Why are our streets riddled with holes?

Why are our streets riddled with holes?

Holes in the road. Don't we all just hate them. And they seem to be ever more and more of ...
Rail 474: Why pretend maintenance shake up is a cunning plan?

Rail 474: Why pretend maintenance shake up is a cunning plan?

The decision to strip companies of all maintenance on the railways is good for the industry, the passengers, the taxpayer ...
Down the tube - the biggest PPP

Down the tube – the biggest PPP

As Saddam Hussein might say, the Public Private Partnership for the London Underground is the mother of all Private Finance ...
Crashes and near misses could derail privatised tube

Crashes and near misses could derail privatised tube

When the government drew up the deal to part privatise the Tube network, ministers were so confident of the excellence ...
Rail 473: Media flurry may signal treble trouble for railway

Rail 473: Media flurry may signal treble trouble for railway

After a period of relative calm while media and public attention was diverted overseas, the railways are now once more ...
Is PPP squeezing too much out of the Tube?

Is PPP squeezing too much out of the Tube?

Transport expert Christian Wolmar argues that the prima facie evidence for the cause of Sunday’s Tube crash at Camden Town ...
Is Underground safe?

Is Underground safe?

The events on the Underground over the weekend have raised a simple question in the minds of the two million ...
Q&A: Tube derailments

Q&A: Tube derailments

Following the second Tube derailment in 48 hours, this time on the Piccadilly line, rail expert Christian Wolmar gives his ...
Rail 472: Rail must combat crisis to deprive enemies of ammo

Rail 472: Rail must combat crisis to deprive enemies of ammo

Despite the publication of the SRA's upbeat case for rail document, Christian Wolmar warns that the railways remain in crisis ...
Charging motorists for road use is the way forward

Charging motorists for road use is the way forward

This week will see the announcement of the government’s congestion-busting strategy. But far a multi billion programme of major road ...
Rail 471: Will the SRA take the risk to end the Rosco monopoly?

Rail 471: Will the SRA take the risk to end the Rosco monopoly?

The three rolling stock leasing companies are effectively a cartel, and have it easy, with long contracts and little competition ...
Letchworth sets the standard in town planning

Letchworth sets the standard in town planning

The issue of local versus national interest has been a perennial theme surrounding local government ever since the first local ...
Rail 470: Unlike the UK, the sun is rising on Japan's privatisation

Rail 470: Unlike the UK, the sun is rising on Japan’s privatisation

With privatisation frequently held as the ultimate model of how to run a railway, Christian Wolmar believes that Britain's failure ...
Broadwater Revisited

Broadwater Revisited

The concierge looks at you through the glass door before pushing the buzzer to let you in. ‘Can I help ...
Rail 469: Railway industry buckles as media turn up the heat

Rail 469: Railway industry buckles as media turn up the heat

The railway has admirably fulfilled its traditional summer role as silly season Aunt Sally for the media but, points out ...
Is there no hope for rail users?

Is there no hope for rail users?

The news that Connex is cutting services into London Bridge to ensure better punctuality must seem like the last straw ...
Oldies rule, OK

Oldies rule, OK

The theme over the copious English breakfasts during the Beamers' tour of Somerset was to attribute cricketing definitions to the ...
Rail 468: Class of 2003: end of year report says 'must do better'

Rail 468: Class of 2003: end of year report says ‘must do better’

In his assessment of performance in the railway school at the end of the academic year, 'headmaster' Christian Wolmar concludes ...
Charge opposition routed

Charge opposition routed

The London congestion charge has attracted more opposition than any political measure since the poll tax. Despite its undoubted success ...
Rail 467: Son of privatisation seems fated to be a problem child

Rail 467: Son of privatisation seems fated to be a problem child

Privatisation was designed to cut the cost of the railway to the government. So it's an acute irony that it ...
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