in British engineering.
It is one of the most remarkable transport achievements of our age that in the 20 years since privatisation, the number
27 NOV 2015
In this week's spending review the DfT copped the biggest percentage cut in non-capital (resource) expenditure (-37%), but became the biggest department for capital spending (its programme doubling from £6.1bn today to £12.4bn in 2020/21). In Treasury terms, this is
This was a spending settlement to which Transport for London acquiesced, rather than agreed. Gain on its capital investment programme was accompanied by short-term pain, through falling resource grants, with battles on spending priorities post-2020 postponed for another day...
20 NOV 2015
The chancellor's enthusiasm for transport, which has led to the creation of the National Infrastructure Commission, presents a huge opportunity which the industry must grasp
There was widespread enthusiasm for George Osborne's announcement at last month's Conservative Party conference of the
16 NOV 2015
Arriving for my interview with David Brown in the offices of Transport for Greater Manchester, it seems apt that he has just travelled by rail from Liverpool and I have come from Leeds, as these cities are among those targeted
9 NOV 2015
Deaths and injuries on the roads rose last year, reversing a long-term trend. With a lack of government targets for road safety, is the role of enforcement being overlooked?
The road safety charity Brake published a report in April which revealed
30 OCT 2015
The UK's bus companies are well on the way to complying with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act, but even more can be done.
I have been bus minister for five months, and I wish to congratulate the bus sector
26 OCT 2015
Debate about rail is focused on dealing with the pressures of success. The conversation about buses is more often about arresting decline. The bus lobby needs to find a stronger voice.
Nationalise! Privatise! Buy! Sell!
While debates swirl again around who controls, owns
19 OCT 2015
George Osborne continues to surprise with his audaciousness when it comes to transport infrastructure and devolution. In his Conservative Party Conference speech this week he made the bold announcement to devolve control of £26bn of business rates to local government.
9 OCT 2015
The people making a real difference to transport across the UK were recognised at the prestigious National Transport Awards at the Westminster Park Plaza in London last night. Hosted by Rory Bremner, the awards attracted over 800 senior transport professionals
2 OCT 2015
New findings show that investment in bus infrastructure frequently exceeds expectations and provide a high level of benefits and extremely high value for money.
New research for Greener Journeys demonstrates a compelling case for the Department for Transport to issue Guidance
25 SEP 2015
Reclassification of the infrastructure owner as a public company has severely disrupted its investment plans. But there is no reason why this should be the case.
Network Rail is under siege. Lateness and budget overruns on high-profile projects are an embarrassment.
21 SEP 2015
Developments in transport – especially getting things built – can sometimes seem to move at such a glacial pace that you begin to question whether there's been any progress at all. So it's been instructive to look back over the
11 SEP 2015
To mark our anniversary, this week we relaunch the Transport Times website. We have given it a fresh new look and it has been integrated with the Transport Times Events site to provide a seamless browsing experience.
You can browse
27 AUG 2015
Local transport authorities must adapt to a future in which they become mobility providers for citizens with smartcard-operated accounts.
There is growing recognition that technology will change the way people travel and the way transport services are provided, as recognised in
20 AUG 2015
Will transport expenditure help to rebalance economic growth? Evidence of its impact is scarce and inconclusive.
Since the financial crisis of 2007, there has been a renewed focus on the economic gap between London and other UK cities, and how investing
13 AUG 2015
Rail investment and a response to the Airports Commission are just the start. The House of Commons transport committee has a long list of policy issues it proposes to investigate over this parliament.
I was very pleased to be re-elected unopposed
6 AUG 2015
Passenger satisfaction scores are down in the latest National Rail Passenger Survey. Ironically, this is partly a result of disruption that is a side effect of work to improve the network.
What will the man or woman waiting on Balham station
30 JUL 2015
Connecting to friends or family, to work or study, bus services are woven into the lives of individuals and communities, according to new research.
Research just published by Greener Journeys reveals compelling new evidence of the value and importance of the
24 JUL 2015
Having received a record-breaking number of entries for the 2015 National Transport Awards, the judges have made their decision on the final shortlists for the 20 categories.
22 JUL 2015
We should consider the benefits of restoring rail connections systematically to close gaps and ease growth pressure, rather than leaving it to a haphazard process led by local pressure groups.
Services start on the Borders Railway on 6 September. After 45
9 JUL 2015
ITSO continues to evolve and improve, with coverage of the UK growing.
Last century – well, 1999 to be exact – two northern passenger transport executives realised that public procurement rules could result in adjacent transport authorities being forced to acquire
3 JUL 2015
When, at the Transport Times Great Transport Debate earlier this year, Patrick McLoughlin said he hoped to return as Transport Secretary after the general election, few thought it likely.Even if the Conservatives were returned to power, it looked
26 JUN 2015
Cities should urgently consider introducing smart and contactless ticketing to encourage the use of public transport and help them reach their economic potential.
Our industry is a customer service business that provides transport. Our purpose is to keep the country working
22 JUN 2015
The best of Scotland’s transport industry were honoured on Thursday 18th June at the 13th Annual Scottish Transport Awards, with 300 industry professionals in attendance. Hosted by radio and television presenter Grant Stott, the ceremony was held at the Radisson
11 JUN 2015
The Transport Secretary faces a range of challenges to get this country moving and craft a transport system which is sustainable, efficient and fair. Patrick McLoughlin must make the right decisions on the important issues of rail fares, rail franchising,
5 JUN 2015
The case for investment in transport to unlock economic growth is now well established. Less well-embedded is the concept of driving substantial direct financial return through investment in commercial activities in and around the transport network...
28 MAY 2015
The results from the Transport Focus tram passenger survey are out. This is the second year it has been run. Over all networks in the survey, satisfaction with the tram journey remains at the high levels seen in 2013 (90%).
21 MAY 2015
Last year marked a hundred years since the outbreak of World War I. In the course of the conflict hundreds of thousands of young men enlisted in the armed services, including more than 17,000 London Underground, bus and tram workers.
During
14 MAY 2015
Who will be the future leaders of the transport industry? In a new occasional series, Transport Times has convened a panel of senior industry experts, chaired by our publisher David Begg, to pick out names to watch. The people featured
7 MAY 2015
Strong, accountable governance arrangements are needed if plans to revitalise the north of England are to bear fruit. The Department for Transport should step aside and let the cities and regions rise to the challenge.Let’s hope that the
5 MAY 2015
With less than a week to go to the election, and the polls remaining pretty much where they were at the start of the campaign, the parties will be pulling out all the stops to sway undecided voters.If you
30 APR 2015
In our final report from Transport Times’ Great Transport Debate we focus on aviation. For airports the big question is whether Heathrow or Gatwick will be chosen as the site for a new runway. Emma Gilthorpe, Heathrow strategy, planning and
23 APR 2015
Continuing the report from last month’s Great Transport Debate, hosted by Transport Times in association with KPMG, this week we focus on the bus debate which pitted two David Browns against each other: one the group chief executive of Go-Ahead,
22 APR 2015
Having received an abundance of entries for the 2015 Scotland Transport Awards, the judges have made their decision on the final shortlists for 14 categories.
16 APR 2015
Transport Times in association with KPMG hosted the Great Transport Debate last month, which invited transport experts to set out what they see as the main transport challenges the next Government must grapple with.The first of these debates
9 APR 2015
The latest Transport Focus bus passenger survey gives operators a benchmark of how they are doing and helps many of them to plan improvement and track progress from year to year
"Reduce journey time. 30 minutes is tiring"..."Less heavy use of
1 APR 2015
The M3 and Stansted airport demonstrate the unexpected shifts in how infrastructure is used that can take place over time. Planners and forecasters need to be more aware of the potential for change
They say "never go back", but it can
26 MAR 2015
The Transport Select Committee has had numerous successes in influencing policy and making a real difference for travellers of all kinds over the five years of this government.With the general election just a few weeks away it is
19 MAR 2015
Apparent cross-party support for infrastructure investment before the election will not necessarily translate into progress on real projects afterwards, warns Stuart Thomson.
Listening to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor or the Opposition front bench, you could easily be convinced that infrastructure
12 MAR 2015
Revenue protection systems are too draconian and fail to distinguish between fare dodgers and people who have made a genuine mistake with their ticket. They need to be overhauled for the 21st century.Earlier this month Passenger Focus renewed
6 MAR 2015
The people and organisations that make a real difference to transport across London were recognised at the 12th annual London Transport Awards last night. The London Borough of Southwark picked up the top award of the night for Transport Borough
4 MAR 2015
With the general election approaching, rail has enjoyed substantial investment, with roads policy now following suit. Local transport has been less lucky – and where next for fuel duty?It's time to review how transport has fared during the
24 FEB 2015
The outcome of the 2015 election remains far too close to call, and it is highly unclear who will form the next government. An unprecedented range of potential results is possible in what is now a five or six party
17 FEB 2015
The road investment strategy, unveiled in December is a real break with poilcy over the last 20 years. But have the implications for traffic growth, land use and rail demand been thought through?
Engine for Growth is the slogan of High
26 JAN 2015
The decision by the North East Combined Authority to pursue quality contracts for bus services in Tyne and Wear clearly demonstrates the feelings of many in north-east England towards deregulation: it isn’t working for them. With other local authorities,
14 JAN 2015
Planning rail investment over a series of five year cycles has been a great policy success. The malaise of UK transport investment for decades was its dependence on annual budgets, at the mercy of summary cuts if the economy faltered.
6 JAN 2015
In the UK cars are responsible for 58% of domestic transport carbon emissions. Buses have a pivotal role to play in reducing carbon emissions through modal shift. Research for Greener Journeys estimates that the best-used bus services in urban centres
15 DEC 2014
We are delighted to announce that Alexander Dennis are confirmed as headline sponsors of the UK Bus Summit 2015.
Bill Simpson, Senior Vice-President at Alexander Dennis said:
"ADL is delighted to be part of the UK Bus Summit, particularly at this crucial
9 DEC 2014
The move by chancellor George Osborne to devolve significant powers to Greater Manchester was bold and audacious, and is a welcome step in giving cities outside London more control over their own destiny.
We have consistently argued in TT that devolution
Having received over 100 entries for the 2015 London Transport Awards, the judges have made their decision on the final shortlists for the 15 categories.
3 OCT 2014
The people making a real difference to transport across the UK were recognised at the prestigious National Transport Awards at the Westminster Park Plaza in London last night. Hosted by radio and television presenter Jeremy Vine, the awards attracted over
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