True leadership shown by today’s climate strikers
20 September 2019
Friday 20 September marks a year since the beginning of the School Strikes for Climate. The strike this Friday will be the biggest ever with people across Scotland and the rest of the world choosing to strike from school and work to call on decision-makers to address the climate emergency with genuinely transformational changes. Transform…
New transport stats: Paying the price for a decade of spending on trunk roads
10 September 2019
Today’s new statistics come as no surprise. We’re paying the price for a decade where the bulk of new capital spending has gone into new trunk roads rather than investing in local transport such as walking, cycling and buses.
Road maintenance evidence submitted to Scottish Parliament’s transport committee
06 September 2019
Transform has submitted its evidence on road maintenance to the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee. Transform director Colin Howden said: “Scotland is estimated to have a road maintenance backlog of over £2 billion. Fixing this should be the first focus for national and local roads policy — not adding additional road capacity. Fixing…
Programme for Government: Great commitments on bus and rail, but Scotland still locked into high-carbon roads programme
03 September 2019
Transform Scotland spokesperson Jess Pepper said: “It is fantastic to hear the First Minister acknowledging the important contribution of buses, to reducing emissions, improving health and travel choices for all. Bus users should be prioritised to avoid congestion. Buses are often overlooked but are key to many people’s everyday lives across Scotland, and we are…
Climate Emergency: Parliamentary briefing ahead of Programme for Government
03 September 2019
Ahead of this afternoon’s Scottish Government Programme for Government announcement, we’ve published the briefing we circulated to the Members of the Scottish Parliament ahead of today’s statement. Colin Howden, director of Transform Scotland, said: “We’re looking forward to hearing more on Scottish Government’s response to the Climate Emergency and the commitment to the transformational change…
Action needed now to deliver zero-emission Scottish railway by 2030: Climate Emergency response ‘Vision 2030: Clean Rail’
02 September 2019
TRANSFORM SCOTLAND NEWS RELEASE Monday 2 September 2019 ACTION NEEDED NOW TO DELIVER ZERO-EMISSION SCOTTISH RAILWAY BY 2030: Transform sets out Climate Emergency response ‘Vision 2030: Clean Rail’ Transform Scotland, the voice of sustainable transport, has today (Monday 2nd) published a new ‘vision paper’ setting out its Climate Emergency response for Scotland’s railways. [1] [2]…
Transform Scotland meets CRRC International Talent Development Programme
15 August 2019
In June Transform Scotland was approached on behalf of the International Business School in Suzhou, China. They were doing a tour of railways in the UK for student professionals on a leadership course, all of whom work for CRRC, the world’s largest railway manufacturer. They had seen our website and asked if could we do…
Levenmouth reopening: lessons to be learned from Borders Railway failings
08 August 2019
Commenting on the Scottish Government decision to reopen the Levenmouth rail line, Transform rail spokesperson Paul Tetlaw said: “The reopening of the railway line to Levenmouth is a great testament to those who have campaigned tirelessly over many years. They deserve hearty congratulations. We have been delighted to help our members, the Levenmouth Rail Campaign,…
National Transport Strategy: 36 months in, and no new action to tackle Climate Emergency
31 July 2019
Transform Scotland today gave its initial response to the publication of the Scottish Government’s three-month consultation on its draft National Transport Strategy. Transform Scotland director Colin Howden said: “Today we face a Climate Emergency. Scotland’s children are striking for their future. The best scientific evidence is that we have 18 months to put in place…
Azuma will drive switch from air to rail for Anglo-Scottish travel
31 July 2019
We’re pleased to welcome the introduction of passenger services to Scotland, as from Thursday 1 August, on LNER’s new Azuma trains. Transform Scotland rail spokesperson Paul Tetlaw said: “We’re delighted to see the new Azumas on the East Coast Main Line. They follow in a fine tradition of trains for this premier route between Scotland…
Class 385s anniversary: Railway can play a much bigger role in transport between Scotland’s cities
24 July 2019
Commenting on the first anniversary of the introduction of the new Hitachi Class 385 trains to the ScotRail fleet, Transform Scotland rail campaigner Paul Tetlaw commented: “The 385 trains have proved to be a great addition to the Scotrail network offering more capacity, improved journey times and all the wider benefits of electrification. Indeed the…
Edinburgh City Centre Transformation — very welcome, but overdue and unfunded
07 July 2019
Transform Scotland have today responded to City of Edinburgh Council’s City Centre Transformation consultation. Transform director Colin Howden said: “Look up, and Edinburgh is a beautiful place. But look down, and it’s clear that the city centre is woefully mismanaged. Despite the small, compact, walkable city centre, large swathes of the centre are given over…
#lovemybus at Clean Air Day
27 June 2019
The #lovemybus team were delighted to attend the Glasgow City Council Clean Air Day event on Thursday 20 June. A brilliant day brought with it inspirational stories of changes we can all make for cleaner air. #lovemybus was there to share the message that choosing a bus instead of a car, is better for your…
Commuters: Choose Bus for Health and Clean Air
20 June 2019
NEWS RELEASE Commuters: Choose Bus for Health and Clean Air Stagecoach West Scotland and Transform Scotland are today (Thursday 20th) teaming up to promote their new campaign, #lovemybus, at #CleanAirDay in Glasgow (George Square from 10am-2pm). The #lovemybus campaign is making the links between choosing bus and better health. The campaign is encouraging commuters from…
Workplace Parking Levy voted into Transport Bill by Parliament’s transport committee
19 June 2019
The Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) Committee has this morning voted for an amendment to the Transport (Scotland) Bill to provide Local Authorities with discretionary powers to implement Workplace Parking Levies. Colin Howden, director of Transform Scotland, said: “Well done to the Greens’ John Finnie MSP and the SNP members of the Parliament’s…
Scottish Government choose speed over safety
13 June 2019
The 20mph Safer Streets Bill was today voted down by the SNP, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in the Scottish Parliament. Despite a clear correlation between lower speeds and safer streets the Scottish Government choose to prioritise motorists over pedestrian safety. The actions of the Government today are also entirely at odds with their own transport…
Transport emissions on the rise
11 June 2019
The Scottish Government has today announced that the adjusted emissions for 2017 show that Scotland has disappointingly missed it’s emission reduction targets. A further 2.2% rise in Transport emissions, primarily from car use and aviation were key to the rise in total emissions. The report shows that in 2017 road transport alone was the largest…
Cross-Party Group on Cycling, Walking & Buses — June 2019 meeting
07 June 2019
The finalised agenda is now available for Tuesday’s meeting of the Scottish Parliament Cross-Party Group on Cycling, Walking & Buses. We’re very happy to have the following speakers: Victoria Barby (Environment Performance Officer, Scottish Parliament) on ‘Review of Sustainable Transport at the Scottish Parliament’. Joanne Boyle & Karen Furey (Transport Scotland) on ‘Next steps following…
Opportunities for global leadership during a Just Transition
04 June 2019
Transform Scotland has today given evidence to the Just Transition Commission. In our evidence, we make clear that the Transport sector is the most problematic for Scotland, with emissions that have barely dropped since 1990. There are however multiple benefits from decarbonising the transport sector to jobs, economy, health and well being from a whole…
Expanded rail network integral to a sustainable transport system
31 May 2019
Transform Scotland has today submitted written evidence to the UK Department for Transport’s Williams Rail Review consultation. Our response focuses on Scottish and Cross-Border rail. In our response, we make clear the crucial role that an improved and expanded rail network can play in creating a sustainable transport network. The growth in rail travel over…
#LoveMyBus: Free Bus Travel for Six Champions!
30 May 2019
Transform Scotland & Stagecoach West Scotland NEWS RELEASE Thursday 30 May 2019 #LoveMyBus: Free Bus Travel for Six Champions! Transform Scotland [1] and Stagecoach West Scotland [2] have today (Thursday 30th) launched their new campaign #LoveMyBus. [3] As part of the campaign, the groups are recruiting for 6 Champions to receive free bus travel for…
Transform makes case to Parliament for Workplace Parking Levies
29 May 2019
Transform Scotland’s policy advisor Sue Flack today presented evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s transport committee on the proposal to provide Local Authorities with discretionary powers to implement Workplace Parking Levies. Sue was instrumental in setting up the Nottingham WPL scheme, and made the case to the committee that Reading, Birmingham, Leicester, Oxford, Cambridge plus multiple…
Decarbonising public transport should be priority for Government’s climate plans
28 May 2019
Transform Scotland will today present evidence to the Parliament’s environment committee on the Climate Bill and the Committee on Climate Change’s evidence to the Scottish Government. Jess Pepper, presenting the Transform evidence, will say: “Much greater priority needs to be given to decarbonising the public transport system and shifting short trips to walking and cycling….
Edinburgh residents’ views wanted on Tourist Tax plans
10 May 2019
We are today making our final call for responses to our online survey on Edinburgh’s proposed Transient Visitor Levy (‘Tourist Tax’). Transform wants to know how residents think the revenue generated from the tax should be distributed. As part of a report we will be publishing later this year, we have created a survey aimed…
Air Passenger Duty: Welcome for Scottish Government’s change of policy
07 May 2019
NEWS RELEASE Air Passenger Duty: Welcome for Scottish Government’s change of policy Transform Scotland [1] has today (Tuesday 7 May) welcomed the Scottish Government’s decision to cancel its plans to cut Air Passenger Duty (APD) / Air Departure Tax (ADT). Colin Howden, Director of Transform Scotland: “Nicola Sturgeon has shown strong leadership in reversing this…