The UK Labour Government’s plan to renationalise train operating companies aims to gradually transition them to state control as contracts expire, but this move is more a continuation of existing trends than a radical shift. Professor Donald Houston, Dr Magda Cepeda-Zorrilla and Dr Sara Hassan look at the core challenges facing British railways. The UK … Continue reading “Rail Nationalisation – Real Policy Change or Just Ideology?”
Category: Transport
E Mobility Hubs in the UK and Europe: Highlights of the Current Research (By My Awesome Research Team)
On Thursday 27 June 2024, Dr. Dilum Dissanayake, Associate Professor of Transportation Planning at the University of Birmingham, joined City-REDI for our last academic seminar of the year. The seminar delved into shared electric mobility hubs (eHUBs) and the research approaches used to understand market segmentation, mode substitution patterns, transport user preferences, and spatial transferability. … Continue reading “E Mobility Hubs in the UK and Europe: Highlights of the Current Research (By My Awesome Research Team)”
Riding Into the Future: A Comparison of the Transport Policies in the 2024 UK Election
The United Kingdom general election will be held on July 4. By now all political parties have published their general election manifesto. In this blog, Magda Cepeda-Zorrilla compiles a summary of the transport-related proposals from the Labour, Conservatives, Reform UK, Liberal Democrats and the Green Party. Potholes With a focus on modernizing Transport Infrastructure, Labour … Continue reading “Riding Into the Future: A Comparison of the Transport Policies in the 2024 UK Election”
EVs and Charging Infrastructure
Dr Magda Cepeda-Zorrilla investigates the adoption of electric vehicles in the UK alongside the government’s plans for net zero, and the challenges that the owners of electric vehicles face. This article was written for the Birmingham Economic Review. The review is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers … Continue reading “EVs and Charging Infrastructure”
The Demand and Challenges of the Sprint Public Transport System in Birmingham
Sara Hassan and Magda Cepeda-Zorrilla discuss whether a Bus Rapid Transit system could help reduce passenger travel times. This article was written for the Birmingham Economic Review. The review is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It is an in-depth exploration of the economy of … Continue reading “The Demand and Challenges of the Sprint Public Transport System in Birmingham”
What the Midlands is Doing to Meet Sustainable Transport Goals
Paige Davies discusses the measures the Midlands is taking to reach net zero. Paige worked as an intern at City-REDI over the summer of 2023. She graduated with a BSc in Geography and is currently undertaking a Masters in Environment, Development, and Politics at the University of Birmingham. As part of the UK’s net zero … Continue reading “What the Midlands is Doing to Meet Sustainable Transport Goals”
Money Talks – Reassessing Transport Priorities Following HS2
Magda Cepeda-Zorrilla and Donald Houston discuss how transport priorities have changed following HS2. They argue that buses are good value for taxpayers, important to those who do not have any other form of transport and can foster inclusive economic growth. In England, public support for bus operators and users totalled £3.1 billion in 2021-22 – … Continue reading “Money Talks – Reassessing Transport Priorities Following HS2”
London Wins Again – The Debacle of the UK’s High-speed Rail ‘strategy’
Donald Houston and Rebecca Riley discuss the scrapping of HS2 and the significant economic impact on the North of the UK. This blog was originally written for the Birmingham Business School Blog. A branding failure HS2 has always suffered from a branding failure. HS2 sounds rather anodyne and the ‘2’ reminds those north of London … Continue reading “London Wins Again – The Debacle of the UK’s High-speed Rail ‘strategy’ ”
Are E-Scooters a Solution or a Hazard?
Dr Magda Cepeda-Zorrilla discusses the return of e-scooters to Birmingham. Can they help to replace short vehicle trips? Or are they a danger to pedestians and other road users? This blog was first posted on the Birmingham Business School blog. In this blog, I write about the return of e-scooters to Birmingham with a new … Continue reading “Are E-Scooters a Solution or a Hazard?”
Is the UK Ready to Expand Ultra-Low Emission Zones (ULEZ)?
Dr Magda Cepeda Zorrilla looks at Ultra-Low Emission Zones (ULEZ). What are the positives and negatives of ULEZ and what preparations do we need to make before we implement new zones? To combat air pollution and encourage environmentally friendly travel options, the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was introduced in April 2019. All roads … Continue reading “Is the UK Ready to Expand Ultra-Low Emission Zones (ULEZ)?”