{"id":2657,"date":"2015-11-15T12:39:20","date_gmt":"2015-11-15T12:39:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/?p=2657"},"modified":"2015-11-22T12:41:50","modified_gmt":"2015-11-22T12:41:50","slug":"tom-harts-transport-news-notes-15-november-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/transform.scot\/blog\/2015\/11\/15\/tom-harts-transport-news-notes-15-november-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Tom Hart\u2019s transport news notes, 15 November 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

The media has given increased attention to the urgency for action to tackle global warming given evidence of a 1C rise in global temperatures, half way to the tipping point of 2C rises which could have very serious implications for rising sea levels, floods, droughts and high winds which could prejudice food supply and a sustainable world economy.\u00a0 These issues are due to be discussed at an international conference in Paris though there are doubts about the ability to reach, and enforce, agreements on action.<\/p>\n

There has also been a sharp rise in coverage of the need for steps to improved localised air quality, affected by NOX and diesel particulate emissions.\u00a0 This has been intensified by the admission by VW, and other car manufacturers, of action to disguise test emission outcomes.\u00a0 There is also concern that present tests do not reflect higher levels of CO2 and other emissions under normal driving conditions.\u00a0 The return of higher growth in carbon intensive air travel is increasing emissions.<\/p>\n

Other highlights have included the possible implications for transport of the substantial cuts in public spending expected in the Chancellor\u2019s 25 November announcement.\u00a0 This will have major implications for spending by the Scottish Government, about to secure increased powers but reduced total funding unless income tax in Scotland is raised or other action taken to increase income and restructure spending. The highest cuts expected are in current account transport spending but with greater efforts to retain levels of capital spend.\u00a0 There are also doubts about the medium and longer-term economic benefits of higher capital spend on transport infrastructure relative to a changed structure of capital spend and greater appreciation of the merits of selective rises in current spending \u2013 including road & pavement maintenance.<\/p>\n

The last highlight has been largely favourable media coverage of a reopened Borders Rail, the longest recent rail opening in the UK apart from construction of HS1 from the Channel Tunnel\u00a0 to London St Pancras.\u00a0 Coverage has been supportive of more extensive reopening and new construction though with the caveat that increased spending on the existing rail network will be required.\u00a0 Network Rail has been under pressure from ORR and DfT over cost escalations on ill-defined major projects.<\/p>\n

THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT & TRANSPORT<\/strong><\/p>\n

The \u2018Refresh\u2019 of the National Transport Strategy is due to be published in December.\u00a0 The principles of the strategy and levels of capital spend on transport are unlikely to change but Transport Minister Derek Mackay is seeking improvements in delivery of an inclusive economy within a difficult overall financial climate.\u00a0 He put particular stress on faster progress towards low carbon transport and on the widespread introduction of smart, integrated ticketing across rail, bus and ferry modes.\u00a0 Community Planning needed revision to ensure community empowerment in issues relating to transport and access.\u00a0 Financial priorities and programmes will be reviewed later in 2016 along\u00a0 with an update of the National Planning Framework.<\/p>\n

AVIATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

A UK government decision on airport expansion in south-east England is expected in December with the SNP indicating that it will support the option offering the best benefits for Scotland.\u00a0 The Airports Commission has favoured expansion at London Heathrow rather than an extra runway at Gatwick.
\nScottish political and business option is divided on this issue with some favouring an increase in flights from Scotland to Heathrow as the principal UK international hub.\u00a0 Others fear expanded capacity at Heathrow would be used principally to expand long-haul flights with no rise in \u2018Scottish\u2019 slots at Heathrow and a risk of lesser expansion in direct flights to and from Scotland.\u00a0 Extra capacity at Heathrow could expand the attraction of London relative to cities in the North rather than promote the aim of a northward shift in the balance of economic activity.\u00a0 High growth in air travel also poses a threat to climate change as well as poorer air quality and environmental loss around Heathrow.<\/p>\n

Bowing to public opinion, Edinburgh Airport has ended a trial flightpath introducing noise and disturbance over parts of West Lothian.\u00a0 But the issue may have to be revisited if Edinburgh continues to experience high growth which has also been creating problems for passengers within the existing airport terminal.<\/p>\n

Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports are making strong efforts to secure direct flights to China.\u00a0 From summer 2016, Ryanair is to expand services from Edinburgh to ten European cities.\u00a0 The airport continues to favour runway expansion at Gatwick rather than Heathrow. The former chief civil servant in Scotland, Sir John Elvidge, (now Chairman of Edinburgh Airport) sees\u00a0 \u2018building a third runway at steroid enhanced Heathrow would be full of risks\u2019 in mortgaging Scotland\u2019s future connectivity to a southern monopoly (H 19 Oct).\u00a0 Low cost airline Vueling is to introduce direct flights from Edinburgh to Paris, Rome and Alicante.<\/p>\n

The idea of replacing Edinburgh and Glasgow airports with a Central Scotland airport, and no runway expansion in the south-east, has been revived but with little backing.\u00a0 Ian McConnell has urged Prestwick to reduce landing charges to attract low-cost flights from other Scottish Airports becoming more congested (H14Aug).\u00a0 From January, Prestwick will continue to be the base for a privatised Scottish search and rescue helicopter service based on a new civilian contract rather than the RAF\/Royal Navy service.<\/p>\n

Following the Clutha helicopter crash fatalities in Glasgow, it is likely that helicopters will be required to have flight recorders.\u00a0 Scottish Government is increasing from 40% to 50% the discounts for intra-Scottish air travel given to Scottish rural areas with air services.\u00a0 SPARA (Smart Peripheral and Remote Airports) has EU funding to \u2018decarbonise\u2019 access to rural airports and make rural air services more cost-effective.\u00a0 Ryanair is in talks with partner airlines to allow through bookings to far-flung airports and ease baggage transfers.<\/p>\n

FERRIES & SHIPPING<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scottish Government has announced that all fares and charges on government-supported ferry services will be frozen for 2016-17.\u00a0 CalMac and Serco Caledonian are competing for franchises to operate 26 Clyde and Hebridean ferry services for eight years from October 2016.\u00a0 The final award will come at the end of May.
\nRET was extended to all Scottish Government supported ferry routes in October, 2015, but is expected to increase demand peaks, especially in summer.<\/p>\n

A daily direct return summer service between Lochboisdale and Mallaig is to be introduced in summer 2016.\u00a0 Frequency will also be improved on the Oban-Craignure (Mull) route but there is now a question mark over the future of the trial summer service from Ardrossan to Campbeltown.\u00a0 Due to work at Wemyss Bay terminal, CalMac\u00a0 are operating the Rothesay service from Gourock for 24 weeks from 1 October.<\/p>\n

CalMac\u2019s Project Ecoship is installing \u00a3450,000 of equipment to cut fuel costs and deliver CO2 cuts.\u00a0 Costs should be recouped within a year.\u00a0 Kerrara, the island off Oban, it to be brought into the 21st century by a \u00a31.7m scheme to upgrade berthing facilities.<\/p>\n

Scotland\u2019s larger and smaller ports and harbours continue to benefit from the rise in the cruise market and in private motorised and sail yachts.\u00a0 Kirkwall expects to welcome its 750,000th cruise passenger during 2016, up from almost zero in 2000 (apart from visitors using the regular ferry links to Orkney)<\/p>\n

The annual Kirkintilloch Canal Festival now attracts thousands of visitors.\u00a0 Scottish Canals has announced a \u00a335m programme for canal repairs and refurbishment.<\/p>\n

The Maid of the Loch has secured \u00a33.8m from the Heritage Lottery fund with another \u00a31.7m needed to allow the vessel to return to operational use on Loch Lomond.\u00a0 The Queen Mary II (the former Clyde steamer) is the base for a \u00a34m programme to return it from the Thames to be a tourist and visitor attraction at Glasgow\u2019s Riverside.\u00a0 7,000 have backed a petition to restore Glasgow Graving Docks as a heritage site with potential for 250 jobs.<\/p>\n

RAIL<\/strong><\/p>\n

The UK Government has appointed Lord Adonis, former Labour Transport Minister and high-speed rail advocate as Chair of a National Infrastructure Commission.\u00a0 This will cover all infrastructure but main lean towards transport infrastructure and deal mainly with England. A separate UK\/Scottish Government report on HSR is expected early in 2016 but is likely to review HSR costs and strategy with limited new construction in Scotland in the coming decade and reliance on upgrades of existing route north from Preston.\u00a0 3 hour timings from both Glasgow and Edinburgh to London are probable by 2030 though 2 hours 15 minutes would be possible with new 200\/250mph route over the entire distance.\u00a0\u00a0 The Institute of Civil Engineers Scotland says the greatest benefit would come from new route over the entire distance (H 2Nov)<\/p>\n

Relative to other measures, arguments continue on the importance of high spend on HSR for the overall economy and changes in the balance of economic growth away from London.\u00a0 Some see London as the main HSR beneficiary while others argue for a shift of spend to rail and tram investment in city regions and, in Scotland, higher priority for improved inter-city times south from Inverness and Aberdeen.\u00a0 In England, there is growing emphasis on devolution of regional transport strategy to the areas around large cities and to Cornwall.\u00a0 The Scottish position remains more centralised though with plans for more projects in and around cities.<\/p>\n

The volume of rail freight in Scotland will be hit by the closure of Longannet coal-fired power station in 2016 along with the phasing out of coal trains from Hunterston to power stations in England.\u00a0 However, as argued particularly by David Spaven (S 1 Sept), there are opportunities to expand long-distance rail freight and other bulk freight \u2013 including more use of longer freight trains and longer passing loops allowing faster passenger trains to overtake freight on existing routes.<\/p>\n

Network Rail and ORR are considering plans for better use of the scarce capacity now existing on the East Coast Main Line.\u00a0 This points to greater use of longer passenger and freight trains rather than the provision of additional fast London-Edinburgh trains as requested by First Group and Alliance Rail (H 16 Oct)<\/p>\n

Responding to a consultation by the Competition and Markets Authority on possible reforms in UK passenger rail services after 2023, Virgin and Stagecoach have proposed a licensing system for inter-city passenger services in place of franchising \u2013 though franchising could continue for intra-regional services.
\nThe Labour Party is now seeking a phased return to rail nationalisation though with opportunities for regional public ownership.<\/p>\n

UK and Scottish media coverage of the reopening in September of Borders Rail from Edinburgh to Tweedbank was almost entirely positive apart from the initial problem of usage of the half-hourly rail service being much higher than officially expected, especially over the entire length of the route.\u00a0 Construction costs were kept within the \u00a3294m limit with delivery on time. There were 125,000 \u2018normal\u2019 users in the first month plus 6,200 in special steam trains.\u00a0 As well as the benefit of easier access to jobs in Edinburgh, the route is already improving prospects for extra housing with clear evidence of a rise in visitors to the Borders.\u00a0 Shop\/cafe takings are up in Galashiels and Melrose plus an18% rise in visitors to the former home of Sir Walter Scott at Abbotsford.<\/p>\n

Some fall in this high level of initial usage is likely in coming months but, even at 80,000 a month, this would be well above the level of 10,000 passengers a week which Dr Beeching saw as desirable to cover rail running costs in the 1960s.\u00a0 Two correspondents suggested that the overwhelming majority of Beeching rail cuts had been justified and that Borders Rail offered poor value compared to alternatives elsewhere in Scotland (H8 & 11 Sept) but most media comment argued for increased attention throughout Britain to the merits of rail reopening, extra stations on some existing routes and even some new construction.<\/p>\n

Calls have been made for an extension of Borders Rail through to Carlisle but with the immediate aim being an extension to Hawick.\u00a0 Other suggestions now include rail reopening from Dyce to Ellon with a later extension to Peterhead\/Fraserburgh and\u00a0 an interest in reopened passenger services to Levenmouth and Grangemouth.\u00a0 Falkirk Council is also seeking a station for Bonnybridge while new stations at Kintore and Dalcross (Inverness Airport) feature in \u00a3170m Phase 1 plans for upgrades of the Aberdeen-Inverness line.
\nA Barrhead South station (on the Neilston line) is being examined as part of City Deal Plans for the Glasgow area and there is renewed campaigning for restoration of passenger services on the City Union link from Bellgrove to Shields Road and also serving expanding activities in Gorbals.<\/p>\n

The reopening of Borders Rail produced severe overcrowding on the 2 coach and sometimes 3 coach trains available for use on the route.\u00a0 The continuing rise in rail use, and delays in ordering new electric rolling stock, have aggravated existing problems of overcrowding on commuter trains and on longer-distance routes.\u00a0 Abellio ScotRail is arranging a modest transfer of leased trains from England but, with most new electric trains not arriving until 2017 and Great Western line electrification delays in England, the ability of electrification to release diesel sets for use in Scotland is being constrained, especially since there is no guarantee that such diesel sets will be available for\u00a0 Scotland.\u00a0 Shortage of rolling stock in England is reducing opportunities for transfers to Scotland (H11&24 Aug., H 28 Sept).\u00a0 With Scottish passenger trips up 35% in the past decade, seating capacity on trains has risen less than 10% (H 17 Oct)\u00a0 A Glasgow Central-Manchester Airport Trans-Pennine service tops the DfT list of most crowded trains in Britain on arrival in Manchester (S 10 Sept).\u00a0 Many trains need to be made longer or, within cities, provided with larger but more comfortable standing capacity at peaks.<\/p>\n

ScotRail improvements from December will include improved train frequencies between Kilmarnock, Ayr and Stranraer.\u00a0 The Ayr-Girvan service will become hourly and the Oban line will have an additional Sunday year-round return trip (formerly only running in summer)<\/p>\n

The first of the 40 refurbished ScotRail Class 158 diesel trains are now entering service.\u00a0 Seats are better aligned with windows and there is more luggage and bike space. Passengers will also be able to charge their laptops during journeys.\u00a0 DfT\u00a0 is consulting on changes to consumer rights to allow ticket refunds if train operators do not provide adequate seating and wi-fi.<\/p>\n

Abellio ScotRail is recruiting 100 extra train drivers with a \u00a324,550 starting salary. This is linked to moves to a seven-day working week.\u00a0 Over 20,000 applications have been received but with criticism of Abellio for insensitive replies to unsuccessful applicants.<\/p>\n

Rail travellers in Scotland enjoy the cheapest fares in the UK for \u2018anytime\u2019 journeys plus lower fares for off-peak travel and those who apply in advance.\u00a0 \u2018Anytime\u2019 passengers leaving Glasgow average 33p per mile compared to 56p for those leaving London.\u00a0\u00a0 Such fares are substantially higher than the average cost per mile of running a small diesel or petrol car with a single occupant (though parking charges have to be added in for many trips into cities)<\/p>\n

Off-peak rail fares in Scotland are frozen for a third consecutive year but peak and cross-border fares are to rise 1% in January.\u00a0 In the last year of the former First Scotrail franchise, \u00a3576,000 was paid in penalties for defects in service quality (\u00a3127,000 up on the previous year) but Abellio has paid \u00a3265,282 for quality shortfalls in the months July to September.\u00a0 Transport Scotland will reinvest this sum in rail (H 15 Aug; 7 Nov)<\/p>\n

Crimes on the Scottish rail network have risen (by 1.3%) for the first time in a decade. Thieves attempting to steal copper from signalling cabling caused major morning peak disruption for travellers into Glasgow Queen St HL.\u00a0 Similar attempts disrupted travel into Edinburgh from the west.\u00a0 Queen St HL is also due to close for 20 weeks between March and August 2016 while the station and approach tunnel is upgraded as part of EGIP.\u00a0 Details of alternative travel arrangements during the closure period are expected in January.<\/p>\n

Toilet charges at Waverley and Glasgow Central have raised \u00a3750,000 and \u00a3600,000 over the past three years.\u00a0 NR argue that staffed toilets and upgraded facilities cut anti-social behaviour with any surplus funds reinvested in improved passenger facilities.<\/p>\n

40 jobs have been saved at Edinburgh\u2019s Millerhill depot after NR dropped plans to switch work to England.
\nVirgin trains will also continue to refurbish engines at the Edinburgh Craigentinny depot.<\/p>\n

BUS, TRAM & TAXI<\/strong><\/p>\n

Work continues on a \u00a3282m modernisation of the Glasgow Subway.\u00a0 Orders for new automated trains
\nare expected early in 2016 but the Subway will close for one month in summer 2016 to allow upgrades of the ramps to and from the Govan depot.\u00a0 Letters to the press have raised the issue of extending the Subway (Underground) to Paisley via Glasgow Airport or, over time, to be a full city Metro network as in Newcastle.\u00a0 Yet the existing Subway is of non-standard gauge with limited height.\u00a0 An alternative suggestion has been to raise some existing shorter-distance ScotRail services to Metro standards, including fuller use of the two existing east-west tunnels through Glasgow and some short network extensions.<\/p>\n

Of the four options to extend the Edinburgh tram, the City Council has approved the option with the highest capital cost.\u00a0\u00a0 A 3 mile extension via Leith Walk to Newhaven is seen as offering best overall value though funding has still to be confirmed.\u00a0 The expensive Edinburgh tram inquiry, now in progress will not determine whether any one is legally or financially liable but will make recommendations on how failings can be avoided in future projects.<\/p>\n

FirstGroup has argued that out-of-date restrictions and competition from major rail improvements have inhibited commercial bus operation across the Scottish Central Belt and especially in the East Central area where First has ongoing problems with bus service viability (LTT 16 Oct)<\/p>\n

Stagecoach continues to take the lead in attacking proposals for a compulsory franchise approach to local bus services.\u00a0 A review board has also rejected as unaffordable and high-risk Tyne and Wear proposals for bus franchising contracts.\u00a0 SPT continues to support more limited proposals to improve network quality and reduce the overall cost of bus operations (H29 Aug & 4 Nov).<\/p>\n

Edinburgh City Council has been criticised for providing new bus shelters with no frontal protection from road splashes and seats that are too high.\u00a0 Two recent incidents in Edinburgh and Glasgow city centres have involved buses in pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries.<\/p>\n

The Bus Fastlink in Glasgow from the city centre to the Queen Elizabeth University will be officially opened by Transport Minister Derek Mackay on 1 December.\u00a0 Operators had been unhappy at delays in completing the project and a failure of bus priority sensors for traffic lights to work properly (H 2 & 8 Oct).\u00a0 These issues have since been addressed by SPT and Glasgow City Council but plans to improve bus flows in the city centre will take longer to complete and require further consultation and planning.<\/p>\n

Fastlink plans will cut peak bus times between the Hospital and Hope St from 27 to 22 minutes but with only a 1 minute saving on a previous\u00a0 12 minute onward travel time to Buchanan Bus Station.\u00a0 In the medium term, trip times for the whole route should fall from 39 to 30 minutes.\u00a0 Stagecoach has accepted an SPT offer of \u00a31.15m to secure and operate new Euro 6 low emission buses over a 4 year period from 31 August 2015 but McGills have declined a similar offer of \u00a31.3m.\u00a0 McGills has withdrawn its present frequent F1 service on the full Fastlink route but has improved another local service route 23), using parts of the route, from 4 to 6 buses per hour.\u00a0 From 16 November, 16 buses per hour operate on Hospital-city centre services.\u00a0 A recent survey by NHS has found that 65% of respondents felt that bus services (including those not using Fastlink) had improved since opening of the Hospital.<\/p>\n

In Edinburgh, few car users are taking advantages of the trial opening of bus lanes to cars outwith peaks but it has been noted that bus stops can cause delays adding to trip times.\u00a0 Smart integrated ticketing with drivers no longer involved in ticketing could deliver useful cuts in overall bus times in cities, making services both more attractive and cheaper to operate.\u00a0 Lothian Buses are expanding\u00a0 the use of electric and hybrid buses but progress has been slower in Glasgow with operators pointing to the higher costs of such operation until further technical advances are made.<\/p>\n

First Glasgow is closing the Parkhead bus depot with operations concentrated on the new Caledonia Road depot.
\nCity Sightseeing Glasgow is amending its 28 stop open-top city bus to omit the less-used Duke St stop close to Tennents brewery.\u00a0 Other stops will still be available in the area.\u00a0 The 10 minute peak summer frequency had proved extremely popular. The overall length of the route had been trimmed, making it easier to improve frequency within the buses available.<\/p>\n

Lothian Buses introduced substantial changes in bus routes and frequencies in Edinburgh on 4 October.\u00a0 The four No 49 buses per hour which run between the Royal Infirmary and Rosewell via Dalkeith are reduced to 2 per hour beyond the Sheriffhall Park and Ride.\u00a0 A new peak limited stop X33 service is introduced from Mayfield and Dalkeith to the city centre.\u00a0 To improve journey times, X29, X31 and X33 have fewer stops on trips to and from the city centre.<\/p>\n

SPT is spending \u00a3950,000 to improve staff quarters at the highly commended Buchanan Bus Station.\u00a0 This will allow My Bus and other hospital\/community transport staff to relocate to Buchanan Bus Station.\u00a0 As part of Transport Refresh, the Scottish Government is being asked to accelerate costs savings and improved quality through integration of community, school and hospital transport provision.\u00a0 The quality and safety of Stagecoach owned Ayr Bus Station has come under attack along with suggestions for a new site adjacent to the rail station.<\/p>\n

Health Boards have been criticised for spending more than \u00a312.5m on taxis over the past four years.\u00a0 Taxi app Uber was launched in Scotland on 16 October with Uber also winning a High Court action ruling in favour of the controversial minicab-hailing app \u2013 but seen as a threat by black cab operators.\u00a0 At the request of Police Scotland, Glasgow City Council has withdrawn the licences of three private cab drivers but, on cost grounds, licensing officials have refused to tell councillors the number of cabbies with criminal convictions (H21Aug & 19 Sept)<\/p>\n

ROADS & PARKING<\/strong><\/p>\n

Transport Scotland is consulting on future arrangements for trunk road management.\u00a0 Local authorities are already considering alliances for regional roads management and see value in steps to integrate\u00a0 trunk and local road maintenance at a regional level (LTT 16 Oct)<\/p>\n

Construction has begun on a five-mile \u00a335m initial section of A9 dualling between Kincraig and Dalraddy.\u00a0 Keith Brown, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities says Perth-Inverness A9 dualling will bring enormous economic and social benefits.<\/p>\n

A contract is imminent on \u00a350m of appraisal and design work on options for dualling the 29 miles of the A96 between Auldearn and Fochabers.\u00a0 This could include a bypass or other relief for Elgin.\u00a0 Aberdeen is to have \u00a318m for a third Don crossing plus \u00a330m to upgrade the notorious Haudagain roundabout.\u00a0 A Nestrans study has found that increased housing on the corridor north from Aberdeen to Peterhead and Fraserburgh is putting extra pressure on roads further increased on completion of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Road.\u00a0 Suggested solutions include dualling to Peterhead, reopening of the former Dyce-Ellon railway or use of this as a busway.<\/p>\n

The \u00a3415m M8 M73 M74 improvements in Lanarkshire should see completion in spring 2017.\u00a0 Pinstripe argues that improvements on the M8 corridor are inadequate but, given tough limits on present sources of public funding, serious consideration should be given to electronic road tolling with priority for a 3-lane M8 (H 24 Aug).\u00a0 Reform Scotland has proposed an alternative view to reduce road congestion by the introduction of tolling with revenue used primarily, but not exclusively, to improve public transport.<\/p>\n

New data from the Scottish Government has found that more than 1 in 10 driver journeys were delayed by congestion in 2014 with road vehicle kilometres, at 44.8 billion, reaching their highest ever level taking road traffic slightly above the pre-recession 2007 peak of 44.7billion.\u00a0 However, the share of trips delayed by congestion is below the 14.3% peak in 2007 with government policy still seeking shifts away from car use.\u00a0 Trips to work by public transport or active travel are down from 30.7% in 2013 to 29.8% in 2014.\u00a0 The rail and cycling share of trips to work is showing clear indications of growth (H 27Aug)\u00a0 Congestion has led to pleas for provision of an extra Clyde crossing between the present Clyde Tunnel and the Erskine Bridge.<\/p>\n

RHA has warned that a shortage of drivers is threatening Christmas deliveries.\u00a0 Large numbers of lorry drivers are due to retire with an ongoing British shortfall of at least 40,000 drivers.<\/p>\n

Glasgow and Edinburgh Councils are both becoming more active is seeking to cut emissions from buses , lorries and cars contributing to poor air quality.\u00a0 Bus builder Alexander Dennis says \u2018it is only a matter of time before hybrid buses become the norm\u2019 with the zero emission mode operating in city centres and busy approach roads. The Green Bus Fund \u2013 funding 80% of the price differential between hybrid and diesel vehicles \u2013 has helped introduce 209 buses in Scotland.\u00a0 Low emission taxis are also being developed.<\/p>\n

Maybole, Largs, Biggar, Langholm and Oban are to be trial areas for 20mph speed limits on the trunk roads through their centres.\u00a0 The Maybole pilot started in September.\u00a0 The A909 Kelty-Burntisland road has been found to be the most dangerous in Scotland while the A9 between Dunblane and Inverness, aided by 50mph speed cameras is one of the safest roads as is the busy Glasgow-Edinburgh M8 (H16 Sept)<\/p>\n

From March 2016, Glasgow City Council is introducing schemes to widen 20mph limits and reduce the number of motor vehicles in the city centre.\u00a0 The Council is also considering decking over the M8 in the Charing Cross area allowing creation of attractive public space above the motorway cutting (H 6Nov)<\/p>\n

There is a need for review of practices where drivers having had blackouts can have driving licences returned after relatively short periods or can escape loss of licences by failure to be assessed for relevant conditions.\u00a0 The Scottish Parliament is considering a Bill to ban smoking in cars with children.<\/p>\n

After a rise in spending on road maintenance, Edinburgh Council is proposing controversial cuts in spend along with tougher action to ensure that third parties ensure full and timeous reinstatement of roads dug up for utility purposes.\u00a0 Other Councils are also looking for savings in road maintenance already constrained by other pressures on local authority budgets road maintenance.<\/p>\n

Opportunities arise from seeking extra income parking but this can be even more controversial \u2013 especially if the issue of reintroduction of charges for hospital parking is raised (at present, PFI contracts still allow parking charges at Edinburgh Royal, Glasgow Royal and Ninewells, Dundee).\u00a0 Edinburgh City Council is considering a one-third rise in parking charges and a \u00a31m a year rise in income.\u00a0 There is some concern about loss of spending on shopping and entertainment to\u00a0 areas further out from city hotspots yet several city centres are now prospering (and gaining more employment) under policies reducing peak access by car and the related demand for long-stay parking in, or close, to city centres.\u00a0 Demand for shorter-stay parking can also be reduced if there is high quality access by public transport, by cycle or on foot.<\/p>\n

Glasgow Fort, the outer Glasgow shopping complex close to the M8, is building an additional free 600 space car park.\u00a0 Digital entrepreneurs are developing a parking app showing where parking spaces are available in city centres \u2013 either helping car-drivers to find a space or encouraging them you to look more quickly at alternatives, including park and ride further out from city centres.<\/p>\n

DfT has announced a consultation, including Scotland, on steps to secure rapid removal of \u2018temporary\u2019 road signs and a reduction in the number of permanent signs wasting cash and causing distraction (S 29 ug).<\/p>\n

Motor fuel prices are edging down with petrol prices again below diesel.\u00a0 Proposals have been made for driving offences to be \u2018spent\u2019 after one rather than 5 years.\u00a0 This could mean higher insurance costs for motorists with entirely clean records.<\/p>\n

WALKING & CYCLING<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lothian Green MSP Alison Johnstone claims that the Scottish Government and many local authorities are out-of-step with public views in failing to provide more support for walking and cycling<\/p>\n

Dr Andrew Murray, GP and President of Ramblers Scotland and Stuart Hay of Living Streets, Scotland make pleas for action to make walking more attractive and improve overall health.\u00a0 Too many areas still have a poor walking environment, congestion and air pollution.<\/p>\n

The rural north-east of Scotland has the highest annual casualty rate for pedestrians in Britain with the worst rate being in November after the hour change. In-vehicle death and casualty rates are also high.\u00a0 Action is called for on speed awareness and on persuading walkers (and cyclists) to wear brighter colours at night.\u00a0 Edinburgh is extending test areas for car bans around schools at the beginning and end of the school day as part of measures to encourage walking, scooting and cycling to school.<\/p>\n

A \u00a3200,000 path restoration scheme for Suilven is to be carried out by the John Muir Trust and the Assynt Foundation.\u00a0 Upgrade of the Great Gen Cycleway between Fort William and Inverness has been completed.
\nIt takes cyclists largely off the busy A82 and makes more use of local roads and canal towpaths.\u00a0 Edinburgh people are being consulted on a new \u00a39m \u2018family-friendly\u2019 cycleway between Roseburn and Leith Walk. It will include sections of segregated lanes on main streets and it likely to include George St in association with measures to reduce other through motorised traffic, wider pavements and an increase in low emission buses.\u00a0 In Edinburgh, 16.5m cycle trips are now made annually with cycling to school also increasing.<\/p>\n

A new cycle lane into Waverley station has opened and the City Council now has 17 new bin lorries with special technology to detect cyclists.\u00a0 An analysis of brain trauma patients has confirmed that cycle helmets cut the risk of severe head injuries or death by 60%.\u00a0 A poll by Sustrans and Edinburgh City Council has shown that three-quarters of capital residents would like to see more spent on cycling infrastructure.\u00a0 The survey included similar results from six other UK cities (none of them in Scotland).<\/p>\n

PLANNING & PROPERTY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils are collaborating to secure an Aberdeen City Region Deal including improved connectivity.\u00a0 The first \u00a312m of projects in the Glasgow Metropolitan City Deal have been approved.\u00a0 They include a new slip road off the M77 in the Newton Mearns area serving 1000 new houses and other developments, a water sports facility at Darnley Dams and improvements in Glasgow city centre and at Glasgow Airport.\u00a0 Longer-term plans include developments at Port Dundas, a pedestrian\/cycle route and a new bridge connecting Govan and Partick.\u00a0 In Lanarkshire, plans include a greater shift of freight from road to rail, new roads and park and ride at Gartcosh\/Glenboig, better bus services , a Cathkin Relief Road, A726 widening to dual carriageway at Calderglen Park, facilities for an extra 7,000 houses in the Newton\/East Kilbride\/Hamilton\/Larkhall zone and infrastructure for the Exxon site at Bowling.<\/p>\n

Edinburgh City Council is preparing a blueprint for 14,000 extra homes over the next 10 years.\u00a0 This is expected to involve some greenbelt encroachment.\u00a0 Glasgow also favours 25,000 new homes in, or close to, the city by 2025. This raises the regional planning issue of the optimum, sustainable balance of the future location of housing between the inner and outer parts of city regions given that most employment growth may be close to city centres or other transport nodes.<\/p>\n

Data suggests that high street retail sales are falling though less so in the larger Scottish city centres diversifying into leisure and eating facilities and assisted by a rising inner city population and increasing visitors \u2013 also university\/college expansion in, or close to, city centres, especially in Glasgow\u2019s Riverside and City Campus.\u00a0 Office employment is rising in new development in the city centre and towards both Bridgeton and the Charing Cross\/Riverfront zone.<\/p>\n

Uncertainty over the future expansion of Buchanan Galleries has led to a 7% fall in value but Hammerson is planning to spend \u00a3200m on extending the Union Square development in Aberdeen.<\/p>\n

Brisk business, including \u2018click and collect\u2019, is reported from Scottish retail parks away from city and town centres.\u00a0 Expansion at Lomondgate outside Dumbarton has outperformed expectations.\u00a0 After long delays, the Maxim Office Park at Eurocentral is beginning to fill up but plans for ambitious shopping development on the former Ravenscraig site are on hold due to other existing centres and the rise in online shopping.\u00a0 The original 15 year old masterplan is being reviewed.\u00a0 The former National Savings Bank close to Glasgow\u2019s Silverburn shopping complex is to be demolished and replaced by 500 new homes.<\/p>\n

SEPA has published new Flood Risk Management Strategies and work has begun to give greater protection to the electrified railway close to the sea immediately east of Saltcoats rail station.\u00a0 Borders rail construction has also seen redesigned cuttings to minimise landslip risks.<\/p>\n

T in the Park has promised no repeat of the access chaos this summer when the event moved from Balado to the Strathallan Estate close to Auchterarder and Gleneagles<\/p>\n

RESEARCH & STATISTICS
\n<\/strong>
\nRevised government estimates suggest\u00a0 Scottish population, aided by immigration and a rise in those in older age groups, should reach a record high of 5.5m by 2025.\u00a0 This is a reduction on previous estimates though growth in England is expected to be higher.<\/p>\n

Visitors to Scotland continue to rise though at a slower rate.\u00a0 Out-tourism has also risen, helped by a strong \u00a3 and poor weather.\u00a0 But pressure on lower income household finances has seen a rise in the number of Britons not taking any holiday in the past year.\u00a0 In an all-income survey of holiday intentions for 2016, 55% said they planned a holiday overseas \u2013 down from 57% in 2015.\u00a0 The gap between income groups in taking holidays abroad has widened, with many of the more affluent taking two or more overseas holiday trips.
\nGlasgow is set to overtake Edinburgh as Scotland\u2019s most popular tourist destination.<\/p>\n

Aviation\u00a0 Glasgow Airport continues to see strong growth with a 14% rise in October users compared to 2014.\u00a0 International travel is up 18.5% and domestic 8.9%.\u00a0 At Edinburgh, the year on year October rise was 8.9% (the sixth month in which Edinburgh passengers were over 1m).\u00a0 Edinburgh hopes to achieve 10m passengers in 2014. Glasgow had 836,798 passengers in October and came fourth in the list of growth rates at European airports with 5 to 10m annual users. Gothenburg had the highest growth at 16% followed by Budapest and Porto with Glasgow at 12.2%.\u00a0 At Edinburgh, Ryanair expects to be contributing 2.3m passengers to the annual total for 2016. Inverness has new services to Dublin, connecting with transatlantic flights while services to hubs at Manchester and Gatwick were expanded.\u00a0 Aberdeen continues to suffer from oil industry recession.<\/p>\n

Cruising\u00a0 The Forth had more than 90,000 cruise visitors in 2014, the highest on record.\u00a0 Business was also strong at Orkney, Shetland and Greenock.\u00a0 1.1m cruise visitors to Scotland are expected by 2029.<\/p>\n

Rail\u00a0 ScotRail passengers continue to rise but at a lower rate (3.5% a year) than around London .\u00a0 Passenger trips in the SPT area are up from 55.65m in 2012\/13 to 62.64 m in 2014-15 and an expected 63.5m in 2015-16 (2014-15 saw a special boost of around 0.6m trips from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games).\u00a0 Over the same period, Glasgow Subway patronage has stayed around 12.6m though boosted by the Games to 13m in 2014-15. Edinburgh tram use is running slightly above forecasts at 5m in the current year.<\/p>\n

Across Britain, average annual rail passenger growth between 1979 and 1997 was 0.41%.\u00a0 Since then, average annual growth has been 4%, double the growth seen on European state-owned railways.\u00a0 Net government annual support to Train Operating companies in England has fallen to \u00a3140m (less so in Wales and Scotland due both to lower population density and devolved government preferences for improved services, lower fares and network extensions).\u00a0 Payments paid to government by franchise operators have risen from \u00a3400m a year to \u00a32.27bn (LTT 18 Sept & Rail, Issue 784, 30 Sept)<\/p>\n

Bus\u00a0 Most data for commercial bus usage is not published but Lothian Buses report a slight rise despite the introduction of the tram service.\u00a0 First Group and Stagecoach have concerns that low petrol prices are affecting bus use \u2013 though with some signs of rising usage in Glasgow after reforms in routes and fares.<\/p>\n

Road Traffic\u00a0 At 44.8bn road vehicle kilometres in Scotland in 2014 were just above the previous 44.7bn peak in 2007 but, due to a continuing rise in van movement, car vehicle kilometres are down as is average car occupancy<\/p>\n

Road Safety The annual Scottish statistics for 2014 show a 16% rise in deaths to 200 and a 2% rise in serious injuries. Overall casualties are down from 11,504 to 11,268.\u00a0 There is a 5% rise in pedestrians and pedal cyclists seriously injured and a 15% rise for motor-cyclists.\u00a0 For comparative purposes, there are now larger numbers of drug-related deaths (613) than road deaths.\u00a0 High rates of suicide are also a concern.<\/p>\n

Walking & Cycling\u00a0 New data shows that half of residents in Glasgow walk to work.\u00a0 Skoda commissioned research for the Tour of Britain Cycle Race with a sample just over 1,000 has the surprising finding that Glaswegians spend more time on their bikes than cyclists elsewhere in Britain.\u00a0 The Glasgow average is 4.9 hours per week but with Edinburgh having the highest number (about one-third) who commute by cycle.
\nThe Lake District tops the list of areas cyclists like to visit followed by the Highlands and the Yorkshire Dales.
\nOther SHS data suggests that only 11.8% of work travel in Edinburgh is by bike, still the highest level in Scotland, well ahead of 6% in the Highlands and a Scottish average of 2.6%<\/p>\n

Carbon Emissions\u00a0 Scotland has missed targets for the fourth year in a row and statistical changes will make it more difficult to deliver future annual targets.\u00a0 38.4% of cuts on the 1990 baseline have been delivered with 42% due to be delivered by 2020 \u2013 and helped by the imminent closure of coal-fired Longannet. Progress in the transport sector has been disappointing.<\/p>\n

A recent UK conference on driverless road vehicles has shown conflicting views \u2013 ranging from the death of\u00a0 conventional buses (apart from some high quality\/high capacity public transport routes in larger cities) to a
\nslower pace of change away from self-driving to greater use of automated rail systems, other segregated urban routes\u00a0 and motorways adapted for longer-distance automated use by cars and lorries (LLT 16 Oct)<\/p>\n

Using an app, Nottingham University has found that mobiles are used an average of 5 hours a day and are checked 85 times \u2013 people are accessing mobile phones twice as often as they thought.<\/p>\n

A study for ORR and ITC finds that younger age groups \u2018are falling out of love with the car\u2019 and turning to trains.\u00a0 British train trips are up from 738m in 1986 to 1,145m by 2006 and 1,654m by 2014<\/p>\n

Electrification, or other zero emission fuels, of road transport could provide new sunrise industries as many people will still have emotional as well as convenience attachment to car use (H 5 Nov).\u00a0 Other research suggests a shift from car ownership to rental charges or card payments for the use of vehicles, including driverless cars, owned by others \u2013 also implying a collapse in demand for conventional cars and redeployment elsewhere of personal and business spending.\u00a0\u00a0 Graham McCarthy of First Vehicle Leasing is more doubtful about rapid shifts to driverless vehicles (S 22 Sept)\u00a0\u00a0 Greater funding for transport infrastructure could come from a mix of congestion charging and levies to recover property value gains from improved\u00a0 infrastructure.\u00a0 \u2018Ordinary people, not big business, should be reaping the rewards of transport investment\u2019 (Derek Halden, S 13 Oct)<\/p>\n

Lex Autolease estimate that road congestion is costing business \u00a3millions per day (\u00a34.5 billion a year) with a strong case for economic gains from increased road investment.<\/p>\n

The Etape Loch Ness Cycle Race in 2015 saw 68% of participants coming from outside the Highlands and a 20% rise in attendance.\u00a0 Such events were becoming significant drivers for the local economy.<\/p>\n

A \u2018lithium\/oxygen\u2019, high-density battery being developed by Cambridge University could have sufficient storage to allow Edinburgh-London to be driven on a single charge.\u00a0 Cambridge based Mole Solutions is also developing a solution to rail delays caused by \u2018leaves on the line\u2019.<\/p>\n

BUSINESS & PERSONNEL<\/strong><\/p>\n

The \u00a37m DfT\/Siemens National Training Academy for Rail has opened in Northamption.\u00a0 It will help reduce skill shortages in the rail sector.\u00a0 Scottish use of the centre awaits clarification but ScotRail is stepping up programmes for Modern Apprenticeships in Customer Service \u2013 but more skills are needed for rail planning and operational programmes in Scotlandma<\/p>\n

80 staff at Aberdeen face the axe after the bmi regional \/Loganair merger as Airline Investments Ltd (AIL),<\/p>\n

First Group has lamented a lack of transparency in the process leading to Abellio gaining the new ScotRail franchise.\u00a0 First Group half-year profits are down but a three year scheme to reduce debt is under way.
\nFirst Glasgow had seen some turnaround despite mixed trading conditions and less concessionary travel.
\nUS operations have been hit by lower petrol prices encouraging car use but UK half-year bus revenue is up 1.3% despite lower compensation for concession travel.<\/p>\n

Stagecoach also report reduced US bus activity due to low petrol prices increasing car use.\u00a0 Bus revenue outside of London was up 1% in the24 weeks to 17 October with growth coming from far-paying passengers as compensation for concession travel falls. Bus passengers were up 0.3%.\u00a0 The best immediate prospects were seen as Megabus expansion in France aided by legal changes allowing competition on routes longer than 100 kilometres.\u00a0 UK rail revenues were up 5.8% with profits also up. The company hopes for success in winning the new Trans-Pennine franchise in December.\u00a0 In the joint West Coast venture with Virgin, rail revenue is up 8.7%. Stagecoach has had a successful launch of a 10 year \u00a3400m bond issue<\/p>\n

Scottish Citylink report a 3% rise in turnover to \u00a345.1m but pre-tax profits dipped to \u00a34m<\/p>\n

Bus-builder Alexander Dennis of Falkirk is on track for a record \u00a3600m turnover, helped by major overseas orders.\u00a0 Profits for 2015 may be around \u00a325m, up from \u00a318.7m in 2014<\/p>\n

Edinburgh CityCabs is celebrating 90 years of operation by \u00a310,000 worth of free fares and a family holiday.
\nThe company has risen from 80 drivers in 1925 to around 1100 in 2015<\/p>\n

Park\u2019s of Hamilton, the Lanarkshire-based car and bus company has raised pre-tax profits to \u00a316m.\u00a0 The bulk of revenue growth was in the car division but coach hire income rose from \u00a327m to \u00a327.4m.\u00a0 Malcolm Group report higher turnover and an 11% rise in profits (in construction rather than logistics activities)<\/p>\n

Tennent\u2019s say that tougher Scottish drink-driving laws have contributed to a 9.5% fall in first-half profits<\/p>\n

Roy Brannen, currently director of trunk roads and bus operations at Transport Scotland is to be the new Chief Executive of Transport Scotland, replacing David Middleton who is now seconded to Historic Environment Scotland<\/p>\n

Lothian Buses has advertised for a new MD following a bitter warring between executives<\/p>\n

The \u00a325m Haymarket Station modernisation, after a previous award in 2014, has been awarded the Saltire Civil Engineering Award for 2015<\/p>\n

Glasgow City Council won the UK Traffic Management Award for effective systems during the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.\u00a0 Edinburgh Trams won Operator of the Year at the 2015 UK Light Rail Awards.<\/p>\n

Lord Adonis is to chair a National Infrastructure Commission but will have no involvement in decisions or airport expansion in SE England.<\/p>\n

Frank McAveety is the new leader of Glasgow City Council.\u00a0 He is a supporter of more devolution to cities and has changed senior appointments within the Council.\u00a0 Elaine McDougall replaces Alistair Watson in charge of Transport, Environment and Sustainability.\u00a0 Jim Coleman, present SPT Chair, is expected to be replaced by Jonathan Findlay at the next SPT meeting<\/p>\n

Forth Road Bridgemaster, Barry Colford, has resigned following the transfer of road bridges management from FETA to private sector Amey in June.\u00a0 He is moving to work in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

Brian Sutherland becomes the new Finance Director at troubled, publicly-owned Prestwick Airport from
\n7 December.\u00a0 Richard Jenner is interim Chief Executive.<\/p>\n

Russell Gunson has been appointed Director of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Scotland.<\/p>\n

Paul White is the new Chair of Scottish Transport Studies Group(STSG), replacing retiring Chair Derek Halden who is now Secretary<\/p>\n

Former Scottish Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson, has become President of the Scottish Association for Public Transport (SAPT) following the retirement of Tom Hart<\/p>\n

PUBLICATIONS \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reported Road Casualties\u00a0 – Scotland 2014, A National Statistics Publication, Transport Scotland<\/p>\n

The Glasgow Navy- The ships of the Clyde Navigation Trust\u00a0 Part 2: The Harbour Ferries, Brian Patton 2015,
\n181 pages with extensive illustrations and text, \u00a312\u00a0\u00a0 www.martins-the-printers.com<\/p>\n

Pay -as-you-drive : the road to a better future, Ben Thomson, Geoff Mawdsley & Alison Payne, Reform
\nScotland, first published October 2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 www.reformscotland.com<\/p>\n

Western Ferries : Taking on Giants, Roy N Pedersen\u00a0 Birlinn \u00a39.99<\/p>\n

The Railway Atlas of Scotland : 200 years of history in maps, David Spaven, Birlinn, 2015, \u00a330 Birlinn<\/p>\n

The Waverley Route \u2013 its Heritage and Revival, Anne Glen\u00a0 2015 \u2013 160 pages with illustrations, 2015
\nhardback \u00a322.50\u00a0 To order, contact nicola@lilypublications.co.uk<\/p>\n

The End of Automobile Dependence, P Newman & J Kenworthy, 2015, Island Press, Washington<\/p>\n

Mobility \u2013 a New Urban Design and Transport Planning Philosophy, J Whitelegg, 2015 Straw Barnes
\nPress(both the above are reviewed by P Goodwin in LTT 18 Sept)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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