Interchange’s Post

Update from Chris Wright with BRTA Bedford Area Rep Response: This email may not have reached you. Attachment now removed. Some good news from Quainton Newsletter, although not sure of their sources. Also some notes in Mod Rlys 12/24 DfT working on a low cost option for Ay-MK HS2 to rebuild route to Quainton Rd (other reports say EWR),  N/Rail to rebuild embankment and line to Aylesbury. 60 mph (not 90) -required in Network Change order. Would double track if funded.  Q/Rd are seeking for Q/Rd to be a stop (Earlier parish council were anti due to increased traffic in village and platform may need replacing with current standards). If only one track laid may allow Q/Rd to keep access to part of mainline. Lease ends in 2028/9. Joined both sides of their site in 12/24. Using mainline for Xmas trains. MP Callum Anderson -MP for Buckingham and MKS in support and Greg Smith MP for Risborough now. I have written to Callum and he has asked me for more info. Also Lord Faulkner and Hendy of Heritage Rly Association, support Modern Rlys (12/24) has report on HS2 in Bucks inc Calvert. N/Rail required to relay one track to Calvert -aim by 2028. Also notes the Ox-Bristol service will have 2 more return trains on Saturdays from 12/24.  BRTA Response: It just shows that having a rail link is better than none. Speed is a luxury, trains are quicker than roads in most cases anyway and are greener for what they carry than multiple individual vehicles plying the land! Hence our #Willington option of bypassing the old route can be done but at a lower speed and 2 bridges across the River Great Ouse! Problem is: 1. EWRC Co are promoting one Northern Route with tweaks 'more or less tunnels', whereas what we wish for is ours and their routes put before the public, both equally worked up and as Mrs Thatcher once said "Let the people decide." 2. Our route would be better for passenger and freight. 3. It is only Bedford-Tempsford we are concerned about, no problem with the new route to Cambridge South! 4. EWR Co have met with everyone but BRTA/me. 5. Engagement with Bedford Borough is protracted, awaiting a round-table meeting, but again Befare gets there first. 6. Unless the opposition of Northern Route get behind our route proactively, work it up and put it before the public and new Secretary of State for Transport - Swindon South - then Bedford-Cambridge will either be strangled with development, be cancelled because of divisions or wither for want of a fully supported rail alternative. 7. Media black out here for BRTA in Bedford, as the media seem keen on Promoters/Officialdom and Opposition, not the third way option of a choice put before the people - our route was not included in 2019 consultation. Quainton news laudable, but should mean plenty of land for a Claydon Parkway Station akin to Winslow please? richard.brta@gmail.com https://lnkd.in/exz6itXr

Politics aside and ignoring the obvious splash out for voters by Premier Miles... but has Qld Government finally suggested something our cities and towns so desperately need? I think so :) Let's hope this leads to a future where affordable and efficient public transport is available to all Queenslanders. Cheaper public transport reduces private vehicle trips as stated but also reduces household costs. The benifit is that it has the potential to change the mindset of our communities - stepping away from the private vehicle in favour of affordable and efficient PT. With a reliable public transport network, initiatives such as reduced car parking for inner city units starts to make some sense. If the State Government is going to "splash cash" on something, perhaps a legacy from the Olympics - free (almost) public transport for the city and regions in Queensland! Lets make Qld the most walkable + PT connected. Lets make us envy of the world leading to the Games! - picture Mike Myers character of DR Evil, but in a good way ;) #publictransport #sustainability #Queensland #olympiclegacy #affordableliving #YIMBY #highfrequencypublictransport #Brisbane2032

We are delighted to announce that Hertfordshire will receive over £11 million to boost bus services across the County. This builds upon the previous £29.7million that the Department for Transport allocated to Hertfordshire, and has led to a 18% increase in residents ditching their car and travelling by bus since 2022. Cllr Phil Bibby, Executive Member for Highways and Transport at Hertfordshire County Council said: “It’s pleasing to see that a further £11million of BSIP funding has just been announced for Hertfordshire, which will allow us to continue with the developments that have been put in place over the last three years. “We are keen to build on what we have achieved and encourage more of our residents to give bus travel a try or make it part of their usual routine for business or leisure. Working with our partners we remain committed to making Hertfordshire a cleaner, greener and healthier county and public transport is at the heart of those plans.” To find out more about BSIP and the improvements made visit https://buff.ly/3CMjO67

🚍 Big News for Bus Services Across England 👏 This week, the UK government announced a massive £955 million investment aimed at protecting and improving vital bus services throughout England. This is fantastic news for passengers who rely on these services daily. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh emphasized the importance of this funding, which will support local authorities and bus operators equally. It's about time we see some significant improvements! The funding breaks down into £712 million for local authorities to enhance services and £243 million for bus operators to maintain lower fares and increase service frequency. This builds on the existing £150 million cap on bus fares and the recent £200 million City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements. Locations like Leicester, the Isle of Wight, and Peterborough are set to receive unprecedented levels of support, ensuring every region benefits from this initiative. Haigh rightly pointed out that this new approach aims to end the postcode lottery of bus services, ensuring that everyone has access to reliable and affordable public transport. Alison Edwards from the Confederation of Passenger Transport also praised this move, highlighting its fair distribution across urban and rural areas alike. This £955 million lifeline will particularly safeguard critical routes, ensuring patients can get to vital appointments and residents stay connected. What do you think about this new funding? Swipe left or drop your thoughts below! 👇 #BusServices #PublicTransport #UKGovernment

Te Huia has been the subject of much discussion lately with its three-year review and the decision by the NZTA board to support the trial for two more years. We received many submissions to the Long Term Plan that were supportive of Te Huia. The funding for Te Huia was split between NZTA (75.5%), Waikato Regional Council (21.2%) and Waikato District Council (3.3%). NZTA will progressively reduce their subsidy to 70% in July this year, then 60% in 2025, and then 51% in 2026. Last week, as part of our Long Term Plan deliberations, we discussed the ongoing funding for Te Huia. We decided to use the rates collected to fund Te Huia that we have in reserve to help pay for it the funding gaps as well as increasing fares, giving us certainty around the continuation of and funding for a passenger service that connects our largest city and our fastest growing city. The reserve had built up as a result of disruptions to the service from Covid and rail line issues. As Angela Strange, deputy chair of our FutureProof Public Transport subcommittee, said recently: “We appreciate the board’s support and belief in the service. It’s clear they have also listened to our passengers who say this service is a vital link to study, employment and social connections with family and friends.” Here's how the votes went: Support: Angela Strange, Clyde Graf, Jennifer Nickel, Kataraina Hodge, Mich'eal Downard, Noel Smith, Robert Cookson, Stuart Kneebone, Tipa Mahuta, Warren Maher, Bruce Clarkson, Pamela Storey. Oppose: Ben Dunbar-Smith, Chris Hughes.

Premier Steven Miles recently announced a 50c flat rate for all public transport in Queensland, starting from 5 August 2024.   At Trapeze, we believe in making public transport a preferred choice. Temporary ridership increases due to low fares might lead to a net reduction in passenger numbers once the offer expires, unless the passenger experience is excellent.   Pricing is just one aspect of ridership; service availability and quality is the main barrier to increased public transport use. Lower fares combined with technology solutions that enhance the passenger experience can deliver better outcomes.   As Premier Miles said, ‘use it or lose it’. We hope more Queenslanders try their public transport options and that funding exists for further network improvements.   What are your thoughts on Queensland’s new pricing strategy? Share in the comments.

📢 We are proud to announce that Swan Transit has secured a 10-year contract renewal with the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia, operating Bunbury and Busselton Regional Town Bus Services. This milestone reaffirms our commitment to delivering safe, reliable, and innovative transport solutions for the communities we serve. 🔗https://bit.ly/4eAZge9 Brian Thompson Michael McGee Mark Peters David Haoust #PublicTransport #TeamTransit #SwanTransit #Bussleton #Bunbury #WA

Metro mayors to control rail services under unprecedented England devolution plans White paper paves way for London-style contactless-payment travel networks and unitary authorities to replace two-tier county and district councils

Metro mayors to control rail services under unprecedented England devolution plans White paper paves way for London-style contactless-payment travel networks and unitary authorities to replace two-tier county and district councils

re: https://lnkd.in/e-2ugb8J This article makes a good case for expanding the rail network in the Sheffield area. Obviously we want the Sheffield Victoria open and Don Valley Rail and Stocksbridge. Sheffield needs an orbital railway to enable more freight coming through the area not to take up paths which passenger services need. Personally, LRT should be on road space as per Manchester i.e. it is extra! Electrification of the Midland Main Line to Sheffield and Leeds with a seamless service cutting out some of the changes to get south and north. So for example Luton Airport, Leicester, Sheffield and Leeds. They should have choice to ECML and MML could make more of a contribution.  I hope you will respond to the article and encourage these things and keeping medium long term options open like route protection, like studying to explore modern cases in the modern context, not floundering on past glories and constantly putting off until routes are lost and other priorities take over. We need an optimal rail reach and range if model shift is to be realised in a generation. Campaigns which endure are well organised, peopled and delegate to ensure more.