Calling All Stations - The Transport Podcast

4/1 Is Northern Powerhouse Rail the wrong choice? Plus saving the Queensbury Tunnel

Our launch episode for Season 4 includes interviews with Andrew Gilligan on why he believes the money sought for Northern Powerhouse Rail could be better invested in other railway enhancements for the North of England [3:02] and with Graeme Bickerdike who is campaigning to save the disused Queensbury rail tunnel in Yorkshire as a cycling commuter and tourism route [28:56].  Christian also asks why the British Transport Police has advertised how easy it is to steal a bike [54:12].
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3/22 Future prospects for Britain's railways with the Minister, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE

In our Season 3 finale, Christian talks at length with the UK Minister of State for Transport and Minister for Rail, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE, about the eagerly anticipated Railways Bill which will implement the Labour Government's plans for Great British Railways.  Their conversation covers crucial issues such the timing of the Bill, fares reform, investment, open access, capacity allocation between operators and the HS2 reset as well as changes to bus provision across England and the upcoming Integrated National Transport Strategy.
Join us for Season 4 - coming this autumn!
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3/21 Boundaries of public control in Britain’s railways and lessons from a Canadian transport culture war

Christian speaks to 'We Own It' Founder and Director Cat Hobbs at the parliamentary launch of the report 'Passengers not profit: a vision for the Railways Bill' [1:30].  In Toronto, Canada, Christian meets cycling campaigner Albert Koehl to hear about the culture war between the municipality and the Ontario provincial government over bike lanes [13:25].  In his final thought from the departure lounge, Christian shares a listener's stress at the frequency of railway station announcements [32:38].
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3/20 Exclusive preview of Sally Gimson’s ‘Off the Rails: the Inside Story of HS2’

In her new book 'Off the Rails: the Inside Story of HS2', Sally Gimson meets with the politicians, engineers and ordinary people affected by the failure of HS2. Travelling from demolished council estates in Camden to ghost towns along the now cancelled northern branch, Off the Rails provides a forensic examination of how a vital social project imploded.
Christian discusses in depth with the author the insights gained from her research, the lessons that the UK should learn and what needs to be done to bring the truncated project into service.
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3/19 Past glories and future prospects for Britain’s railways

Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker pick up on some of the issues around driverless cars from the visit to Bosch in Stuttgart covered in episode 3/18 [1:30].  With the UK's Rail200 celebrations in full swing, our hosts discuss 'The Greatest Gathering' in Derby [7:12] and Mark reports back from an unforgettable journey to the event on 'The Belmond British Pullman' [10:32].  Looking to the future prospects for rail in the UK, Christian interviews the Chief Executive of one of its largest trade associations, Darren Caplan of the Railway Industry Association [26:21].  In his thought from the departure lounge, Christian wonders what lessons can be learned from Norway on the propensity of electric vehicles to encourage greater car use [40:56].
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3/18 Transport scorecard for Labour’s first year and driverless car tech tested

Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker examine just which transport schemes ended up being funded by the UK Department for Transport through the Spending Review - and which ones didn't [1:20].  Ever interested in the issue of driverless cars, Christian reports back from a visit to Bosch in Stuttgart, Germany, who are developing software for the driver aids that potentially pave the way for this technology [16:25].  One year on from the election of the Labour Government in the UK, Christian and Mark discuss its scorecard on transport policy and innovation [32:20].  Finally, Christian anticipates 'The Great Gathering' at the Alstom factory in Derby as part of the Rail200 celebrations [41:56].
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3/17 Reunifying two heritage railways and creating a sustainable e-bike business

We have two great interviews in this episode.  Christian visits the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire, UK, and hears from Tom Ingall about the 'Reunification' project for this leading heritage operator [01:48].  Christian then talks to Caroline Seton about London's Forest e-bike hiring and sharing company and its hopes to expand across the capital [21:07].  In his final thought from the departure lounge, Christian finds that Germany has had problems reminiscent of the UK with a major railway project [38:47].
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3/16 Labour’s transport spending plans revealed - in part

In the midst of a flurry of UK Government transport funding and policy announcements, Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker examine: the current status of Britain's high speed railway project, HS2 [2:25]; just how realistic are expectations for driverless cars [14:40]; and which schemes are so far known to be on the receiving end of Ministers' chequebooks [23:30].  Christian also reflects on the progress of his original idea to pedestrianise London's famous Oxford Street [46:40].
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3/15 Public trains, safer cycling, car-free pavements and enforced tickets

Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker examine the return to public ownership of England's South Western Railway [2:09], discuss how Belgium's approach to road space and safety could promote cycling in the UK [11:25], link the lawlessness of parking on England's pavements with Robert Jenrick MP's highlighting of fare evasion [20:10] and update listeners on the investigations into the Heathrow Airport power failure [35:55].
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3/14: Silvertown Tunnel road-tested, HS2 prospects analysed and AI let loose

Christian experiences in person London's brand new Silvertown Tunnel and the mandatory cycle shuttle bus [2:18]; elaborates on striking new figures for the construction costs of HS2 [09:55]; releases a narrative of his book 'Liberation Line' by engaging AI bots [19:35} and welcomes proposals to lower the age requirement for train drivers in Great Britain [43:40].
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