Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar

Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 21

EXCLUSIVE!  With industrial disputes continuing to affect most main line passenger rail services in Great Britain, Christian hears from ASLEF train drivers' trades union leader Mick Whelan that there has been no contact from UK Department for Transport Ministers since 6 January [1:04].  Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker also follow-up the item from Episode 20 about the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway [10:12] while the centrepiece of this episode is an extended interview with Howard Smith, Director of Transport for London's Elizabeth Line, who explains the challenges which preceded the breathtaking success of this new railway [13:13].  Finally, Christian puts the newly-released paperback edition of his book 'British Rail: A New History' in historical context [41:33].

Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 20

Podcasting from Cambridge, Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker discuss the effectiveness of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway [00:00], the challenges of introducing a congestion charge for the City [06:18] and the status of the East West Railway project [14:10].  They then consider the lessons of the 2016 fatal crash on Croydon's tram system following the recent acquittal of the driver on criminal charges [16:45].  Finally, Christian asks what kind of public transport improvements might encourage motorists to leave their cars at home [27:43].

Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 19

Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker discuss how the tragic and very serious accident in Odisha should not be used to reinforce obsolete tropes about safety on Indian Railways [00:00]; Christian then returns to the subject of calls for graduated driving licences for young people in the UK by interviewing two trustees of the Under 17 Car Club which strives to enhance the skills and competences of young drivers from the outset [07:42] before reflecting on the transport infrastructure legacy of former Prime Minister (and now former MP) Boris Johnson [35:39].

Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 18

What a week!  Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker review the extraordinary impact of this podcast's revelation of UK Department for Transport plans to cut passenger wifi provision on franchised rail services in England, including an extensive debate in the House of Lords of the UK Parliament (to whom we are very grateful for the audio clips).  Christian also reflects on what recent troubles with UK Border Force e-gates at airports may tell us about our vulnerability to hackers.

Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 17

SCOOP!  Calling All Stations brings news that the UK Department for Transport is trying to switch off passenger wifi on the train services it controls in Great Britain.  Christian Wolmar has the exclusive as our top story.  In a special edition focused on rail in Great Britain, Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker discuss the status of the reform programme [10:00], positive developments on post-pandemic usage recovery along with particular marketing initiatives in Scotland [18:50] and how not every European rail initiative is as successful as we might imagine [21:10].

Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 16

Revealed - the latest position on reshaping Great Britain's main line rail industry.  In this podcast, Christian speaks at length with Anit Chandarana, Lead Director at the Great British Railways Transition Team on the work of the GBRTT, the wide range of reform issues the team is addressing and the prospects for legislation implementing the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail in what remains of the present UK parliamentary term.  Christian also reflects on the right royal endorsement for the success of Transport for London's Elizabeth Line [26:35].

Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 15

A preview of Christian's next book - 'The Liberation Line' - telling the story of the Allies' amazing reconstruction of railways in France and beyond following the Normandy landings of 1944 [01:15] is followed by an in-depth interview with Anthony Smith, Chief Executive of Transport Focus, the principal consumer watchdog organisation for rail, bus and road users in Great Britain [09:30], after which Christian asks whether BBC Radio should still have to broadcast the Shipping Forecast in an increasingly digital age [33:07].

Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 14

This week, Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker examine the cutbacks to the UK Government's Smart Motorways programme in England [1:30], analyse what the grilling of UK Transport Secretary Mark Harper MP by the House of Commons Transport Committee tells us about the rail reform programme for Great Britain [8:12], discuss why two-wheeled forms of innovative transport may be falling out of favour in the UK and elsewhere [23:27] and reflect on whether or not young drivers deserve more restrictions on their freedoms [29:44].

Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 13

Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker take a close look at the saga of the new ferries for island shipping services in Scotland [01:30], scrutinise promises of hands-free driving on Great Britain's motorways [11:15], reflect upon the renaissance of sleeper trains in Europe [17:00] and cheer on prospects for smoother boarding of flights from UK airports [23:45].

Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 12

Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker look at the latest developments with HS2 and Euston [01:30], the controversies around Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and 15-Minute Cities [14:19], the UK Government's response to the Independent Review of Net Zero by Chris Skidmore MP [26:45] and how Queens Park Rangers are leading the way on sustainable travel in professional football [40:29].