An unhappy new year for public transport
It’s been a shaky start to the new year for public transport and it could get a lot rougher yet. Let me count the ways… The ‘work from home where you can’ advice has hit public transport’s core commuting market hard. Meanwhile the pre-Christmas binge on shopping and socialising which kept public transport patronage afloat […]
From point A to point B with a bit of poetry
Leeds 1953 Leeds was one of many cities that pre-figured what Beeching was to do to the national rail network in the Sixties by trashing their own mass transit system in the fifties. After World War Two housing was a bigger priority for public investment than comprehensively overhauling run down tram systems. At that time […]
New normal?
September has brought to an abrupt end the dreams of the summer of a linear recovery from COVID-19, where empty office blocks would spring back into strip lit life and zoned out commuters would again be grazing the shelves of Prets. However, once more the virus has shown that it is not prepared to enter […]
COVID-19 funding gap filled… for now
It would make no sense for Government to cut COVID-19 funding life support for light rail systems whilst it is rightly investing millions every week on expanding and renewing them. This time, Government funding to close the gap caused by coronavirus on bus and tram had run out before a new funding deal was put […]
A first draft of the future?
Once more unto the breach Not all the details are clear at the time of writing but we do now have a funding support package for light rail and buses to see us through the next three months. Subject to the fine print this is very welcome, and one doesn’t want to seem churlish about […]
Into the unknown
As tough as it gets for public transport This is as tough as it gets for public transport. The Government’s decision to trigger a restart last night (Sunday), that begins this morning, has run ahead of the guidance on how public transport should respond. Leaving us with not a chance of being able to prepare […]
West Midlands reaps the devolution dividend
In his latest article for Passenger Transport Magazine, Jonathan Bray explains how with a new ‘metro mayor’, growing commuter rail use, light rail expansion projects, HS2, the West Midlands is a region that is going places.
US cities are getting smart on growth
In his latest article for Passenger Transport Magazine, Jonathan Bray explains how experience in America has shown that smart growth can benefit public transport – but the trick is to help make great places.
Tyne and Wear Metro: urban rail unleashed
In his latest article Jonathan Bray explains how the Tyne and Wear Metro is the bone structure of that region’s identity, economy and daily life – and how it’s Britain’s innovation railway too… There’s two key elements to a successful urban rail network – best use of emerging technology and local decision makers who embody […]
Ten years of the pteg Support Unit: Part two
In the second of a series of three blog posts, pteg Support Unit Director Jonathan Bray continues his look back over ten years of the pteg Support Unit. Ten years of the pteg Support Unit: The unstoppable force of devolution Devolution has seen Merseyrail Electrics transform into one of the best performing rail networks in the […]