Three global transport trends that should reshape our cities
Here are three global transport trends that should be reshaping urban policy in Britain. They already are in the world’s most dynamic cities in developed countries. They are transport trends – but they are about far more than that. Cities need to be smart to thrive. They need to be dynamic, enjoyable, attractive places where […]
Wales – time for a leap forward on transport?
Wales is positioning itself as a small country that can do great green things (Picture: National Assembly for Wales on Flickr). Scotland got a comprehensive deal on transport powers as part of devolution and has forged ahead with some confidence – particularly on rail. The state of play on devolution of transport powers in Wales […]
The Spending Review: Everything to play for
The last spending review gave local transport spending outside London a good hiding. It lacked the political clout and built-in funding commitments that applied to London and national rail – the evidence base for the benefits of local transport spending also had too many gaps. Worse for the big regional conurbations was that by accident […]
The biggest bargain in transport policy?
The urban bus – a highly effective social and transport policy[/caption] Is the urban bus the biggest bargain in transport policy? There’s certainly a strong case to be made – as our new report (‘The Case for the Urban Bus – The Economic and Social Value of Bus Networks in the Metropolitan Areas’) shows. The […]
Five things I learnt as a three term member of Network Rail
I was one of the original Network Rail members and have served three terms in total (though I haven’t been a member throughout NR’s existance). My Membership comes to an end on the 23rd November This is what I have learned 1. It’s a tough job but a worthwhile one – and not – […]
Party conferences 2012 – round-up
After the party conference bubble, a clearer picture of each party’s transport policies emerges Autumn Party conferences can be a bit of a blur – mini-political Glastonburys for politicians and the travelling roadshow of journalists and lobbyists. A bubble of meetings, speeches and talk. But when you finally get on the train back to the […]
The 'Dockers' Umbrella' remembered
When, near the turn of the last century, the riverfronts of Glasgow and Liverpool were a seething mass of industry and commerce, the resulting clogged streets led to some bold moves above and below ground to beat the jams. In Glasgow it led to the construction of what was then only the third underground railway […]
When the buses were (nearly) free: Revisiting South Yorkshire’s ‘grand design’ for transport
Front cover of D Scott Hellewell’s account of South Yorkshire’s Transport, picture courtesy of Transport Store It may not be available on Kindle anytime soon, but ‘South Yorkshire’s Transport 1974-1995’ by D Scott Hellewell is full of fascinating material about the story of the radical years of South Yorkshire’s ‘Grand Design’ for Transport in the […]
Very big thinking about very fast trains – an LSE Cities event on High Speed with Sir Terry Farrell
HS2 is on its way. Though the by now familiar arguments will no doubt continue to rage about whether high speed is a ‘good thing’ or not (environmentally, economically and in terms of value for money), this fascinating LSE event mostly parked the ‘in principle’, and HS2 specific arguments, in order to think big thoughts […]
Meanwhile in Sweden…
IKEA is among the companies supporting Sweden’s ambition to double the market share of public transport Interesting developments in Sweden where a package of reforms to the way public transport is run has been tied to a doubling of public transport’s market share. An ambitious goal by any standards. The plan (as I understand it) […]