Andrew Steele’s Post

Still time to vote... 48 stations have been reduced to the final 3 with voting concluding today for glory in the 2024 World Cup of Stations Britain’s railway stations are set to compete in the World Cup of Stations 2024, a competition that celebrates the importance of rail and its role in supporting communities, businesses and the economy. With 48 stations vying for the title, this year’s focus is on the businesses that make stations vital community hubs, driving local economies.  Hosted by Rail Delivery Group, the competition will see the public vote for the station with the best local businesses in stations across England, Scotland and Wales. A special bonus round will feature stations nominated by the Community Rail Network, recognised for promoting local engagement, social inclusion, and sustainable travel. Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive Officer of Rail Delivery Group, said: “Our stations play a vital role in the heart of communities, offering much more than transport services. They are home to a wide variety of thriving local businesses, from independent cafes to retailers, that make a real difference to the areas they serve." Paul Meenan - Wasn't Kings Lynn station one of your projects ? now its in the final https://lnkd.in/eQC7e7EP

Brisbane is one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities, with our population surging by 21% over the past decade, outpacing cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, and Hong Kong. This rapid growth, along another 1.55 million people who are expected to move to Brisbane by 2041 is driving the need for expanded transport infrastructure to support the increasing demand on the network. In response, Brisbane City Council has recently announced that the Brisbane Metro is undergoing its first major expansion valued at $450m, adding 22 new stations to the network, as well as consideration to deliver additional priority infrastructure projects across the region to create more connected communities. https://lnkd.in/gGiuqkQV James Chapman Julie Thomson Tom Conway Reuben Lennon Natalie Coyne

Interesting article in The Guardian, but it doesn't mention how - in many European nations - there is proven to be efficient use of capacity and zero 'abstraction' caused by such commercially driven "Open Access" services. - That's because almost all long distance rail *is* Open Access there, e.g. 99% of French TGVs, 99% of German long distance trains, all Italian high speed trains, and the vast majority of long distance rail in Sweden, Czechia & more - Those countries (and there are not just a few of them, but many!) demonstrate that Open Access can easily be the default for long distance passenger rail, fulfilling a societal need, with both high frequencies and demand. The United Kingdom really needs to ask itself if it is even having the right discussion - on the contrary, does it need the long distance concessions anymore? Louise Haigh MP Stephen Morgan MP Richard Bowker CBE Nigel Harris Huw Merriman https://lnkd.in/eig8kkaR

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

This article reinforces transport's powerful role in place-making. Within my team, and through the work that we do, we can see this on a much more local level - within the transport hubs and stations themselves. When looking at revenue generation, we recognise a station's 'place' and how it fits with customers, communities, and transport links. How does it work now? How could it work in the future? How can we build upon the offering, help to generate sustainable revenue, and increase the social value of our stations and interchanges for both local and wider regional communities.

It was fantastic to attend the Northern Transport Summit on Thursday hosted by one of our key clients, Manchester Airport Group. The level of ambition and vision outlined by the Metro Mayors is exactly what the North of England requires. They are really grabbing hold of the agenda, working together and learning from each other so that there is a consistent approach to government. We have already started to see the successful rollout of the Bee Network in Manchester by Andy Burnham. As a result, there is more challenge back to Government that the North will not accept sub par infrastructure, and more evidence based optioneering now done in the north by people who know the north. This is not about transport, it is about growth. Making opportunities more accessible to more people. Rail Stations as a driver for wider Place based regeneration was also a key theme that came from the Mayors, to further support the business case for how these benefits will reap benefits for their communities. To maximise this, the public and private sector will have to innovate so that we can deliver things like the Mass Transit system in West Yorkshire, an underground station at Piccadilly and the regeneration of the Liverpool Central Station area in the future.

Good to hear the news yesterday of fresh calls for the Elizabeth line to be extended into Kent to Ebbsfleet. https://lnkd.in/ehmr-2j2 As the article points out “a potential route further out into Ebbsfleet and Gravesend in Kent was ‘safeguarded’ by an Act of Parliament back in 2008.” At Bring Back Euro Trains a core aspect of our strategic approach to securing the return of international services to both Ebbsfleet and Ashford is to frame these international stations as regional hubs. Employing a regional hub frame of thinking about these two assets not only fosters a more holistic view, but also significantly enhances the likelihood of their reactivation and, most importantly, the maximisation of their benefits. The extension of the Elizabeth line to Ebbsfleet and on to Gravesend is key to unlocking and maximising Ebbsfleet International's potential as a regional hub reconnected to the international rail network.

London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Green Skies Aviation Hub reports that the proposed expansion of London Luton Airport to sustainably grow capacity at the Airport to 32 million passengers per annum (mppa) represents the region’s biggest job creation programme in a generation. This vital project is deliverable without the need for Government investment, does not require an additional runway and makes best use of the airport’s existing runway and assets. Luton Rising proposals also include some of the most far-reaching commitments to the sustainable operation of an airport ever to be introduced in the UK. Once growth to 32 mppa is achieved, London Luton Airport’s contribution to UK GDP would grow to £3.3 billion by 2043, tripling this impact. Ahead of the DCO decision date of 3 January, members are invited to show their support by signing the Open Letter to Government. See here https://lnkd.in/ePHJWAu6

Look west, not east on High-Speed Rail   Dialogue CEO Adam Leto features in today’s Daily Telegraph discussing the upcoming business case for a future high speed rail link between Sydney and Newcastle.   The findings are expected to be released later this year, but early indications suggest the key Sydney interchange would be located at Central rather than Parramatta or Sydney Olympic Park, as previously planned.   High Speed rail must respond to the changing geographic and demographic shifts in Sydney. As Mr Leto asks: “If high-speed rail is a project aimed at responding to our city’s long-term growth, why wouldn’t its Sydney interchange be based closer to where future populations are forecast to live and work?”   “Parramatta is the geographical heart of Sydney and at the centre of a region which will house the majority of the city’s population over the coming decades.   “[Parramatta is] predicted to have a population of more than 500K residents and an extra 150K new jobs by 2050.”   Read the article in the comments below   City of Parramatta, Gail Connolly PSM , Transport for NSW, Alana Newbrook, Larry McGrath, Alice Reis

Initial results from Our Big Transport Conversation, the recent consultation about transport in York, have shown overwhelming support for the ten policies put forward by Councillors. Find out more 👇 https://lnkd.in/eJ_TqN5S