Jonathan Bray

The Scandi approach to public transport

In his latest article for Passenger Transport Magazine, Jonathan Bray asks if devolution, franchising, innovation are getting results for the ‘near perfect people’ of Scandinavia, and what lessons can we learn? 

Scandinavian designed transport

Our new report, ‘The Scandinavian Way to Better Public Transport’, takes a detailed look at how Sweden, Norway and Denmark deliver public transport that not only gives its customers exceptional service but also underpins macro economic and environmental policies at local and national levels. Professor Tom Rye, from the Transport Research Institute at Edinburgh Napier […]

Summer is here! But look what's coming…

In his latest article for Passenger Transport Magazine, Jonathan Bray says the political landscape has shifted in wake of the inauguration of new ‘metro mayors’ and the outcome of the general election. 

Rail Devolution Works – here’s the proof

Satisfied passengers, stronger communities, improved economic prosperity and increased accountability – this is what rail devolution has brought to those areas given the freedom and flexibility to run train services outside Whitehall control. Our new report – Rail Devolution Works – does exactly what it says on the tin. This comprehensive review of the improvements […]

We have the tools, now let's use them

In his latest article for Passenger Transport Magazine, Jonathan Bray says it’s time to get serious about using the powerful array of tools contained in the Bus Services Act – including franchising. 

The government's air quality stance is out of line with devolution

In a comment piece in the latest issue of Local Government Chronicle, Urban Transport Group Director Jonathan Bray was left feeling underwhelmed by the Government’s draft plan on tackling NO2 in towns and cities – especially as it relates to the role devolved regional powers could bring to improving air quality. On the basis of the […]

Why we are running a #transportskills week

Our members, the Government and transport users alike all have hopes and expectations for improved transport infrastructure both regionally and nationally. However engineering is just one dimension of the skills shortages that face the transport sector exacerbated by a workforce which is ageing and which does not reflect the diversity of wider society. Indeed the […]

Smart futures for urban transport: making it work for travellers and cities

Change isn’t coming – it is already here. Transformative technological change (allied with social change – the transition to a sharing economy in particular) is shifting the ground beneath our feet as big city transport authorities. Three areas in particular stand out. Firstly, the explosion of data which means that citizens can be far better […]

Five things I learned from our bus franchising masterclass

We tried something different with the format for this event rather than the usual array of fifteen minute corporate presentations that most transport conferences rely on. Instead we gave much more time for a small number of speakers to really get into the detail of the topic through a series of masterclass sessions (in a way that […]

Sharing ideas in an age of uncertainty

In his latest article for Passenger Transport Magazine, Jonathan Bray reports back on last month’s UITP gathering in Montréal which considered bewildering change, and convergence on transit’s role in making better places.