Blog

Our blog offers commentary, analysis and insights on the latest urban transport debates from our team of experts, as well as our Director’s regular column for Passenger Transport magazine.

HM Treasury building

Key transport takeaways from the Autumn Statement

Last week the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt took to the dispatch box to set out what he branded an “Autumn Statement for growth”. Our Policy and Research Advisor Monta Drozdova analyses what the Autumn Statement means for the transport sector.
Cohort 1 of UTG's Leadership Programme

Proud – celebrating our transport leadership journey

"In the words of Heather Small, ‘What have you done today to make you feel proud?’. Well today, I am reflecting on the Urban Transport Group’s Leadership Programme and how proud I am to have had a major part in bringing it all together," writes our Business Coordinator, Saila Acton.
Glider in Belfast

Smoothly does it – a day on Belfast’s public transport

If asked what my preferred verb would be to describe how I would ideally like to travel across a city, ‘glide’ would almost certainly be my top choice. It’s no coincidence then, that Belfast’s iconic bus rapid transit scheme is called Gilder, writes James Kershaw, following a trip to Northern Ireland.
Bolton Interchange

Transport needs clarity and certainty

Some of the real positives from the government’s Network North announcements have got lost in the malaise. Details are required, writes Jason Prince, in his column for Passenger Transport magazine.
Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street / Flickr

Network North – Unpicking the Prime Minister’s new plan for transport

Network North commits to many things including boosting Combined Authority transport settlements. However, for our member regions, the silver-lining of increased devolved budgets is tempered by a cloud that hangs over investment in nationally important infrastructure – the lack of long-term thinking and certainty. 
Vernon Everitt

The Bee Network’s buzz in Westminster

Buses are at the heart of Greater Manchester’s Bee Network. The recent City Regions Transport APPG heard from Vernon Everitt on the scale of ambition, the challenges faced throughout the region’s journey to franchising and the expected benefits from this major change.
Bee Network branded buses in Greater Manchester

Updating bus laws - a smoother ride to improving services

If you find yourself waiting for a bus at Bolton Interchange this Sunday, perhaps the first thing you’ll notice when one arrives is the colour: yellow. You might also clock that your bus is quiet, as it’s electric and zero emission. And you probably won’t fail to spot the bee logos - representing the worker bee, the symbol of Greater Manchester.