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) […]
The Competition Commission reverts to type
The Competition Commission is conducting a two year inquiry into the local bus market I don’t know about you, but I prefer my fudge to come from Devon and contain clotted cream rather than come in the form of thousands of pages from the Competition Commission’s (CC) dithering economists. Of course no doubt I would […]
Building the case for bus – one fact at a time
We need to assemble the case for bus – piece by piece Facts and evidence doesn’t always win the day (otherwise we would be living in a very different world!) but if you want to win a public policy debate having a combat ready armoury of evidence at your disposal is important. And important becomes […]
Bus services – a tale of three Englands?
Is England split in three now as far as bus services are concerned? London – enjoying one of the best bus services on the planet. The Metropolitan and large urban areas – where the bus remains a player and so far cuts in supported services have been minimised. And then the rest – where for some […]