I build therefore I sprawl
In his latest article for Passenger Transport Magazine, Jonathan Bray asks will where future Britons, live, rely on, or ignore public transport? Tens of thousands of homes lying empty whilst people sleep on the streets, not enough homes of the right type in the right places, unaffordable homes, not enough new homes being built. Britain […]
Six things I learned on a works outing to Hitachi’s Train Building Factory in County Durham
1.We live in a world of mysterious blank big sheds inside which much of the economy happens. So good on Hitachi on being so open to visitors in letting people like us have a look at what goes on in their factory and to see some new trains being born. People love to see what […]
It’s time for transport to make the connections on climate change
Recently it feels like there’s been a shift in the mood on climate change. This is no longer something too big and too distant that we can stuff it in a drawer like a bill we are afraid we can’t pay. Both the ever starker warnings from climate scientists, and the escalation in severe weather, […]
The best transport secretary we’ve had?
Barbara Castle was the first woman to be secretary of state for transport, but was she also the best secretary of state for transport we ever had? Fifty years since her landmark Transport Act received Royal Assent on October 24 (at the time, the largest piece of non-financial legislation since the war), it’s a good […]
Grayling's review can get rail devolution back on track
Last month, the government launched what it called a ‘root and branch’ review of the UK’s railways. And rightly so. On the same day as transport secretary Chris Grayling announced the review, the ORR published the results of its own interim inquiry into the May timetable meltdown, concluding that nobody took charge with a “gap […]
What I found on the conference circuit
In his latest article for Passenger Transport Magazine, Jonathan Bray says in this time of seismic political shifts, the party conferences have become more interesting and new ideas for transport are emerging.
Five things I learned for urban transport at Conservative party conference
Grayling’s plan for rail Chris Grayling was expansive in setting out his thoughts on the future for rail at a rail industry fringe… – He previously thought evolution not revolution was right approach for rail but recent events have shown that this isn’t the case. The system is broken and needs fixing. – However the rail review […]
Five things I learned at Labour Party Conference for urban transport
1.About towns For many years the dominant argument has been that all policy focus should be on cities, as they are where the economic action is. Now that hegemony is breaking down. Think tanks like Centre for Towns and Wigan MP, Lisa Nandy, have been challenging the implicit assumption (and were doing so across Labour […]
Civilising the City of London
In his latest article for Passenger Transport Magazine, our Director Jonathan Bray writes how the City of London is one to watch in terms of taming traffic and creating an attractive and enjoyable environment.
Rail review can get rail devolution back on track
At last week’s National Rail Awards, Merseyrail (which is fully devolved to the transport authority Merseytravel) won Passenger Operator of the Year and two others awards, becoming the first single train operator to win three awards at the event. It’s hard to remember now, but before powers over the Merseyrail Electrics network were delegated to […]