Category Archives: Transport

Time to Play Chemin de Fer

Posted on July 7, 2012 by davidsberry

Today the Torygraph reports that MPs have announced that over-optimistic forecasts for passenger demand have left taxpayers “saddled with £4.8 billion of debt” over the 68-mile HS1 London-Folkestone Channel Tunnel rail link. Total taxpayer support over the period to 2070 … Continue reading →

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Public Disservice

Posted on June 23, 2012 by davidsberry

Lothian Buses has a history stretching back to the formation of Edinburgh Corporation Tramways in 1919 and a slew of recent commendations, including Best UK Bus Company (2002), Bus Operator of the Year (2007) and Top City Operator of the Year (2011). … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | 4 Comments

Can’t Get There from Here

Posted on June 15, 2012 by davidsberry

Readers of a gentle disposition in no mood for a rant—much less an anorak rant—are advised to point their browsers elsewhere. Yesterday I spent the day trying to pull together a coherent picture of public transport in the North Berwick … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Transport | Tagged | 2 Comments

You Can’t Get There from Here

Posted on March 14, 2012 by davidsberry

A recent tweet complained that a passenger boarding a Lothian bus did not have his (valid) Ridacard accepted, was thrown off and had to taxi in to work. I’m sure this was a rare exception but it highlights a certain … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | 5 Comments

Along the Highland Line

Posted on February 21, 2012 by davidsberry

Scotland’s Chambers of Commerce have gone public with their criticisms of the rail network North of Perth which they describe as “not fit for purpose”. Given that the last major investment made there was the Inverness & Aviemore Direct Railway … Continue reading →

Posted in Transport | 2 Comments

You Can’t Get There from Here

Posted on January 24, 2012 by davidsberry

Yesterday’s BBC Panorama programme, entitled Train Fares: Taken for a Ride, while not quite up to their usual incisive standard of surgical reporting, provided a wealth of information about commuter travails in England and the soaring costs to those captive … Continue reading →

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Borderline Rail Needs Re-thinking

Posted on September 30, 2011 by davidsberry

It should surprise no-one that the other shoe has finally dropped: all private bidders to build the Borders Rail have now dropped out and a second hot potato passed back to government agencies to complete. Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP, … Continue reading →

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The Road to the Isles

Posted on September 28, 2011 by davidsberry

Back from Ullapool to find Danny Alexander MP in a strop at this week’s Transport Conference in Aviemore over Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP’s supposed SNP focus on Central Belt projects and neglect of the A9 that takes wur Danny … Continue reading →

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This Month’s Oxter Award

Posted on August 30, 2011 by davidsberry

It’s the traditional political Silly Season when major politicians and those that hound them are generally off on some sun-baked beach, August is a month we have to cast about to find a decent candidate deserving opprobrium. Yet, there in Hootsmon on … Continue reading →

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One He Made Earlier?

Posted on August 29, 2011 by davidsberry

So Cllr Burns blames the Lib-Dems and SNP for the trams debacle. Inevitable as such self-serving guff may be, I still smacked my forehead in disgust—perhaps too hard… …bzzztschhkkooee… …With hindsight, it seems fortunate that Cllr Andrew Burns fell on … Continue reading →

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