Latest news with #London-style
Pembrokeshire Herald
18-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Rural operators ‘petrified' by bus reforms
RURAL bus operators are petrified by the Welsh Government's plans to introduce a London-style bus network in Wales, the industry warned. Scott Pearson, chair of the Coach and Bus Association Cymru, gave evidence on the bus bill which seeks to bring buses into public control, with operators bidding for contracts. Mr Pearson, who has been running bus services for 25 years, cautioned against a regional approach or modelling reforms on other franchise systems such as Greater Manchester's. 'That's a massive population in a big urban area,' he told the Senedd's infrastructure committee. 'Wales is not like that: you've got three big cities in the bottom, one at the top and, in between, a whole load of hills and mountains. 'The rural aspect to this, our members – the SME [small- and medium-sized enterprise] membership – are petrified about this bill.' Expressing concerns about smaller operators being squeezed out, Mr Pearson told the meeting on May 15: ''Petrified' is the right word to use because we don't have detail.' Aaron Hill, director of the Confederation of Passenger Transport Cymru, agreed: 'Scott is right, buses are inherently a very local service and respond to very local needs. We would be missing a trick if local authorities didn't have a bigger role in how we shape the network.' Mr Hill warned of significant barriers for SMEs, with six-figure costs in some parts of the UK to bid for franchises and regulatory hurdles to clear to even take part in the procurement. 'We need, if we're going to do it successfully in Wales, to overcome that,' he said. Mr Pearson stressed: 'If you hand a guy who's got ten buses a 150-page document for the franchise and say 'do you want this?'… they're not going to do it, they're going to sell up.' Mr Hill cautioned a change in the regulatory model will not guarantee success, warning the bill does little to take buses out of traffic, coordinate roadworks nor speed up journey times. He said: 'The bill doesn't actually change the economics of running bus services in Wales – so many of the challenges that the network faces today, the network will still face on the other side of re-regulation.' Raising examples of other franchised networks, Mr Hill said London has historically had a gap of around £700m between the cost of the service and the income generated. He said the gap in Greater Manchester, which took control of buses in 2023, is about £250m and the Welsh bill exposes the network to similar affordability challenges. Mr Hill told Senedd Members: 'We think the bill only lends itself to one type of franchise, a gross-cost franchise – that is the franchise that carries the most risk for taxpayers.' Mr Pearson warned the public purse will shoulder all the risk under the bill as drafted. Mr Hill warned a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) published alongside the bill was insufficient, with 'at least' £200m of additional costs not factored in. 'That feels to me to be a significant question that hangs over the viability of franchising,' he said, pointing to examples including national insurance tax hikes and staff costs. In written evidence, the Confederation of Passenger Transport Cymru warned: 'We are concerned that the assessment of the financial implications are overly optimistic and based on weak assumptions and unrealistic forecasts.' Mr Pearson similarly criticised a lack of detail in the bill and impact assessment, making it difficult to understand the costs and challenges. He said: 'If we're trying to do the same with the current funding, and adding a whole load of costs into it from TfW [Transport for Wales], for instance, it's just simply not going to work because you can't get more for less.' Mr Pearson added: 'It talks about patronage increase in the RIA – that's a big, big faux pas because nothing in this bill… looks at the main cause… which is congestion. 'It's not dealt with at all. I think we've got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity here and we're not… addressing the main problems that we currently face as operators.' Mr Hill added: 'There's a real risk here: we've built up public expectation, in the same way… as with the railways, then delivery or significant improvement doesn't follow for a long time.' Asked about the scope of the bill, with councils rather than ministers remaining responsible for school transport, Mr Pearson questioned the logic of separating the two. He raised the example of a rural operator, which provides bus services and school transport, missing out on a franchise, asking: 'What happens to the home to school, the local authority picks it up? That's a whole… different ball game… I don't think that is going to work well.'
Scottish Sun
06-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Exact date major Scottish city to launch London-style transport system with capped daily fares
The technology calculates the cheapest fare based on the number of journeys Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR Scottish city is set to launch a London-style transport system within weeks. Edinburgh City Council announced its new "tap on, tap off" initiative will go live later this month on the capital's tram network following months of testing. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The "tap on, tap off" initiative will go live later this month Credit: Alamy The integrated fares system will allow punters to tap their contactless card or device onto 'platform validators' to begin their journey. Customers will then tap off using the same technique once they reach their destination. The technology, called "ToTo", calculates the cheapest fare based on the number of journeys made and debits the card in the early hours of the following morning. Weekly travel will also be capped at the seven-day rate, so you can travel as much as you like within the 'city zone' and only pay the weekly cap fare. The system will go live on Monday, May 19. In order to benefit from caps, exactly the same card or device must be used every time you tap on and tap off. This ensures that all journeys are assigned to the correct customer and prevents journeys from mistakenly being registered as incomplete. Sarah Singh, head of service delivery at Edinburgh Trams, said: "We are delighted to be able to share the launch date for this new payment system. "The delivery of this project reflects months of hard work from colleagues across the business and Lothian Buses, to fully integrate ToTo into their existing system, and we're pleased to be offering our best-ever service to customers across Edinburgh." Customers who benefit from existing concession cards should continue to use these as before and aren't required to tap off to end their journey. Edinburgh to launch London-Style Tap-and-Go Public Transport Each contactless card or device can only be used for one standard adult fare. Customers travelling in groups or with children should still use the ticket vending machines on platforms, the et app or the Bus & Tram App to pre-purchase their tickets. Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, transport convener for Edinburgh Council, said: "Integrating this new ToTo system across both Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses is a significant milestone for our public transport network and I'm excited that we're only a couple weeks away from launch. "This will allow residents and visitors to travel more efficiently and at the best value with ticket prices automatically capped at the cheapest daily and weekly rate. "Our excellent public transport services is the most inclusive form of travel; it provides an alternative to car use especially for people on lower incomes or with mobility issues. "Our integrated public transport system is something we're very proud of here in Edinburgh - compared with similar sized cities we are an example to be celebrated and followed. "Low carbon travel is also a key element of our wider climate ambitions and I'm sure this development will encourage greater use."
Zawya
30-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Ishraq Hospitality and McGettigan Group announce June Opening of Goose & Gander during ATM 2025
Goose & Gander—Dubai's newest London-style gastropub by Ishraq Hospitality and The McGettigan Group—will officially open at Holiday Inn Express Dubai Internet City in the first week of June, bringing London charm to the heart of the city. United Arab Emirates, Dubai: Ishraq Hospitality and McGettigan Group convened during Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 to confirm the much-anticipated opening of Goose & Gander, their joint venture concept located at Holiday Inn Express Dubai Internet City. Following the successful signing announcement last year, both partners have now revealed that the venue will officially open its doors in the first week of June 2025. The meeting brought together Sherif Beshara, Group CEO of Mohamed & Obaid AlMulla, and Dennis McGettigan, Group CEO of The McGettigan Group, alongside Dany Cherfane, Hotel Manager of Holiday Inn Express Dubai Internet City, who will oversee operations of the new venue. Together, they reaffirmed their vision to introduce a dynamic gastropub experience to one of Dubai's most vibrant commercial neighbourhoods. Set in the heart of the city's business and tech corridor, Goose & Gander will offer a modern yet authentic London pub atmosphere featuring elevated pub classics, curated drinks, live entertainment, quiz nights, brunches, and community-driven events — creating a buzzing social hub for residents, professionals, and visitors alike. Sherif Beshara, Group CEO of Mohamed & Obaid AlMulla, stated: "We're delighted to announce that Goose & Gander will officially welcome guests in early June. This project is a testament to the strong collaboration between Ishraq Hospitality and McGettigan Group, and a reflection of our continued investment in lifestyle-driven hospitality. With its unique concept and strategic location, Goose & Gander is set to become a go-to destination in Internet City." Dennis McGettigan, CEO of The McGettigan Group, added: "Our partnership with Ishraq Hospitality has brought Goose & Gander from vision to reality. With the opening now in sight, we are excited to unveil a venue that blends classic charm with a contemporary twist, serving great food, drinks, and entertainment in true McGettigan's style. We can't wait to welcome our first guests this June." Dany Cherfane, Hotel Manager at Holiday Inn Express Dubai Internet City, shared: "Goose & Gander represents an exciting new chapter for our hotel and the wider Internet City community. We've assembled a passionate team ready to deliver memorable service and create a welcoming space where guests can connect, unwind, and enjoy vibrant moments every day." About Ishraq Hospitality With over a decade of experience in operating some of the most prestigious international hotel franchises in Dubai, Ishraq Hospitality is the asset management and hospitality division of the Dubai-based Mohamed & Obaid AlMulla Group. Established in 2007 and acquired by Mohamed & Obaid AlMulla Group in 2011, the division is renowned for setting consistent quality service standards in the hospitality industry. Ishraq Hospitality caters to leisure and business travellers in the mid-priced and high-end bandwidths. Its portfolio includes Holiday Inn Express (HIEX) hotels of the IHG group: Holiday Inn Express Dubai Airport, Holiday Inn Express Dubai – Jumeriah, Holiday Inn Express Dubai – Internet City, Holiday Inn Express Dubai – Safa Park, Holiday Inn Dubai Al Maktoum Airport and Staybridge Suites Dubai Al Maktoum Airport, which opened in October 2020, as well as Crowne Plaza Deira and Crowne Plaza Dubai Jumeirah. Ishraq Hospitality has an exciting line-up of hotels set to open, continuing to expand its footprint in the sector. About McGettigan's Steeped in Irish family history, the very first McGettigan's Pub was opened in Ireland in the 1960s on Queen Street in Dublin, by company founder Jim McGettigan. Now, a collection of award-winning pubs with venues across the globe, McGettigan's pride themselves on their commitment to sport, music, and entertainment. About Goose & Gander Goose & Gander is the McGettigan Group's latest bar brand, offering a quintessential and high quality London pub experience. Drawing inspiration from the delicious daytimes and buzzing after-work atmosphere of London gastropubs, Goose & Gander aims to be a beloved local haunt for cosmopolitan customers seeking refreshing and interesting drinks, high quality food, energetic entertainment and warm hospitality. Goose and Gander gives guests an authentic London pub atmosphere with a contemporary twist. It's a modern classic that draws from McGettigan's vast experience and reputation for a friendly welcome, high service standards, carefully curated menus, adverse selection of beverages, eclectic entertainment and live sports coverage. Goose & Gander epitomises service excellence and customer satisfaction.
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Major UK city train station forced to close for two months reopens after huge £10million revamp
A MAJOR city centre train station is finally back open this week after a two-month shutdown and a whopping £10million makeover. Advertisement 4 A major UK train station has flung open its doors after a two-month closure and a jaw-dropping £10million makeover Credit: Alamy 4 Commuters can't believe the transformation Credit: Alamy Commuters will notice a brand new roof, wider platforms, revamped ticket office and clearer signage - with more upgrades, including accessible toilets and braille maps, still to come. The station was set to reopen on Monday but bosses held off to let Northern carry out last-minute safety checks. Passengers are being told to plan ahead as the work will clash with a major revamp at nearby Salford Crescent next year, meaning weekend rail services will be hit. Until then, train users can hop on Bee Network buses between key stations including Salford Crescent and Manchester Oxford Road using their valid tickets - but heads up, more closures are planned for April 27 and May 4. Advertisement more on salford Simon Elliott, Network Director for Rail at TfGM, said: 'The first phase of work at Salford Central is complete and passengers will soon be able to enjoy the upgrades that are being made at the station." 'While the main work is done, Northern requires more time to carry out essential checks to ensure passengers' safety prior to the station re-opening. 'We're sorry for any inconvenience or disruption this may cause to people's "We'll continue to work closely with Northern and Network Rail, as well as the main contractor, to meet the revised reopening date.' Advertisement Most read in News Travel Exclusive Exclusive Matt Rice, Chief Operating Officer for Northern, added: "We realise that Salford Central being closed for a few extra days may be inconvenient, but safety is our top priority and we need to make sure that the station is safe for everybody to use. "Once the station reopens in a few days' time, customers will be able to enjoy a fantastic new facility that will truly transform their experience. Exploring the UK's Most Underrated Cities "We're really looking forward to welcoming customers back to the station when it reopens." The station was due to reopen on Monday, but couldn't due to technical issues. Advertisement In a statement on its website, the rail operator said: "Salford Central was due to reopen on Monday 21 April but due to some last-minute technical issues, trains will not be stopping here for a few more days." Nathaniel Yates, rail accessibility activist, said these improvements are a "welcome step forward" as there was still a "long way to go to improve access at train stations". The project promises to deliver the "much-needed modernisation" of the station building and an overall improvement in the customer journey throughout the station. The Bee Network is Greater Manchester's bold bid to build a slick, London-style transport system. Advertisement First announced in 2018, the integrated network brings together buses, trams, cycling and walking routes under one banner, with commuter rail services set to join the hive by 2028. Inspired by the city's famous worker bee symbol, the Bee Network aims to make ditching the car a no-brainer - with yellow-and-black buses and trams zipping across the region as part of a cleaner, smarter way to travel. Meanwhile in London, no trains will run through or stop at Huddersfield station in West Yorkshire between August 30 and September 29, according to Network Rail. The train station is used by almost 10,000 people every day is set to close for a month as part of a £70 million revamp. Advertisement The works are set to spark travel chaos for the roughly 300,000 travellers who use the station each month. After the closure, just three of the six current platforms will reopen on a temporary basis. This is to allow for work on the multibillion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) to continue. Network Rail says the closure will allow developers to remodel the track and platforms. Advertisement This change will "transform the layout of the station and enable more trains with more seats to run through the area on a greener, more reliable railway". Huddersfield station has already completed some of its restorative work, which began in November 2023, with the terminus' canopy roof having its refurbishment finished up in April. The station's modernisation programme is due to be complete by 2027. 4 Huddersfield railway station will close for 30 days as part of a £70m upgrade to its interior and track layout Credit: Glen Minikin - The Sun Advertisement 4 The station's roofing had its refurbishment completed in April this year, following 18 months of work Credit: Alamy
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
London-style bus network in Wales 'needs extra cash to work'
A plan to create a London-style bus system for Wales will only work if backed by significant extra cash, the Welsh government has been warned. A law putting buses back under public control, which could allow transport officials to decide what bus services are provided, is expected to be published on Monday. Welsh Labour wants bus companies to bid for contracts instead of operating their own routes, following years of cuts and falling passenger numbers. The proposals were first published six years ago, but could take another five years to deliver. Major shake-up could see one Welsh bus network Bus users face 'skeleton service' in funding cuts Under-21s get £1 bus fares in £100m budget deal Since the mid-1980s, private companies have been able to run buses where they want, as long as they are registered and meet safety standards. Critics say it leaves services vulnerable to being axed if they do not make a profit. In London it works differently, with operators bidding for set routes laid out by Transport for London. Details of how the Welsh government will change things are due to be revealed to the Senedd later. But the Welsh government has previously said it wants to set up franchises overseen by the Transport for Wales (TfW) company, which it owns. TfW would set the routes, timetables and fares with local councils. Companies would then bid to deliver the service for a fixed fee. As in London, buses could also be branded the same. Other parts of the UK, including Manchester, have started introducing bus franchises. Welsh ministers have promised a "simpler, connected and joined up public transport network", replacing a system where bus companies set their own timetables and use different ticket systems. But the government said last year the franchise contracts could put TfW "at risk from decreases in passenger fare revenue". Fewer passengers "will either require additional funding or making difficult decisions about reducing services", the Welsh government said. "It is right that these decisions, where necessary, be made in the public interest," it added. On Sunday, Transport Secretary Ken Skates told BBC Politics Wales tthe government was "taking back control over how routes and timetables operate". "This has never been done on a national scale before, so it is hugely ambitious," he said. "But I think it's going to prove to be one of the most important pieces of legislation that we have ever taken through - to give better options to the whole of our country." Barclay Davies, from Bus Users UK, said franchising "can be great for passengers, but it's not cheap". "It will require significant amounts of funding. That's the issue at the moment – how much funding is available." He said TfW, which already runs the rail network, would need to "manage people's expectations". "If the funding isn't available they are going to have to cut their cloth accordingly, so you might not have the frequency of services that people want and expect." Essential services are already subsidised by the taxpayer, but the number of bus routes, vehicles and passengers has still declined. People made 61 million journeys on local buses in 2022/23, compared to 91.7 million in the last full year before the pandemic. The bus industry said it wanted contracts that "combine central control with a focus on customers and commercial incentives to deliver improvements". Aaron Hill, director of lobby group Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Cymru, said: "Simply changing who's in charge won't guarantee success – passengers will only see better buses if commitments are backed by adequate funding, and by steps to speed up buses by taking them out of traffic congestion." Welsh Conservative shadow transport secretary Peter Fox said franchising bus services across Wales "comes with risks if not executed properly, stifling competition and becoming yet another taxpayer-funded money pit". Plaid Cymru supports the plan, but said it would scrutinise the legislation to make sure it delivers a better and cheaper service. Plaid transport spokesperson, Peredur Owen Griffiths, said: "Bus franchising is a step that is integral to the future of sustainable, affordable and reliable bus services for the future, which makes the Labour government's delay in its implementation frustrating. " The government has proposed splitting Wales into regions, each introducing their own franchises over the next five years. Franchising would start in 2027 in south-west Wales where First Cymru, one of the biggest bus companies, currently operates. Its commercial director Rob Pymm said First would "fully embrace" franchising if the Welsh government goes ahead with it. "We work really closely with all the authorities in Wales," he added. "We have got a really good relationship and we are feeding our decades of experience into their planning of that. "Hopefully at the end of it we will be running those services as well." First Cymru runs the X6 service from Ammanford to Swansea city centre. Rupika, 34, travels between Swansea, Neath and Bridged by bus for her work as a baker. "It's much, much cheaper than the train," she said. "When I come from Bridgend in the evening, the last bus I get is at six, but I feel it should be extended to eight because there are a lot of people who travel after that." Denver Gough, 67, of Trebanos, said the service was "pretty good" but "sometimes going back they're not so reliable". He said putting the public sector in charge of the bus system made sense. "I don't think buses got any better from when they were de-nationalised to be honest with you," he said. "They cut the services. If you go back to the old days there were more buses than there are now, especially up in the valleys." Don Cornell, of Hafod in Swansea, said he used his bus pass nearly every day to do his shopping or get into town. "It's not reliable, I'll tell you that now," he said as he waited for his bus. "Only one bus goes through the Hafod, the number six, so if that doesn't turn up you're waiting an hour - and most of the time it doesn't turn up." Deborah Burr, 63, said she caught buses in the city several times a week. "It's difficult, you can't blame the drivers because you've got roadworks and all the rest of it, and I understand that," she said. "But at the end of the day, I just want to go home or wherever it is I have to go." Plans for London-style bus system in Wales Major shake-up could see one Welsh bus network
