Break The Glass Ceiling : NOT The Glass Floor! After this week’s English Open Snooker, the circus moves on to China, specifically to Wuhan. Assuming you have travelled there for the snooker, you may just find time to explore the City’s newest tourist attraction. Say hello to the Optics Valley Sky Rail! and yes, the cars do have a “glass floor”…
Friday Reads – 6 October 2023
• HS2 being scrapped means fewer trains and higher rail prices, experts warn (inews) • The new housing case for extending Crossrail to Ebbsfleet (JamesO’Malley) • Chemical attraction: Hackney Wick Overground station (BeautyOfTransport) • Northern to trial British Sign Language announcements on trains (Northern) • As Bristol weighs its public transport options, can it learn about trams from France? (BristolCable)…
Getting more bang for your buck – The Bangkok rail explosion
Having recently discussed how the laissez-faire approach to transit and urban planning in Jakarta is holding the city back, in this City Snapshot Dr Chris Hale focuses on one of Jakarta’s competitor Southeast Asian cities – Bangkok. Whilst it has recently opened the most new rail stations in a 5-year period in human history, a lack of public level engagement…
Three Into One Doesn’t Go
It Was An Oyster What Done It The political, technical and PR genius that created the “integrated” (but very much NOT integrated) transport service for London was the infamous Oyster Card. It was this card which enabled passengers to travel seamlessly between modes, For those unfamiliar with the genre, you load you card with money then tap in and tap…
Short term thinking at its very worst
Rishi Sunak’s new ‘Plan for Motorists’ and his decision to cancel Phase 2 of HS2 are not ‘long-term decisions for a brighter future’ Rishi Sunak at his ‘Net Zero’ press conference last month In my last column for Passenger Transport, I observed that it never helps when No 10 or No 11 take too close an interest in transport…
Why isn’t multi-modal integration a priority?
‘It’s the thing everyone wants but in so many ways it remains elusive. Last week’s Great Transport Debate examined why we can’t join up journeys The debate brought together executives from the air, rail, bus, micro-mobility, taxi and active travel sectors in Manchester Airport’s Concorde Hanger Why hasn’t more progress been made to integrate different modes of transport to…
‘Ragtag’ investments cannot replace HS2
Prime minister Rishi Sunak announces that high speed line won’t go north of Birmingham – but ‘every single penny’ saved will be invested in transport The government has scrapped HS2 north of Birmingham After a long and intense period of speculation, prime minister Rishi Sunak finally announced that his government is scrapping HS2 north of Birmingham this week. Addressing…
We need inclusive leadership
October marks Black History Month, an opportunity to build understanding and bridge divides The theme of year’s Black History Month is ‘saluting our sisters’ By Nafisa Nathani October marks Black History Month. The theme this year is ‘saluting our sisters’ – recognising the important role Black British women have played in modern Britain through building communities and inspiring change. Throughout…
A transport debate with a difference
Last week’s Great Transport Debate in Manchester brought together all modes of transport, and more. But what did we learn? A quirky venue (underneath a Concorde aircraft) and a quirky host (yours truly) I’m not going to lie but I make it my place to avoid corporate and social events. I am actually socially awkward and find them…
It’s A Right Mess – Innit?
Septuagenarian’s Silly Signal Box At the moment it is, indeed, a right mess! But it should look better with some retouching, some mortar between the stonework and a few applique details. Peterville Quarry Railway’s house colours are blue and white ; but there may be too much white. fbb will see after the mortar courses treatment. London’s Bus Services : A…