Aviram Vijh’s Post

There is a concerning statistic in this article namely that Transport for NSW data from this week shows that #busdriver vacancies were up 10% compared with the previous month and had reached a five-month high. Nationally, in the 12 months to November 2023, there was a decline of 2,600 bus drivers. We know that this situation isn't sustainable. Making matters worse is where the state governments are not taking into consideration the national and international heavy vehicle driver shortage before penalising operators via #abatements. Abatements are a reduction in a service payment due to underperformance relative to a specific key performance indicator (KPI). Instead of abating operators, it is time that the state and territory governments recognise the hard work operators are undertaking to recruit and retain drivers, and provide assistance to address many of the issues we and the unions have identified that make driving a bus unattractive. It is time to give bus operators a fair go and work with us to make driving a bus a career of choice not a last resort. BTW, Good luck to Transit Systems and Daniela Fontana GAICD with recruitment and retention activities for the T3 bus replacement project.

NEW PT MONITOR BLOG POST and PASSENGER TRANSPORT ARTICLE Labour’s bus plans – no more tinkering? Bus franchising looks set to be rolled out in new areas, but time and due process could yet prove to be the enemy of radical reform. Whatever the outcome of the General Election on 4 July, it is increasingly likely that, by 2030, the commanding heights of the UK bus industry will be specified and controlled by the public sector. However, it could be five or even up to 10 years before planned reforms reach the rest of the country - to the detriment of passengers, authorities, operators and investors. https://bit.ly/LabBusPlans #bus #buses #publictransport

Ride-hailing has become a fixture of transportation networks, but often relies on controversial labour practices. How can municipal and provincial regulators better balance transportation justice for both drivers and passengers? Next Friday, TCAT & #MobilizingJustice are bringing together researchers, drivers and advocates from BC, Ontario and the US to discuss emerging approaches to regulating ride-hailing platforms that protect drivers, passengers and communities. Join us! https://loom.ly/RBNkWgw

The first step in reforming the provision of buses across England. The amendment to the guidance, and the Buses Bill in due course, will be key to driving the governments agenda to widen and accelerate the roll out of franchise services by local transport authorities. It is good to see the Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom is building capacity to support local transport authorities. The DfT, LTAs and the industry will need to ensure that reform can be achieved in an efficient and effective way as possible, along with ensuring consistency for LTAs and the market, whilst being flexible for local circumstances. #busreform https://lnkd.in/eSR_i6U6

Truck drivers are the backbone of a successful economy - and ensuring they have access to safe and comfortable roadside facilities is crucial. That’s why we’re so pleased to see that the UK government and transportation sector are jointly investing £16.5 million to significantly improve roadside facilities for truck drivers throughout England. The new initiative is set to provide: ✅ 430 new parking spaces for HGVs ✅ Better welfare facilities like showers and restaurants ✅ Improved lighting and secure fencing for safer rest areas ✅ Charging points for eTrucks These upgrades - spanning 38 different truck stops - will enhance working conditions, support jobs within the haulage sector, and contribute to the decarbonisation of road transport. Read the full story on GOV.UK: https://fcld.ly/kg6riow #TruckDrivers #Logistics #Decarbonisation #NetZero

🚍 Buses Buses Buses 🚍 📣 King's Speech: The UK's new Labour government will strengthen England's recent focus on improving bus services through a new "Better Buses Bill". The Better Buses Bill will lift restrictions on new publicly owned bus operators and give local leaders throughout England new powers to plan networks that better serve local communities. Podaris is a transport planning platform used by local authority officers and consultants across the UK to plan and analyse better bus services. An easy-to-use interface allows officers to directly answer key questions and ensure that interventions meet residents' needs in the most equitable way. Get in touch today to join the likes of leading authorities, such as: 💛 Liverpool City Region Combined Authority using Podaris to support their transition to a franchised network; 🌳 Gloucestershire County Council that uses Podaris to support their innovative demand-responsive service, the Robin; and 🏖 East Sussex County Council who uses Podaris to support its Enhanced Partnership and Bus Priority Schemes https://lnkd.in/eJ93vgMZ Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom #KingsSpeech #BetterBusesBill #PublicTransport

According to a recent news article, teenagers will be able to qualify to drive trains on Britain's railways under new proposals. The government is asking for views on reducing the minimum age from 20 to 18, in a consultation running until 13 June. Their average age of a train driver at the moment is 48 but the number of train drivers due to retire in the next five years has prompted concerns of a shortage. What do you think about the proposal? Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eAeEa2Mj

Increasing the general coaches in passenger/mail/express trains is a good decision: In Modiji 3.0 Government Honorable Ashwini Vaishnav is again a Cabinet Minister of Railway. He has recently taken a good decision to increase the number of coaches in various passenger trains. If this decision would have been taken before the Loksabha Election, it might had resulted in damage control with more number of BJP seats. Similarly the passenger trains/memu trains should be increased for the short distance traveling. But to gain the revenue Two to Three Ticket Collectors ( TC) should be recruited in each passenger train and These TCs should issue the required tickets to passengers without any fine. If States Transportation Buses can afford the bus conductor for 50 to 60 or less number of passengers then why not Railway can afford TCs for passenger Trains. Many intellectuals in Railway Minister's office may suggest that App is available to book the tickets. But Government /state Governments are giving manny facilities without any charge, so people are habitual for free services. Nearly 50 % passengers in memu / passenger trains are without tickets. Therefore such TCs to issue the tickets in running trains are necessary. Their salary may be decided on the basis of their tickets collection. The cleark issuing the tickets at window are not able to issue the tickets for available passengers in the row. Because people come just before 10 to 15 minutes of schedule time of trains. Such decision to recruit Ticket Collectors will create the jobs to thousands of youth. Also the facilities will be available to passengers for short distance travels with unreserved general tickets. This decision will also built the image of Government working for common man - poor and middle class people. Otherwise BJP Government only takes decision for rich people ,this image is already built-up.

Driverless trains are on the way. It's going to be a problem for trade unions. Trade unions are going to have to adjust to recruiting people that don't work. There will need to social unions that consist of all people, including people that don't work. Focusing on workers is not the future. Focusing on people is! Looking at other contributions that people make will be a part of the future unions. https://lnkd.in/eWbBPaFg