Recent Transport Articles

How train fares are becoming affordable only for the rich

contribution by Richard Hebditch

In the 1990s, the privatisation of British Rail under John Major was one of the most controversial privatisations and, in an attempt to appease critics, the Government agreed to control many train fares to protect passengers.

In 1999, John Prescott changed the formula for the fare rises to be RPI-1% (ie one per cent below the RPI rate of inflation).

But in 2004, there was a change and the system to protect passengers turned into a way to simply extract more money from them.
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Is there a u-turn coming on Heathrow’s Third Runway?

Not many seem to have noticed that expansion at Heathrow, especially the dreaded Third Runway, is creeping back onto the agenda as lobbyists for BAA, and BA parent company IAG, continue to beaver away behind the scenes.

And, while occasional London Mayor Boris Johnson has been keeping an unusually low profile on the issue, it seems that he too is on board with the idea, bringing him into alignment with Osborne and probably Cameron.

Perhaps those displaced will not be particularly interested in voting Tory.
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Even with HS2, why isn’t UK’s transport policy joined up?

contribution by Rob Downes

During a recent edition of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Sir Peter Rigby, owner of Coventry Airport, was asked for his views on the construction of a third runway at Heathrow. His answer was unsurprising: a third runway will probably be built regardless of public opinion.

Rigby joins a growing number within the aviation industry who see successive governments as insensible to arguments in favour of development of regional airports.

The Heathrow saga should be viewed in the broader context of UK’s dire short-termist transport policy.
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The principle of high speed rail has now been set, now let’s look ahead

contribution by Lucy James

The approval of High Speed Rail 2 yesterday was a great announcement for Britain. HS2 will deliver more seats, more trains, more jobs and more growth.

The publication of the consultation brings certainty to an infrastructure investment of massive national importance.

During the debate, issues with the route were clearly identified.
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Five ways train fares could be reduced for ordinary people

contribution by Richard Hebditch

In recent weeks, Ed Miliband has attacked high train fares as an example of constraints on the ‘squeezed middle’.

The British rail system has seen record numbers of travellers in recent years, with better punctuality and recorded satisfaction levels. But most of the public feel they’re being ripped off when they travel by train.

So who’s to blame and what could change?
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Could this be Boris Johnson’s achilles heel?

While his party leader talks about trying to help the poor and looking out for their concerns, London Mayor Boris Johnson unveils crippling 20% fare-rises for London’s commuters.

A year ago Boris did exactly the same: hiking up transport fares across London and trying to blame Ken even though the previous administration left him with a 5% growth in budgets.

That’s two years in a row he has brutally punished London’s commuters – hitting hardest London’s poor who rely on public transport. In some cases, as Tom points out here, fares have risen by a third.

During that time he has sucked to the City and defended the very bankers who caused the recession, been ‘bought off’ by hedge funds, wasted a huge amount of money scrapping bendy buses, and created a financial black-hole by getting rid of the Western Extension Zone and of course described his £250,000 income from writing as “chicken feed”.

He’s creating his own negative narrative.
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Boris Johnson will kill children

Boris Johnson is threatening to kill some children and worsen the educational outcomes of many more.

The reason for this is straightforward. He intends to remove the western extension zone of the congestion charge, and delay phase three of the low emission zone, which would charge polluting vans more for entering London.

The effects of these will be to increase congestion and emissions of carbon and nitrogen oxide. Such emissions, however, are quite strongly associated with pre-natal health, as a new paper by Janet Currie and Reed Walker demonstrate.

They studied the impact of the introduction of E-Z Pass in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This system allows cars to travel onto toll roads without stopping to pay manually. They therefore greatly reduce congestion and emissions around the toll plazas.
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Transport and environmental policy: pathetic and doomed whoever wins the next election

It costs me about £25–30 in petrol to drive the 55 miles from my home in Hackney to Brighton, and the same 55 back again. First Capital Connect is asking north of £90 for a return ticket for our family this weekend, starting from London Bridge. So if there’s a traffic jam on the northbound M23 this Sunday evening (inevitable), you can blame me.

If I lived in Florence, a family return trip of similar length to Livorno (birthplace of the PCI, home of the cacciucco) comes to about €33. From Brussels, a weekend rail trip to Bruges, 90km away, would cost us just over €49. A slightly longer journey in France, from Lyon to Chambery and back, comes to €59. continue reading… »