Christian Wolmar

While superficially the new franchise deal for SouthCentral looks as if a lot of private money has been attracted into the industry, Christian Wolmar argues that most of it is illusory. At the end of the day, it is the taxpayers who are footing the bill. At last a franchise contract has been signed. The deal between the Strategic Rail Authority and Govia for the SouthCentral contract was announced on 12 ...

Every day, we are always on the brink of transport gridlock. As congestion gets worse and the trains more overcrowded, and with ministers showing their desperation by allowing motorway drivers to use the hard shoulder, it seems inevitable that one day the nation will simply seize up. That is precisely the premise of a gripping pseudo-documentary to be shown by the BBC on 13 May which follows the events of a ...

With the National Audit Office again turning its attention to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Christian Wolmar calls for a fundamental recasting of the Kent suburban timetable if the expensive projects is to provide value. Here's a paradox. The construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link is set to be completed on time and on budget at £5.2bn with the first section, due to open on 28 September, almost finished and ...