I was in Manchester this afternoon when waiting to cross the road near Piccadilly Gardens, a van pulled up. A man in a yellow vest jumped out and proceeded to strew cones and a road closed notice across the junction, much to bemusement of an approaching bus. I asked the man concerned if he was […]
A recent trip to Oxford set me thinking, is this one of the politest places in the country? I used the park and ride service from Peartree and another service across the city. On each journey, all the passengers thanked the driver as they got off, a level of appreciation which must have a positive […]
I was with an operator last week when she opened a desk draw to reveal a selection of inexpensive telephones. All were items of lost property unclaimed over the course of the previous school term. I expressed surprise that they had not been reclaimed and was told, ‘you usually know which ones will be staying […]
Politicians talk of the need for seamless transport where customers change from mode to mode without delay. Often they point to European models but is it really any better there? As I found out recently, the concept may be sound but at the end of the day, delivery is down to the man in the […]
Much has been said and written about the devastating floods which Storm Desmond delivered to Cumbria back in December, often followed with the exhortation to ‘please still come to visit and spend money.’ So last Sunday I took the opportunity to nip over to Grasmere for lunch. It was a glorious day, sunny and just […]
Travelling to the recent Transport Focus event in Manchester, leaving the car near the M60 and catching Metrolink looked a good option online. The new P+R site at Sale Water Park has plenty of space, good lighting and security fencing, yet I didn’t see a sign to it until I was on the adjacent M60 […]
As I am now an old timer, I thought it would be a good idea to visit Showbus for the first time this year, albeit as a passenger aboard a brand-new Volvo B8RLE with an MCV body. I had previously prepared myself by going to the Gaydon event. Both added to a list of events […]
With today’s announcement (http://www.transportengineer.org.uk/transport-engineer-news/alexander-dennis-and-chinese-bus-maker-in-19m-collaboration/88030/) of a joint venture between Alexander Dennis and Chinese manufacturer BYD, the prospect of a mainstream fully electric bus seems to have taken a major step forward. Most commentators within the industry have for a long time felt that the market was heading in this direction and that the various incarnations […]