Read the latest insight, opinion and analysis from contributors who are at the heart of the transport business, view our reports and access our full monthly archive.
21 DEC 2015
There was much to be welcomed for transport in the spending review two weeks ago. But as 2015 draws to a close a great deal of uncertainty surrounds many areas of the sector.
First, the good news. The spending review reaffirmed
16 DEC 2015
Having received 100 entries for the 2016 awards, the judges have made their decision on the final shortlists for the 13 categories.
14 DEC 2015
A parliamentary question answered by Aviation Minister Robert Goodwill on 23 November reminded DUP MP Jim Shannon of Prime Minister David Cameron's pledge that a final decision on airport expansion would be made by the end of 2015. Little over
7 DEC 2015
Investment in rail offers the opportunity to revitalise civic pride and bring about a resurgence of interest in British engineering.
It is one of the most remarkable transport achievements of our age that in the 20 years since privatisation, the number
27 NOV 2015
In this week's spending review the DfT copped the biggest percentage cut in non-capital (resource) expenditure (-37%), but became the biggest department for capital spending (its programme doubling from £6.1bn today to £12.4bn in 2020/21). In Treasury terms, this is
This was a spending settlement to which Transport for London acquiesced, rather than agreed. Gain on its capital investment programme was accompanied by short-term pain, through falling resource grants, with battles on spending priorities post-2020 postponed for another day...
20 NOV 2015
The chancellor's enthusiasm for transport, which has led to the creation of the National Infrastructure Commission, presents a huge opportunity which the industry must grasp
There was widespread enthusiasm for George Osborne's announcement at last month's Conservative Party conference of the
16 NOV 2015
Arriving for my interview with David Brown in the offices of Transport for Greater Manchester, it seems apt that he has just travelled by rail from Liverpool and I have come from Leeds, as these cities are among those targeted
9 NOV 2015
Deaths and injuries on the roads rose last year, reversing a long-term trend. With a lack of government targets for road safety, is the role of enforcement being overlooked?
The road safety charity Brake published a report in April which revealed
30 OCT 2015
The UK's bus companies are well on the way to complying with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act, but even more can be done.
I have been bus minister for five months, and I wish to congratulate the bus sector
26 OCT 2015
Debate about rail is focused on dealing with the pressures of success. The conversation about buses is more often about arresting decline. The bus lobby needs to find a stronger voice.
Nationalise! Privatise! Buy! Sell!
While debates swirl again around who controls, owns
19 OCT 2015
George Osborne continues to surprise with his audaciousness when it comes to transport infrastructure and devolution. In his Conservative Party Conference speech this week he made the bold announcement to devolve control of £26bn of business rates to local government.
9 OCT 2015
The people making a real difference to transport across the UK were recognised at the prestigious National Transport Awards at the Westminster Park Plaza in London last night. Hosted by Rory Bremner, the awards attracted over 800 senior transport professionals
2 OCT 2015
New findings show that investment in bus infrastructure frequently exceeds expectations and provide a high level of benefits and extremely high value for money.
New research for Greener Journeys demonstrates a compelling case for the Department for Transport to issue Guidance
25 SEP 2015
Reclassification of the infrastructure owner as a public company has severely disrupted its investment plans. But there is no reason why this should be the case.
Network Rail is under siege. Lateness and budget overruns on high-profile projects are an embarrassment.
21 SEP 2015
Developments in transport – especially getting things built – can sometimes seem to move at such a glacial pace that you begin to question whether there's been any progress at all. So it's been instructive to look back over the
11 SEP 2015
To mark our anniversary, this week we relaunch the Transport Times website. We have given it a fresh new look and it has been integrated with the Transport Times Events site to provide a seamless browsing experience.
You can browse
27 AUG 2015
Local transport authorities must adapt to a future in which they become mobility providers for citizens with smartcard-operated accounts.
There is growing recognition that technology will change the way people travel and the way transport services are provided, as recognised in
20 AUG 2015
Will transport expenditure help to rebalance economic growth? Evidence of its impact is scarce and inconclusive.
Since the financial crisis of 2007, there has been a renewed focus on the economic gap between London and other UK cities, and how investing
13 AUG 2015
Rail investment and a response to the Airports Commission are just the start. The House of Commons transport committee has a long list of policy issues it proposes to investigate over this parliament.
I was very pleased to be re-elected unopposed
6 AUG 2015
Passenger satisfaction scores are down in the latest National Rail Passenger Survey. Ironically, this is partly a result of disruption that is a side effect of work to improve the network.
What will the man or woman waiting on Balham station
30 JUL 2015
Connecting to friends or family, to work or study, bus services are woven into the lives of individuals and communities, according to new research.
Research just published by Greener Journeys reveals compelling new evidence of the value and importance of the
24 JUL 2015
Having received a record-breaking number of entries for the 2015 National Transport Awards, the judges have made their decision on the final shortlists for the 20 categories.
22 JUL 2015
We should consider the benefits of restoring rail connections systematically to close gaps and ease growth pressure, rather than leaving it to a haphazard process led by local pressure groups.
Services start on the Borders Railway on 6 September. After 45
9 JUL 2015
ITSO continues to evolve and improve, with coverage of the UK growing.
Last century – well, 1999 to be exact – two northern passenger transport executives realised that public procurement rules could result in adjacent transport authorities being forced to acquire
3 JUL 2015
When, at the Transport Times Great Transport Debate earlier this year, Patrick McLoughlin said he hoped to return as Transport Secretary after the general election, few thought it likely.Even if the Conservatives were returned to power, it looked
26 JUN 2015
Cities should urgently consider introducing smart and contactless ticketing to encourage the use of public transport and help them reach their economic potential.
Our industry is a customer service business that provides transport. Our purpose is to keep the country working
22 JUN 2015
The best of Scotland’s transport industry were honoured on Thursday 18th June at the 13th Annual Scottish Transport Awards, with 300 industry professionals in attendance. Hosted by radio and television presenter Grant Stott, the ceremony was held at the Radisson
11 JUN 2015
The Transport Secretary faces a range of challenges to get this country moving and craft a transport system which is sustainable, efficient and fair. Patrick McLoughlin must make the right decisions on the important issues of rail fares, rail franchising,
5 JUN 2015
The case for investment in transport to unlock economic growth is now well established. Less well-embedded is the concept of driving substantial direct financial return through investment in commercial activities in and around the transport network...
28 MAY 2015
The results from the Transport Focus tram passenger survey are out. This is the second year it has been run. Over all networks in the survey, satisfaction with the tram journey remains at the high levels seen in 2013 (90%).
21 MAY 2015
Last year marked a hundred years since the outbreak of World War I. In the course of the conflict hundreds of thousands of young men enlisted in the armed services, including more than 17,000 London Underground, bus and tram workers.
During
14 MAY 2015
Who will be the future leaders of the transport industry? In a new occasional series, Transport Times has convened a panel of senior industry experts, chaired by our publisher David Begg, to pick out names to watch. The people featured
7 MAY 2015
Strong, accountable governance arrangements are needed if plans to revitalise the north of England are to bear fruit. The Department for Transport should step aside and let the cities and regions rise to the challenge.Let’s hope that the
5 MAY 2015
With less than a week to go to the election, and the polls remaining pretty much where they were at the start of the campaign, the parties will be pulling out all the stops to sway undecided voters.If you
30 APR 2015
In our final report from Transport Times’ Great Transport Debate we focus on aviation. For airports the big question is whether Heathrow or Gatwick will be chosen as the site for a new runway. Emma Gilthorpe, Heathrow strategy, planning and
23 APR 2015
Continuing the report from last month’s Great Transport Debate, hosted by Transport Times in association with KPMG, this week we focus on the bus debate which pitted two David Browns against each other: one the group chief executive of Go-Ahead,
22 APR 2015
Having received an abundance of entries for the 2015 Scotland Transport Awards, the judges have made their decision on the final shortlists for 14 categories.
16 APR 2015
Transport Times in association with KPMG hosted the Great Transport Debate last month, which invited transport experts to set out what they see as the main transport challenges the next Government must grapple with.The first of these debates
9 APR 2015
The latest Transport Focus bus passenger survey gives operators a benchmark of how they are doing and helps many of them to plan improvement and track progress from year to year
"Reduce journey time. 30 minutes is tiring"..."Less heavy use of
1 APR 2015
The M3 and Stansted airport demonstrate the unexpected shifts in how infrastructure is used that can take place over time. Planners and forecasters need to be more aware of the potential for change
They say "never go back", but it can
26 MAR 2015
The Transport Select Committee has had numerous successes in influencing policy and making a real difference for travellers of all kinds over the five years of this government.With the general election just a few weeks away it is
19 MAR 2015
Apparent cross-party support for infrastructure investment before the election will not necessarily translate into progress on real projects afterwards, warns Stuart Thomson.
Listening to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor or the Opposition front bench, you could easily be convinced that infrastructure
12 MAR 2015
Revenue protection systems are too draconian and fail to distinguish between fare dodgers and people who have made a genuine mistake with their ticket. They need to be overhauled for the 21st century.Earlier this month Passenger Focus renewed
6 MAR 2015
The people and organisations that make a real difference to transport across London were recognised at the 12th annual London Transport Awards last night. The London Borough of Southwark picked up the top award of the night for Transport Borough
4 MAR 2015
With the general election approaching, rail has enjoyed substantial investment, with roads policy now following suit. Local transport has been less lucky – and where next for fuel duty?It's time to review how transport has fared during the
24 FEB 2015
The outcome of the 2015 election remains far too close to call, and it is highly unclear who will form the next government. An unprecedented range of potential results is possible in what is now a five or six party
17 FEB 2015
The road investment strategy, unveiled in December is a real break with poilcy over the last 20 years. But have the implications for traffic growth, land use and rail demand been thought through?
Engine for Growth is the slogan of High
26 JAN 2015
The decision by the North East Combined Authority to pursue quality contracts for bus services in Tyne and Wear clearly demonstrates the feelings of many in north-east England towards deregulation: it isn’t working for them. With other local authorities,
14 JAN 2015
Planning rail investment over a series of five year cycles has been a great policy success. The malaise of UK transport investment for decades was its dependence on annual budgets, at the mercy of summary cuts if the economy faltered.
6 JAN 2015
In the UK cars are responsible for 58% of domestic transport carbon emissions. Buses have a pivotal role to play in reducing carbon emissions through modal shift. Research for Greener Journeys estimates that the best-used bus services in urban centres
Insight in your Inbox!
Thank you for signing up.