{"id":1935,"date":"2015-03-01T21:27:50","date_gmt":"2015-03-01T21:27:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/?p=1935"},"modified":"2015-03-04T21:37:50","modified_gmt":"2015-03-04T21:37:50","slug":"tom-harts-news-notes-1-march-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2015\/03\/01\/tom-harts-news-notes-1-march-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Tom Hart’s news notes, 1 March 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

Transport News Notes 5 Jan 15 to 1 Mar 15<\/strong>
\nTRANSPORT, ECONOMY and ENVIRONMENT<\/strong>
\nParty leaders Cameron, Clegg and Miliband have agreed to work together on climate change, seen as an increasing threat to national security and economic prosperity.\u00a0 They aim for further cuts in UK carbon emissions but with disagreements on attitudes to fracking\u00a0 and on the level and nature of the contribution to come from transport compared to energy conservation and carbon cuts elsewhere in the economy.<\/p>\n

The high carbon emitting Longannet power station may close as early as 2016 unless issues relating to transmission charges can be resolved with Longannet continuing as a back-up electricity supplier at peak and other\u00a0 times of low generation from wind and hydro power. An alternative would be for Scotland to shift from an electricity exporter to becoming an importer plus more generation from gas.<\/p>\n

Further austerity and creation of a budget surplus stays as a UK government priority .\u00a0 Yet there are arguments that reduced austerity linked with carefully selected measures could be more effective in raising productivity, the level of wages and rises in tax income with less need to raise overall taxation while giving improved feelings of well-being.\u00a0\u00a0 Lower oil prices have released consumer income for other purposes though with adverse impacts on north-east Scotland.\u00a0 Inflation has fallen to historically low levels aiding real incomes in the short-term but with uncertainties on positive longer-term impacts.\u00a0 An eventual revival in oil prices is anticipated.<\/p>\n

Shifts in political thinking in the UK favour greater devolution of powers and funding to city regions in the interests of accelerating economic growth and connectivity while reducing the relative attraction of London.\u00a0 There are unresolved issues related to how far transport policies on their own can influence connectivity and growth with some shift away from London \u2013 or does this involve a greater commitment at UK level to increase funding and other actions facilitating a lesser London role?<\/p>\n

AVIATION<\/strong>
\nGlasgow Chamber of Commerce feels that Glasgow will gain from early approval for an additional runway at Heathrow but Edinburgh Airport, now owned by Gatwick, favours a second runway at Gatwick as the best way forward. Edinburgh has announced a \u00a350m plan to triple capacity for long-haul air travel.\u00a0 A new service to Abu Dhabi starts on 8 June with prospects of Edinburgh Airport again changing ownership in the medium-term.<\/p>\n

NATS anticipates that future fuel use per passenger or tonne kilometre may be cut by changing rules for ascents and descents, permission for shorter inter-point routes and flying some 8000 feet higher than at present.\u00a0 High winds caused a Loganair flight to veer off the Stornoway runway in January<\/p>\n

Given poor rail services, NESTRANS and Transport Scotland are investigating\u00a0 proposals by Eastern Airways for Glasgow\/Edinburgh-Aberdeen flights.\u00a0 These would require support from public funds.\u00a0 A better option may be the improved rail services as proposed in the Abellio franchise.<\/p>\n

The Flybe Inverness-London City air service introduced in October 2014 was withdrawn in February due to low use.\u00a0 Planes used on extra routes to London City are being redeployed to increase frequency from Edinburgh and Belfast to London City<\/p>\n

Both Chancellor Osborne and Shetland MSP Tavish Scott are seeking faster cuts in air fares as oil prices fall.
\nRyanair has promised price falls from 2016 but warns that greater competition between airlines may erode profits. Under EU law, a retired police officer has won a two-year battle with Ryanair for \u00a3600 compensation for a delayed Prestwick flight, opening up prospects of claims from other passengers<\/p>\n

The Annual Scottish Air Show is to return to Prestwick and Ayr in September with the aim of doubling the 50,000 visitors in 2014.<\/p>\n

Audit Scotland has queried the value of \u00a340m Scottish Government loans to the now publicly-owned Prestwick Airport.\u00a0 Estimates of future usage also appeared high.\u00a0 An exit strategy may be needed.<\/p>\n

The health of airline staff may be suffering due to exposure to toxic fumes.<\/p>\n

FERRIES & SHIPPING<\/strong>
\nGreenock Cruise Terminal expects a record 109,000 passengers in 2015, 14% up on 2014 and with 56 ships calling over the year.\u00a0 A London businessman is considering \u00a310m plans to bring a restored TS Queen Mary back to the Clyde from Tilbury.<\/p>\n

The \u00a342m new Loch Seaforth has started service on the Ullapool-Stornoway route but will carry passengers only until a new link-span is completed at Ullapool by May.\u00a0 Kintyre continues to campaign for a restored vehicle ferry from Campbeltown to Northern Ireland<\/p>\n

Herald of 23 Jan contained a special supplement on Scottish ports.\u00a0 Since January, ships in the North Sea have to use more expensive low sulphur fuel.\u00a0 Some extra business is expected from off-shore wind farms but oil activity is falling.\u00a0 Argyll and Bute Council is seeking an amended Campbeltown-Ardrossan summer sailings to allow a day\u2019s shopping.\u00a0 Montrose harbour reports a terrific year for agric-business plus continued oil-related activity.\u00a0 Girvan has spent \u00a3700,000 to expand yacht activity at this previously neglected Clyde harbour.<\/p>\n

A shortlist of bidders will be asked to submit tenders for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services\u00a0 in June with the new contract starting in October 2016 with an eight year duration.\u00a0 This could mean\u00a0 services moving into the private sector.<\/p>\n

Arran has been affected by increased cancellations of the Brodick-Ardrossan ferry and is seeking greater use of diversions to Gourock in bad weather.\u00a0 Reopening of the former winter terminal at Fairlie is not considered feasible but harbour works at Ardrossan may improve the reliability of this terminal.<\/p>\n

CalMac has been commended for high-quality food on the larger vehicle ferries.\u00a0 Following local opposition, fare rises on the Corran ferry have been deferred by Highland Council<\/p>\n

Another grounding emergency on the Ardnamurchan coast has led\u00a0 to calls for a coastguard tug to be restored to the West Coast, rather than one\u00a0 in Orkney serving the entire Scottish coast<\/p>\n

RAIL<\/strong>
\nHigh winds, snow and flooding had adverse impacts on rail services in January but rail operators were criticised for excessive withdrawals of services in Scotland since local weather forecasts were less severe.\u00a0 Poor information was available on the timings and location of withdrawals and on potential alternatives.<\/p>\n

Stagecoach\/Virgin took over the East Coast passenger rail franchise in March amid questions about why this service was not kept in the public sector and avoid a monopoly with Stagecoach\/Virgin operating both East Coast and West Coast Anglo-Scottish services.\u00a0 Herald editorial on 28 Feb praises East Coast as a good example of well-run state enterprise and the need for action to ensure that privately-run franchises operate well. The new operator is offering both Virgin Flying Club and Nectar points but these are seen as less valuable than the former East Coast rewards scheme.\u00a0 Mark Lazarowicz, MP is seeking greater interim improvements on the East Coast services to London and other cities pending the development of HS2 services running through to Scotland. Virgin trains saw an 11% rise on Anglo-Scottish services in 2014.\u00a0 Users are now three times the 2009 level though Glasgow-London trips by air are still four times higher than Glasgow-London by rail.<\/p>\n

Abellio, the new ScotRail franchise operator, has been criticised for low passenger satisfaction scores on services operated in England.\u00a0 Under extended devolution, the Scottish Government will\u00a0 be able to award franchises to non-profit distributing company operators.\u00a0 Jim Murphy, the new Labour party leader in Scotland, has promised a return to publicly operated rail passenger services taking advantage of the 5-year break clause in the Abellio franchise.\u00a0 Alternative proposals have been made by SAPT for increased powers for city regions or RTPs in Scotland as part of more effective transport and land-use integration.<\/p>\n

Major disruption is expected due to a 6 week closure of the Winchburgh Tunnel in June\/July for electrification work.\u00a0 This will affect Glasgow Queen St-Edinburgh services and rail access to the Open Golf
\nChampionships at St Andrews due to Glasgow line diversions affecting capacity on the Edinburgh-Fife line.
\nFurther disruption will come from renewal of track on the approach tunnel to Glasgow Queen St High Level while delay in the supply of electric rolling stock will prevent full electric working on the Glasgow-Falkirk-Edinburgh line until late in 2017.\u00a0 Redevelopment of Queen St station will not be complete until 2019, by which time the Glasgow Central-Shotts-Edinburgh line will also be electrified along with the routes from Queen St to Dunblane and Alloa.\u00a0 Queen St HL will have capacity to take 8 coach rather than present trains limited to six coaches.<\/p>\n

Track-laying has now been completed on the Edinburgh-Tweedbank rail route.\u00a0 Work on stations and signalling and on driver training is on schedule for opening of the route in early September.<\/p>\n

David Spaven (S31Dec) and David\u00a0 Ross (Herald Highland correspondent 21 Jan) have argued for greater attention to rail freight potential, not only Anglo-Scottish, but also north to Inverness and other parts of the Highlands.\u00a0 They seek greater attention to freight terminals, route improvement and enhanced motive power as a means of delivering shifts from HGVs.\u00a0 R J Ardern of Inverness is seeking enhanced passenger capacity, better frequency and shorter trip-times on the Perth-Inverness route with Aberdeen also gaining from an eventual reopening of a route through Strathmore.<\/p>\n

In the Central Belt, Jim Murphy (H 10Feb) has called for Labour to take the lead in committing to early work to adapt the existing St Enoch Bridge route as a Glasgow Crossrail forming a key element in unifying the Scottish rail network and linking with plans for a Glasgow Airport Rail Link.\u00a0\u00a0 The long delayed report on this link has now been published as a result of a Freedom of Information request.\u00a0 Compared to the existing express bus link, it finds little time advantage in a rail link and also capacity issues on the Paisley Gilmour St-Glasgow line which would make it hard to provide extra airport services without inconvenience to passengers already using this busy route.\u00a0 A tramtrain approach may offer solutions but only limited funding is presently available under City Deal proposals.\u00a0 Glasgow Central is the preferred terminus.<\/p>\n

Rail franchise companies have agreed a new code obliging them to inform passengers of the cheapest\u00a0 tickets for proposed trips \u2013 at present two different sets of tickets covering a planned journey can be cheaper than a through ticket.\u00a0 The new code will also include a notice on ticket machines saying that cheaper tickets may be available via the internet or through ticket offices. Better publicity is being sought on rights to passenger refunds when trains run late.<\/p>\n

Automatic barriers to stop fare dodgers are to be introduced at Edinburgh Park but there are fears of difficulties if, under devolution proposals, the British Transport Police (in effect the Rail Police) are absorbed in Police Scotland<\/p>\n

BUS, TRAM & TAXI<\/strong>
\n\u2018Why drive when you can travel in style?\u2019\u00a0 Feature article by Rosemary Goring on public transport(H 5 Jan)<\/p>\n

SPT has approved plans for a \u00a33n modernisation of Buchanan St Subway station.\u00a0 Contracts for new driverless trains are expected to be approved later this year.\u00a0\u00a0 J Bryce of Glasgow has suggested that the \u2018stillborn\u2019 Bus Fastlink should be adapted to provide a tram route from central Glasgow to the Airport via SECC, the new South Glasgow Hospital, Braehead and Renfrew.\u00a0 But trip times would be longer than on the present airport express bus route.<\/p>\n

Glasgow City Council is consulting on standardised rules for bus lanes.\u00a0 A related issue is whether many bus lanes are required if other measures are used to reduce total volumes of motorised traffic in city centres in association with greater use of \u2018busgates\u2019.\u00a0 There continue to be delays in deciding on the best means of reducing bus trip times in central Glasgow and on principal approach routes.\u00a0 Herald editorial of 17 Jan concludes that bus lanes are not the only issue in securing an improved network.\u00a0 \u2018Glasgow\u2019s buses are too often dirty and inadequately regulated.\u00a0 They frequently appear to be the cause of city centre congestion as rival operators crowd popular routes\u2019.\u00a0 Iain Gray\u2019s proposed Holyrood\u00a0 bus regulation bill is commended.<\/p>\n

Arthur Homan-Elsy says \u2018people in other parts of Europe find it incomprehensible that SPT and a city the size of Glasgow have so little control over the bulk of local public transport\u2019 .\u00a0 Overall planning and comprehensive regulation was needed to give outcomes the public wanted .\u00a0 SAPT Chair Dr John McCormick has called for the Scottish Transport Minister to replace the ineffectiveness of divided responsibilities by setting up a Transport for a Greater Glasgow planning and delivery authority along with a new Scottish Transport Act to replace bus deregulation (H 18 & 21 Feb)<\/p>\n

Further criticism of the failure to establish integrated city public transport networks has come from the slow progress made in establishing an effective network to serve the 10,000 workers plus visitors to the new South Glasgow University Hospital with the first staff arriving within weeks.\u00a0 While parking adequate for visitors will be provided, it has long been known that only a minority of staff will be able to use on-site parking yet essential alternatives are not yet clearly established and have been inhibited by the current weak system of bus regulation.\u00a0 SPT has given assurances that the first section of Bus Fastlink will be open as far as the Hospital by late May though there are still unsettled issues on frequency, quality and the route used in the city centre.<\/p>\n

Claims by NHS bosses that all workers at South Glasgow will be within an hour of their work by public transport have been disputed by nursing representatives.\u00a0\u00a0 McGill\u2019s have confirmed that they with run the flagship Glasgow bus Fastlink route from the city centre to South Glasgow Hospital as specified by SPT.\u00a0 Service will operate 7 days a week from 11 May and between 6am and midnight.\u00a0 McGills will also run a 12 minute service between Cardonald rail station and the South Glasgow South Hospital (H 17 & 19 Feb)<\/p>\n

As part of the case for Crossrail services avoiding the present walk between the main rail stations in Glasgow, RailQwest claims that Hillington East station could be adapted to provide good links to and from the South Glasgow Hospital (H19Feb)<\/p>\n

McGill\u2019s buses are to be paid \u00a39.1m by SPT over 3 years to takeover most of the contracts formerly held by the defunct Henderson Travel.\u00a0 Costs will be \u00a3132,000 a year higher than the previous contracts.<\/p>\n

Cole\u2019s Coaches of Falkirk have been fined \u00a31,500 for failing to run timetabled bus services and banned from registering any new services until October.\u00a0\u00a0 This is a second offence.\u00a0\u00a0 FirstGroup has warned that users should not expect falls in bus fares after the recent fall in oil prices.\u00a0 It is committed to buying oil at higher prices until next year while Stagecoach has also expressed concern that lower fuel costs for car users could make it more difficult to attract them to bus use<\/p>\n

Scottish Government has reached a new deal with bus operators awarding them \u00a3414m over the next two years to secure free bus travel for the elderly and disabled.\u00a0 1.2m people take advantage of free travel.\u00a0 Compensation to operators is being reduced from 58.1% of single adult fares to 56.9%<\/p>\n

MSP Colin Keir has urged taxi and private-hire firms to make single-women passengers a priority.\u00a0 He also urges people to use only reputable private-hire firms.<\/p>\n

Wheelchair users in Edinburgh are angry that a \u00a320 charge is being proposed to register as part of schemes to reduce fares for residents whose mobility is severely impaired.\u00a0 At present, Edinburgh City Council pays the first \u00a33 of taxi charges to the severely impaired up to a limit of 104 trips per year but is being forced to look for economies due to budget cuts.<\/p>\n

American firm Uber has applied for licences to operate electronic taxi-booking services in Glasgow and Edinburgh.\u00a0 Uber faces criticism for its policy of non-regulation of cars and drivers.\u00a0 Fares tend to be cheaper than taxi fares.\u00a0 Professor James Cooper of Napier University says that conventional taxi operators could lose 40% of their business to Uber.\u00a0 Bus usage could also be affected.<\/p>\n

ROADS & PARKING<\/strong>
\nThe Queensferry road crossing may open earlier than expected with costs cut from \u00a31.6bn to \u00a31.4bn<\/p>\n

Transport Scotland has commissioned design work on a scheme for a dual A96 from Inverness to Nairn, including a Nairn Bypass.<\/p>\n

Official figures show Scottish motorways to be the safest in Britain with 1.60 casualties per mile compared to 3.9 for Britain and 6.03 in south-east England. English motorways are more heavily used so there is less difference in casualties per vehicle kilometre.<\/p>\n

Scottish Government is considering plans to allow speeding motorists to avoid penalty points by attending speed awareness training,. This system already applies in England and Wales.\u00a0 Motorists are seeking lesser penalties for those marginally above the new Scottish drink-driving limits.\u00a0 The new limits have led to larger numbers no longer drinking and driving but falls in income at many pubs and clubs.<\/p>\n

Roads were affected by high winds, snow and rain in January.\u00a0 A further \u00a33m has been set aside for landslide prevention on the A83 at Rest and be Thankful<\/p>\n

EC has backed a wider scheme cutting fuel prices by 5p a litre in remoter areas<\/p>\n

Motorists in Glasgow paid \u00a34.3m in parking fines in 2014, 10% up on 2013 but costs of administration were \u00a36m.\u00a0 Complaints about Councils targeting motorists have been rising, including plans for Sunday charges near churches in Edinburgh.\u00a0 More action is sought on provision of more parking spaces but these could aggravate congestion, including Clyde tunnel approach roads close to the new South Glasgow Hospital<\/p>\n

On balance, the public are supportive of widened consultation on 20mph speed limits in Edinburgh and Glasgow but polls in Edinburgh have found 83% against Council plans.\u00a0 Motorists have raised practical issues related to enforcement and excessive use of such limits on major streets.\u00a0 Most of the emphasis on 20mph limits is on residential and shopping streets.<\/p>\n

In response to speeding complaints at blackspots, police are encouraging volunteers to be more involved in speed-checking.\u00a0 A pilot scheme is being conducted in Culbokie village north of Inverness.\u00a0 A 50mph speed limit on much of the A9, supported by average speed cameras, has had encouraging initial results in cutting accidents and their severity.\u00a0 Transport Scotland is proposing to cut speeds on two sections of theA87 between Invergarry and Skye from 60 to 50mph.\u00a0 Dornie Community Council is objecting.\u00a0 Reduced speed limits are also being examined on other rural roads.\u00a0 A temporary 40mph limit has been applied on the present Forth Road Bridge and approaches.<\/p>\n

An out of control bin lorry in central Glasgow caused six pedestrian deaths in the busy pre-Christmas period<\/p>\n

Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, has called for fuller use of electronic technology to improve traffic management and better inform motorists where city parking space is available while also taking more cars out of streets where pedestrians want to be.<\/p>\n

WALKING & CYCLING<\/strong>
\nCompared to Glasgow, twice as many cyclists have been killed in road crashes in Edinburgh in the past five years.\u00a0 Glasgow had 3 deaths compared to 6 in Edinburgh but levels of cycling in the capital are higher than in Glasgow.\u00a0 Campaigners are seeking more severe penalties for motorists causing the death of cyclists as well as wider use of segregated lanes and 20mph limits.\u00a0 Others have argued that 20mph limits should also apply to cyclists.<\/p>\n

Glasgow City Council has performed a U-turn after city officials proposed to reject as \u2018not eligible\u2019 a petition to apply 20mph speed limits to 80% of city streets, as proposed in Edinburgh.\u00a0 Midlothian is to introduce 20mph limits around nursery schools<\/p>\n

Cyclists who slipped on tram tracks in Edinburgh are taking legal action to against Edinburgh City Council for compensation for injuries<\/p>\n

JCDecaux is in talks with Edinburgh City Council to introduce a bike-rental scheme similar to London.\u00a0 The City Council is also aiming to tap into the cycle tourism market which could be worth \u00a360m a year<\/p>\n

Neil Greig of the Institute of Advanced Motorists has called for wider and more expensive redesign of streets to improve local environments rather than the \u2018cheap\u2019 approach of 20mph limits with a proliferation of signs and speed bumps.\u00a0 In Edinburgh, the pilot plans for redesign of parts of Edinburgh\u2019s George St have been attacked as a \u2018cross between a bad garden centre display and a children\u2019s Wendy house\u2019. This pilot scheme is now to be removed<\/p>\n

Go Bike \u2013 The Strathclyde Cycle Campaign has complained about the total lack of consideration for cyclists and pedestrians in the redesign of streets adjacent to the SECC in Glasgow.\u00a0 Others have complained of slow action to grit pavements and cycle paths in the January cold snap.<\/p>\n

A study of fit amateur cyclists between 55 and 79 has found that many were physically and biologically much younger than most people of the same age.<\/p>\n

Ramblers are calling on MSPs to resolve confusion over the public\u2019s right to use railway level crossings.
\nSince 2004, Network Rail attitudes to the use of such crossings in remoter parts of Scotland have hardened with the result that the ban on trespass on railway land is in conflict with Scottish \u2018right to roam\u2019 legislation<\/p>\n

PLANNING & PROPERTY<\/strong>
\nThe John Muir Trust has joined the Planning Democracy campaign to secure a right of appeal for objectors if a planning application is granted.\u00a0 At present, only applicants can appeal against a refusal or restricted grant of planning permission.<\/p>\n

Tesco\u2019s superstore in central Kirkcaldy is among the first to be proposed for closure under Tesco restructuring plans.\u00a0 The growth in on-line shopping is having increasing impacts on town centre shopping and on superstores at other locations.\u00a0 Along with others, an extension of the Silverburn superstore in south Glasgow has an increasing emphasis on leisure and eating facilities along with other attractions such as cinemas and special events.\u00a0 Combined retail and leisure centres are seeing more investment\u00a0 as economic confidence revives<\/p>\n

Despite opposition from Glasgow City Council, Braehead has gained town centre status with owner\u00a0 Intu planning town centre style expansion at a cost around \u00a3200m.\u00a0 In central Glasgow, CPOs have been approved for major expansion of Buchanan Galleries.\u00a0 Work on this and the related redevelopment of Queen St rail station is due to start in October but there is concern at the intrusive nature of this development and the lack of comprehensive plans for access and reduced road traffic.\u00a0 Present plans feature an 11-storey car park on the east side of Queen St station, partly hidden by a controversial north extension of the Millennium Hotel out of keeping with this historic building and George Square<\/p>\n

Developments in and around high-priced Aberdeen are beginning to see adverse impacts from the downturn in the oil industry while office and other developments in Glasgow are gaining ground as Edinburgh is perceived as an expensive location.\u00a0 But Edinburgh\u2019s population may still rise to 600,000 by 2030 and stronger efforts are being made to improve the shopping and other attractions of the city centre.
\nSome Aberdeen commercial property developers are turning their attention to Edinburgh while other cities report rising interest from developers in commercial property away from London.<\/p>\n

The SECC 13,000 seat Hydro, opened in September 2013, is said to be the second-busiest leisure centre in the world, only beaten by London\u2019s O2 and with increasing dependence on access by public transport.<\/p>\n

Almost 2000 workers have made the Bridgeton\/Dalmarnock area in Glasgow\u2019s east end their new home in the past three years<\/p>\n

Proposals for new student accommodation in Leith include a ban on car parking.\u00a0 In East Lothian developers building houses adjacent to busy roads are being required to install \u2018car turntables\u2019 so that cars are not reversed onto roads where frontage space is too small to allow reversal.<\/p>\n

Barratt is planning 2,100 new homes on 13 sites in Scotland mainly in the Central Belt and around Aberdeen.\u00a0\u00a0 The first homes in Chapleton, a private build new town near the coast five miles south of Aberdeen, have opened.\u00a0 Plans envisage 8,000 houses completed by 2023.<\/p>\n

In January, Clydeplan (Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Strategic Development Planning Authority) published a Main Issues Report on which views are sought by mid-March.\u00a0 Responses are sought to 20 questions.\u00a0 There are strong references to a Successful and Sustainable City Region though surprisingly little on Transport.\u00a0 It is only 1 of 7 Issues.\u00a0 A Revised Plan will be submitted to Scottish Ministers by May 2016.<\/p>\n

RESEARCH & STATISTICS<\/strong>
\nJanuary saw increased air passengers at both Glasgow and Edinburgh.\u00a0 Domestic passengers at Edinburgh were up 7.2% with international growth slightly lower at 7.1%.\u00a0 Domestic growth has been helped by new Ryanair traffic to Stansted and more flights to London City.\u00a0 Glasgow saw international numbers up 18.1% but with domestic growth of 6.6%, reversing recent falling trends.\u00a0 More people used flights to Heathrow and London City.\u00a0 Prestwick has lost out while oil industry problems saw growth at Aberdeen fall to 0.5%<\/p>\n

Total passengers at Highlands and Islands Airports rose 3.8% to 1.4m in 2014, mainly due to the oil sector being buoyant for most of the year. Dundee saw a further 19.5% fall due to reduced flights to London City.<\/p>\n

Rail passenger trips in Britain continued to rise above the record levels of 2013 with high growth around London but lower growth in inter-regional trips.\u00a0 Most regions saw intra-regional trips rise by more than the inter-regional sector with the SPT area reaching 5% growth, partly a continuing legacy of the greater use of rail during the Commonwealth Games.<\/p>\n

ORR data released for 2013-2014 confirms Scotland as having by far the largest number of internal trips relative to trips to and from other regions in Britain.\u00a0 There were 83m internal rail passenger trips compared to 8m trips to and from other parts of Britain.<\/p>\n

A poll of 1000 people by Transform Scotland has found that over 90% wanted rail trips between Scottish cities to be at least as fast as by road.\u00a0 Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown reports research showing that extending HS2 from Lancashire to Scotland could generate almost \u00a325 billion for the UK economy.<\/p>\n

New car sales in Britain were at their highest since 2004.\u00a0 221,570 new cars were sold in Scotland, 8% up on 2013. The recent large fall in fuel prices seems to have had only a modest impact on fuel demand according to the AA.\u00a0 People are using lower fuel costs to divert spending to other items.\u00a0 Lower growth in car sales is expected in 2015 with January sales in Scotland down 1.1% on January 2014.<\/p>\n

More than 1000 electric vehicles are now thought to be in use in Scotland but RAC data obtained under Freedom of Information shows that most of the 482 charging sites are heavily under-used.\u00a0 In August 2014, there were only 2,885 charging sessions with the highest usage in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Falkirk\/Stirling<\/p>\n

LTT 666 20 Feb features the UK government push for on-road tests of driverless road vehicles with the aim of\u00a0 becoming a world leader with this technology.\u00a0 Initial pilots with low-speed vehicles are in Greenwich and Milton Keynes with later moves to higher speeds and fully automated operation.\u00a0 The aim is to address complex legal liability and regulatory issues by 2017.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Automated vehicles may be leased rather than sold to the public but too large a take-up of low speed automated driverless vehicles in pedestrian priority zones could create amenity issues. Further information in the DfT\/BIS report, \u2018The pathway to driverless cars\u2019<\/p>\n

Results from the continuous A9 speed cameras and the overall 50mph limit show that drivers going too fast have fallen from 1 in 3 to 1 in 20.\u00a0 HGVs report shorter trip times due speed limits up from 40 to 50mph<\/p>\n

A new \u2018white space\u2019 wireless technology piloted in Scotland may improve connectivity at lower costs than previous techniques.\u00a0 Research at Glasgow and St Andrews Universities has found that half of all businesses are operating from people\u2019s homes and provide 1 in 5 private sector jobs<\/p>\n

A new research report from Transform Scotland has shown that taking the train, rather than the plane, for longer trips makes environmental and economic sense.\u00a0 Particular attention is given to the Edinburgh-London route (part of Advertising feature in association with East Coast in 3 14 Jan)<\/p>\n

A survey of people moving on retirement has found declining interest in \u2018a place in the sun\u2019 and a rising preference for Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness \u2013 though Fife remains a popular retirement area, especially the East Neuk and St Andrew\u2019s<\/p>\n

Edinburgh City Council has published a five-year plan to reduce carbon emissions.\u00a0 This makes little reference to modal shift to public transport and active travel but does mention replacing street and stair lights with LED systems and the expansion of electric cars.<\/p>\n

Prof. Martin Tangney, Director of Biofuel Research at Napier University, has produced an advanced biofuel, biobutanol,\u00a0 made from whisky by-products.\u00a0 This could provide an alternative to oil use in aviation and in road fuels, also having export potential.<\/p>\n

Scottish Transport Statistics No 33 2014 Edition<\/strong> was published in hard copy and on the web in February as A National Statistics Publication under the Transport Scotland banner.\u00a0 Selected data is below:<\/p>\n

\"2015-03<\/a><\/p>\n

Movement and Modal Share Scenarios\u00a0<\/strong> Since last November, Local Transport Today has featured comments on changing views on transport scenarios for Britain looking to 2030 and into the 2040s.
\nThe revised\u00a0 DfT\u00a0 National Transport Model has a central forecast of 43% road traffic growth on the strategic network between 2013 and 2040 but a tailing off in rail growth.\u00a0 This contrasts with the reality of car traffic being 1% lower in 2013 than in 2002 and record levels of rail passenger growth not only in London but also in other parts of the country.\u00a0 The DfT sees \u2018little sign of demand on the strategic road network abating\u2019 but does say that higher population growth and some rise in real incomes will be the main factors in growth.\u00a0 Further DfT explanation of changes in movement and mode share is expected shortly.<\/p>\n

Other prominent commentators have queried these DfT views as lacking a robust treatment of changing relationships between transport, the economy and well-being in a era of changing patterns of consumer spending and the implications of an electronic age and a population becoming more concentrated on city regions with increased devolved powers.\u00a0 Current valuations of time-savings have also been seen as distorting decisions on transport funding when there is an increasing probability of stabilised internal movement per head of population but a greater shift to public transport, walking and cycling especially in larger cities and prominent areas for leisure and tourism.<\/p>\n

Scottish aspects of these debates are considered in two recent STSG web-based publications \u2013 one in November 2014 by Derek Halden on \u2018Connecting Scotland \u2013 New Ways to Fund Better transport\u2019 and one in February 2015 by Tom Hart on \u2018Transport Scenarios for Scotland 2000-2030.\u2019\u00a0 A Scottish Government view on revised Scenarios is expected shortly, giving both a national view, revisions of movement and modal share within the principal city regions and with respect to external\u00a0 movement .<\/p>\n

BUSINESS & PERSONNEL<\/strong>
\nAirline stocks have fallen after a Ryanair warning that lower oil prices will lead to increased competition and reduced profitability.\u00a0 Despite the loss of rail franchises, FirstGroup shares have rallied following better rail results, offsetting the negative impacts on bus use of cheaper petrol and poor US bus performances.<\/p>\n

New trains for the new Caledonian Sleeper franchise are to be built by Spanish company CAF with delivery by April 2018. Four types of facility will be offered with the aim of offering a high calibre tourist attraction.<\/p>\n

Lord Smith of Kelvin has taken over as Chair of the Clyde Gateway Regeneration body.\u00a0 Hugh Aitken, former boss of Sun Microsystems, has become the new CBI head in Scotland, replacing Iain McMillan who has retired.\u00a0 Ronnie Park, MD of FirstGroup\u2019s Glasgow Bus Division until 2013 has become SPT\u2019s Director of Bus Operations.\u00a0 The long-running dispute affecting Lothian Bus Executive Directors is to be resolved by all four leaving the company over the next two years.\u00a0 Salaries for future Executive Directors are to be reduced.\u00a0 The present maximum is \u00a3270,000 a year.<\/p>\n

RECENT PUBLICATIONS<\/strong>
\nThe Triumph of a Great Tradition \u2013 The Story of Cunard\u2019s 175 Years, Lily Publications \u00a324
\nor \u00a319.75 (plus P&P) from ferrypubs.co.uk or call 01624 898446
\nMapping the Railways \u2013 Britain\u2019s railways through maps from 1819 to the present day\u00a0 Julian Holland and David Spaven, Collins 2014 reprint\u00a0 \u00a316.99 (includes good coverage of Scotland as well the development of publicity maps and route diagrams plus maps from the 1963 Beeching Report on Rail Reshaping)
\nThe Caledonian Railway\u00a0 \u00a0D Ross, 2014\u00a0 Stenlake\u00a0 \u00a330 \u2013 a well-researched book with photos and other illustrations
\nScottish Transport Statistics\u00a0 No. 33\u00a0 2014 Edition, Transport Scotland<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Transport News Notes 5 Jan 15 to 1 Mar 15 TRANSPORT, ECONOMY and ENVIRONMENT Party leaders Cameron, Clegg and Miliband have agreed to work together on climate change, seen as an increasing threat to national security and economic prosperity.\u00a0 They aim for further cuts in UK carbon emissions but with disagreements on attitudes to fracking\u00a0…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"_expiration-date-status":"saved","_expiration-date":0,"_expiration-date-type":"","_expiration-date-categories":[],"_expiration-date-options":[]},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTom Hart's news notes, 1 March 2015 - Transform Scotland<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2015\/03\/01\/tom-harts-news-notes-1-march-2015\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tom Hart's news notes, 1 March 2015 - 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