9 June 2014
Tom Hart's news notes, 9 June 2014
Transport News Notes 1 Mar to 9 June 2014
TRANSPORT, the ECONOMY & WELL-BEING
DfT has commissioned new work on links between transport infrastructure investment and economic performance. David Metz, former advisor to DfT, argues that transport appraisal has been ‘flawed for decades’. New methods of forecasting and scenario evaluation are seen as vital to offer good value, not only for the economy, but for improved ‘well-being’ across all sections of society. With tightened public spending likely for the rest of this decade, this requires tough decisions on how best to utilise public funding and encourage sustainable growth.
Auditor General for Scotland sees hospitals, schools and energy costs as the main areas where there needs to be more effective longer-term planning for improved efficiency in public spending. Cutting costs mainly by cutting staff was not sustainable. UK government is recommending that, in England, ORR and Passenger Focus should have powers to overview transport programmes in order to improve efficiency and public satisfaction. There are no similar proposals for Scotland though STAG procedures support corridor and area appraisals rather than dominance of any single mode. In its second annual report, the Major Projects Authority has placed HS2 in the amber/red category within UK government schemes.
Network Rail will be fully incorporated in the public sector from this autumn with future borrowing being principally from the government rather than other sources. The position in Scotland awaits clarification.
The IPCC and UN have called for faster action to cut greenhouses gases, mitigate adverse climate change and spur economic growth while the EU is concerned over slow action to improve air quality in cities and around major airports. On funding, the Scottish Government and Westminster are taking further action to expand private finance and ‘city deal’ arrangements relating to major projects such as hospitals, schools, roads and railways. Capital funding can also be aided by integrated measures to reduce operating costs per passenger carried with this allowing a rise in capital spend. In Glasgow Subway modernisation, SPT has assisted financing through such measures. Increased transport co-ordination is also being seen as a means of offering better value for money, a better level of service and eased connectivity.
AVIATION
Passengers at Edinburgh and Glasgow airport continue on a rising trend, strongest for international trips but also showing a return to growth on flights within UK. Edinburgh is expected to rise above 10m passengers this year with extra flights to mainland Europe and long-haul destinations, including interchange at a Doha hub to rival Dubai. Glasgow Airport and the Chamber of Commerce are celebrating the 10th anniversary of flights to Dubai with renewed efforts to expand new routes.
Barrhead Travel reports particular buoyancy in long-haul flights from Scotland with long-haul sales January to March up 40% on 2013. In-tourism is also rising with further boosts in 2014 from major sporting events in Scotland.
The £25m revamp of Edinburgh Airport nearing completion will include a large public square and event centre in the area between the newly opened tram terminal and the airport.
The Scottish Government has been criticised for giving commercial reasons for failing to publish a commissioned report on future options for the publicly-owned Prestwick Airport . A Herald editorial (26 May) states ‘Prestwick deserved another chance but, if taxpayers are to finance a rescue plan, taxpayers must also know the details of that plan’. Gordon Dewar, MD at Edinburgh, has challenged the decision to subsidise Dundee-London flights. Edinburgh already had 44 daily flights to London. Policy should favour improved links from Dundee to Edinburgh Airport . The UK government has signed a PSO agreement with Dundee City Council to keep the twice daily Dundee-London flights going for a further two years. Funds will come from the new Regional Air Connectivity Fund announced in the UK Spending Review. .
For the first time in 20 years, tourist flights to Skye over the summer period have returned. Flights will be operated by Loch Lomond Seaplanes and will cost between £109 and £134. The campaign continues for regular, year round land-based flights.
FERRIES & SHIPPING
SEStran fears that EU plans to cut sulphur from shipping may restrain, or reduce, growth in shipping links between Scotland and mainland Europe. This could lead to more emissions from HGVs to and from ports in England. These EU regulations also affect CalMac fleet renewal policies. David MacBrayne (CalMac parent company) has bid without success to operate an internal Swedish ferry but is continuing to look at opportunities in Europe.
Despite bad weather late in the year, CalMac reports an 84,000 rise in passengers in 2013 to 4.59m. Cars carried were up 19th to 1.06m. The two new routes trialled in 2013, Lochboisdale-Mallaig and Ardrossan-Campbeltown, have been hardest by poor weather. Mull has seen further complaints about a limited timetable and service disruption early in 2014. Ship repairs have also caused service disruption.
RET is to be extended to all CalMac services from October 2015 – leading to complaints that the Highland Council run Corran ferry has been excluded despite three price rises on a very short crossing. A different complaint is that RET has encouraged more car tourism at peak week-ends with ‘locals’ often unable to make a booking. Solutions may involve a larger, but less-utilised fleet, or differential tourist pricing at peaks. More radically, fare policies could be changed to give greater reductions to those not using cars and travelling on foot, cycle or by public transport.
Stena plans to cut costs on the Cairnryan-Belfast route due to ongoing losses despite heavy investment in new terminals. There are fears of increased reliance on foreign crews. 2013 was a boom year for cruise ships visiting British ports. Those disembarking for day trips had risen 20% to 866,000 with over 1m expected in 2014.
The Waverley will not call at Fort William this summer due to the poor state of the town’s pier. Waverley Excursions is also seeking a new chief executive to bring greater marketing and business expertise to the company which rescued the historic paddle steamer in 1975.
Wi-fi is to be extended to 18 sites on Caledonian, Crinan, Fort & Clyde and Union Canals.
RAIL
Sir David Higgins, HS2 Chair, is seeking accelerated delivery with new route extended from London through to Crewe by 2027 rather than 2033. An earlier start to new construction from Leeds to the East Midlands is also envisaged plus Scottish Government action on sections of new line in the Scottish Central belt. With other improvements north from Crewe, this could allow 3 hour trip times from London to both Glasgow and Edinburgh before 2030. There is also increased priority for greater use of sections of HSR route for inter-city and regional services as part of an enlarged and reshaped rail network. The HS2 Chair claims that speedier action and cost control will cut costs but doubts remain about the location of some proposed stations and the total cost of HS2 relative to benefits.
Prof Peter Woodhead, Director of the Institute for Infrastructure and the Environment at Heriot-Watt University, has concluded that there is a strong case for extending HS2 through to Scotland. Speaking in Carlisle, First Minister Alex Salmond has announced a joint feasibility study for the extension of new HSR route through to Scotland on an accelerated timetable. Initial findings are expected within months.
Serco is to replace ScotRail as operator of the Anglo-Scottish overnight rail passenger services from April 2015. New trains will be introduced in 2018 with a range of sleeping facilities ranging from top-quality hotels to simpler accommodation. Serco already operate the Northlink ferries in Scotland. Bids for the rest of the ScotRail franchise are now in with decisions this autumn.
New daytime trains will also be introduced on the East Coast main line from 2018, giving a 19% rise in capacity and shaving 15 minutes off present Edinburgh-London times. Some trains will also be bi-modal allowing some trains – as at present – to run through to Aberdeen under diesel power
David Spaven has called for an increased role for rail freight in longer-distance movement both to and from Scotland and on internal routes to Inverness and the north-east. These could offer better economic and environmental value than high levels of trunk road spending.
At a conference in Perth, SAPT and Transform Scotland have called for corridor studies of routes from the Central Belt to Inverness and Aberdeen to explore more fully the benefits of increased rail investment to ensure trip times lower than by car and to encourage more freight by rail.
SPT has criticised the limited nature of consultation on the planned £120m redevelopment of Glasgow Queen St High Level and the late announcement of a 4 month closure of the Queen St HL approach tunnel for track renewal. Present plans are not seen as maximising the passenger experience and improving conditions for pedestrians and rail/bus/Subway/taxi interchange. Closer links are sought with modified Glasgow City Council plans for shifts away from city centre car use as a means of improving the economic and visitor attraction of the city. A 4 month tunnel closure may be avoidable and scope is seen for both a short-term and longer-term shift of through passengers to improved Glasgow Central-Edinburgh services. Such a shift would expand capacity at Queen St for the growing number of passengers using Queen St to access the north and Central Belt stations other than Edinburgh.
The forthcoming Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Gleneagles Ryder Cup are seeing rail (and bus) companies gearing up to meet the requirement that spectators arrive by bus or train. Gleneagles station is to have a temporary passenger bridge over the A9.
The Scottish Government has announced a £170m scheme for rail improvements between Inverness and Aberdeen providing shorter and more frequent services with trains up to 6 carriages. Aberdeen-Inverurie is to be doubled. Forres station is to be relocated and new stations provided at Kintore and Dalcross (for Inverness Airport). South of Edinburgh, prospects for new stations at East Linton and Reston are improving.
The frequency of Glasgow-Oban trains has been increased from 3 to 6 per day with revised services also providing for students travelling to school in Oban by rail rather than bus. Services from Glasgow to Cumbernauld are now electrically operated (though this involves a reversal at Springburn with a rise in trip times) while electric services also now operate between Cumbernauld and Motherwell/Hamilton. Further service changes are expected when the Rutherglen-Whifflet line is electrified later this year. These changes have released diesel sets for use elsewhere in Scotland, including the improved Oban service.
Transport Scotland has announced that 50 Scottish stations will have free wi-fi by spring 2015. By that date, almost half of ScotRail trains will be wi-fi connected. Falkirk Council will save £80,000 a year by scrapping the present discounted rail travel for the elderly and disabled. Scottish Government is spending £335,000 on hi-tech help points at 33 stations across Glasgow but is facing pleas for much improved station signage, networks maps and well-publicised walking routes between Glasgow Central and Queen St stations.
As well as improved services and extra stations on existing lines, more suggestions for rail reopening are being made as part of further reversal of the Beeching axe. These include services to Levenmouth, St Andrew’s, Kinross, south from Tweedbank to Hawick and from Alloa to Dunfermline via Kincardine.
Network Rail has rejected pleas from MPs to eliminate all level crossings, including those used only be pedestrians. NR says this would be action which society is unlikely to afford compared to other options
There are particular Scottish problems at Broughty Ferry, Cleghorn and Garve but hill-walkers are opposing action to stop walkers crossing lightly used and lower speed lines lacking alternative means of crossing.
Stobart is to get a £750,000 government grant to switch more Inverness related freight from road to rail
BUS, TRAM & TAXI
The long-awaited Edinburgh trams have dominated media comment. The Airport-city centre service started on 31 May though full integration with future plans for bus/rail co-ordination and an improved city centre environment in Princes St and George St will take longer and may need legislation. Better conditions in Shandwick Place have already revived retailer interest along with other land use developments close to the tram track to the west. City leaders are expected to take the first steps soon for extending the tram to Leith with a subsequent priority for extension into south-east Edinburgh linked with new arrangements for raising funds.
A judge-led inquiry into the tram project has been announced. Criticisms include a raising of fares from the Airport to £5 despite trams being slower than the £4 express bus service which has been increased in frequency. Tram times are expected to be cut after the service settles in and are already better than bus times at peaks. In Princes St, the peak ratio of trams to buses is around 1 to 25. Trams still experience some delays from buses but the full benefits from trams will depend on expansion of the network and a much reduced ratio of buses to trams on Edinburgh’s leading street.
Herald columnist Alan Taylor has suggested that it is now time for Glasgow to reconsider trams on streets freed of buses. The Confederation of Passenger Transport has responded that the main priority in most cities should be to reduce delays to buses. In the draft Glasgow City Council Transport Strategy for the city centre, proposals for reorganised bus services have been outlined to increase the attraction of bus use including bus gates and reduced on-street parking. An enlarged bus terminal at Dunlop St just south of Argyle St is proposed. Fewer buses, but with improved load factors and shorter times, would run through the city centre, serving a bus ‘hub’ in Union St. More controversially, there is a suggestion that buses could be re-introduced on the pedestrian section of Argyle St. SPT has given these proposals a cautious welcome but has queried the city council proposal that cyclists should have a higher priority than buses through a large expansion of reserved cycle lanes which could prejudice bus operation and pedestrian movement.
Bus lanes in Glasgow are to be reviewed following complaints over motorists being fined for straying into bus lanes even when buses were not operating. Enforcement of bus lanes passed from police to the city council in 2012. Subway services are to operate over an extended period during the Commonwealth Games. Local Government and Planning Minister Derek Mackay has backed a ‘Catch the Bus Week’ in Falkirk. He saw buses as vital for vibrant town centres.
Lothian Buses has adjusted bus services in Edinburgh to expand capacity. A new and more direct route 43 has been introduced from the city centre via Queensferry Road to Barnton on a 15 minute daytime frequency. Non-stop sections have been introduced on the X31 Lothian service from Rosewell via Liberton to the city centre and Haymarket. First Glasgow reports that changes in Glasgow have seen a return to profitability and rising patronage, First services have been withdrawn between Paisley and Linwood, an area where McGill’s has become the dominant operator.
In an annual survey of bus fares, Stagecoach has been found to offer the cheapest bus fare in Britain – 80p for a single ticket from East Haugh into Pitlochry. Stagecoach also offer the lowest fare for a weekly bus pass - £12.50 compared to £17 for First. Across all routes, Lothian Buses had the lowest single fares – a flat fare of £1.50.
First Scotland East has signed a charter to pledge more support for blind and partially sighted passengers. There will be extra training for staff. Seatbelt legislation is being transferred to Holyrood with the Scottish Government developing plans for all school bus passengers to belt up by 2018. The bus industry is concerned about enforcement issues while extra costs falling on local authorities may lead to cuts in school bus provision.
Edinburgh City Council is likely to agree plans for CCTV in taxis. Central Taxis is planning legal action against Edinburgh City Council after it granted a licence to another firm for a pre-booking office at the airport only yards from the taxi rank. Such offices are regarded as normal at other airports.
Braehead owners are planning a £200m expansion of this shopping centre by 2016 but this is dependent on Braehead gaining town centre status. It would bring increased usage on the planned Fastlink bus corridor to Glasgow South Hospital, Braehead and Renfrew but could also increase problems at M8 junctions.
A Passenger Focus survey has found an 87% overall passenger satisfaction with Lothian Buses compared to a 79% rating for First Bus. But First Glasgow has claimed a 91% rating, reflecting recent improvements in branding, frequency and the delivery of new buses. Glasgow City Council has supported the view that quality of service is better on publicly-owned Lothian Buses and is calling for re-regulation of Glasgow buses. The Scottish Government view is that there is a need for early changes in regulation but on a different pattern from former regulation.
Stagecoach East and Lothian Buses have gained £1.37m and £1.05m from the Scottish Government Green Bus Fund for a total of 32 low carbon buses. SPT is to purchase 2 electric buses for £486,000 for use on the city centre-Riverside Museum loss-making service. Most of the capital costs will be covered by grants from the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council.
ROADS & PARKING
The new Forth Road Bridge is now taking visible shape with completion due in 2016. £80m is to be spent between 2017 and 2030 on a repaint of the existing Road Bridge.
The A75 Dunragit bypass has opened and grade separation on the A77 at Bogend Toll/Symington has been completed.
The first design contract for A9 dualling has been let with three sections expected to be ready for a start to construction in 2017. There is a focus on dualling where this is comparatively simple with low costs. The busier and more complex section between Luncarty and the Pass of Birnam will come later. Design work for realignment of the A9 at Berriedale Braes north of Helmsdale has been completed. As a priority action to improve safety, work has started on installing average speed cameras on the A9 between Perth and Inverness. The system should go live in October.
Highland Council has approved the cheaper design, involving a canal swingbridge, to complete a link road from the A96 and A9 to the A82 south of Inverness
The Coastal Communities Fund may be a way to find a way to fill a one mile gap in the Kerrera island road network. This would allow this island near Oban to be served by only one ferry route
In a new report, Transform Scotland outlines survey results showing that 84% would prefer increased spend on road maintenance to building new roads. Though the Scottish Government roads budget had risen 40% in the past five years, funding for local road maintenance had been squeezed with a rising backlog of repairs and renewals.
Traffic information firm INRIX has found that Edinburgh comes first and fourth in the table of most congested roads in Scotland with Glasgow coming second and third. Routes affected are the A8 through Corstorphine, the M8 from Provan to Anderston, the M8 from Cardonald to the Kingston Bridge and the A720 from Musselburgh to Wester Hailes. But data from Scottish Transport Statistics shows an overall decline in motorists experiencing significant congestion delays.
In Edinburgh, there are concerns about congestion arising from plans to increase pedestrian space in the premier shopping area, George St. Evidence from other larger cities suggests that extra congestion may not arise due to a continuing shift to public transport, walking and cycling. Similar predictions of chaos and goods delivery disruption from Glasgow road closures during the Commonwealth Games may be countered by the planned shift of spectators to public transport and temporary park and ride sites further out from events. Doubts remain about the effectiveness of pre-planning for major events.
Car insurance costs continue to fall but government has resisted pressure to move from a fuel duty freeze to a reduction of 3p a litre. Herald editorial suggests that the economy cannot afford such an approach. A better option would be to target those for whom the cost of fuel has the greatest impact.
57% of motorists have admitted to tailgating. Stronger measures are sought to stop mobile phone use or texting while driving. Due to distraction, even hands free phones pose a significant risk.
Pleas have been made for traffic lights at a dangerous A71 junction near Dalmahoy and at other locations. Teenage drivers in the Northern and Grampian regions in Scotland are involved in more than 15.7% of injury accidents in these areas – one of the highest proportions in Britain compared to 11.4% in Strathclyde. There is evidence that the cost of fuel is causing farmers to make greater use of tractors and trailers for deliveries, increasing road accident risks.
Former Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has urged motorists to drive 10mph slower to protect the environment, improve safety and reduce accidents in extreme weather. There is rising concern at the risks to motor cyclists and other users of excessive motor bike speeds on popular rural routes.
Several local authorities have expressed fears that the Police Scotland withdrawal from traffic warden duties may make it harder to assemble a business case to apply for decriminalised parking. This can increase local authority income but local authority warden costs could minimise net benefits. At present, only 12 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities have decriminalised parking powers. Police Scotland has also threatened to withdraw from road-safety training in schools but some councils, including Edinburgh, have negotiated agreements to allow this to continue.
In 2013-14, Glasgow received £8.9m from on-street parking charges compared to £7.9m in 2009/10. Net income is lower but motorists are seeking more evidence on how net income is used. Campaigners fear that parking at the new Glasgow South ‘super hospital’ will be woefully inadequate. Edinburgh reports a £1.5m fall in income from parking fines since 2008. Part of the reason may be the impact of tram works and motorists opting to visit other locations or use public transport.
A 1,800 bay underground car park is included in plans for the redeveloped St James Quarter at the east end of Princes St - 3 times as many as in present car parks in the area. Transform Scotland has attacked these proposals as contrary to city council plans to promote public transport and active travel. A similar issue is arising in plans for extra car parking in the expanded Buchanan Galleries in central Glasgow despite fresh council proposals to encourage greater shifts to public transport, cycling and walking in the city centre.
Controversial £2 levies for beach parking at East Lothian sites have now been introduced.
WALKING & CYCLING
The Scottish Government launched a Draft Walking Strategy in May, reinforced by media advertising to tell motorists the benefits of walking for short trips. In Edinburgh, police are to use speed guns to enforce 20mph limits for the first time. Council lorry drivers are to receive training to be more aware of the dangers facing cyclists. The annual Pedal on Parliament event has increased pressure for action to encourage cycling and improve safety. But police are also acting to warn cyclists where their actions are thoughtless and a danger to pedestrians.
Glasgow in planning 20mph speed limits in the city centre, seven years after proposals were first made. In a new city centre transport strategy, the city is seeking to make the centre more attractive for walking and cycling along with measures to improve the quality of the bus network. Motorists fear that restrictive measures will lead to traffic chaos with extra traffic on some streets and possible shifts away from city centre locations. Air quality could worsen on some streets.
Glasgow City Council is to spend almost £600,000 funding a bike hire scheme with 31 locations over the next three years plus 6 sites operating during the Commonwealth Games. Cyclists have renewed pleas for more cycle space on Scottish trains. This may be possible on some routes once more rolling stock is available but bidders for the ScotRail franchise are likely to stress the advantages of expanded bike hire at both rural and city stations.
Edinburgh City Council has refuted Sustrans claims that council policy is to have 50% cycling to work on a par with Copenhagen. Edinburgh already has one of Scotland’s highest proportions of cycling to work at 10%. Official policy is to use limited funds to deliver a rise to 15% by 2020. Edinburgh is introducing secure on-street bike sheds to encourage people to cycle
Network Rail has caused major controversy over a rapid move to ban road vehicles from Waverley station before work was completed on alternative taxi ranks and set down/pick up points plus arrangements to improve access for those more severely disabled. This decision involved the scrapping of recently-installed security barriers costing £1m. Edinburgh Council is considering legal action but the situation has been aggravated by the recent road accident within Waverley killing a minister attending the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Complaints have also been made about the poor reliability of the recently installed escalators from Waverley to Princes St.
The Speyside Way from the mouth of the Spey to Aviemore is to be extended to Newtonmore. Plans are being made for a walk and cycleway in Mull from the Craignure ferry terminal to Fionnphort for Iona.
PLANNING & PROPERTY
The Draft Glasgow City Council City Centre Transport Strategy has outlined a vision for a top-quality city centre with less motorised traffic but better air quality, 20mph speed limits and increased use of public transport, walking and cycling. Criticisms have included a lack of focus on what is deliverable in the next ten years, priority for cycling ahead of public transport and a relative neglect of rail potential – especially for access to and through the city centre from the area within 10 miles as well as from further afield.
Work has started on the major new housing at Shawfair south-east of Edinburgh. This includes a rail station on a realigned section of the Waverley route due to reopen in 2015. Despite strong opposition, more development of greenbelt land to the immediate west of Edinburgh is anticipated, taking advantage of ground close to the Airport tram route and possible extensions.
Despite some doubts arising from the Independence Referendum, the property market from industrial land through to commercial and housing development continues to show signs of revival though with Aberdeen and the north-east remaining the area of greatest growth.
The delayed £850m redevelopment of the St James area at the east end of Princes St is back on track after a £61m funding boost from the City Council and the Scottish Government. Similar schemes are being considered to ensure early expansion of Buchanan Galleries in central Glasgow adjacent to Queen St station. In both cases, the scale and location of car parking is an issue. Invest Glasgow, set up in 2012, is projecting Glasgow as a favoured location for inward investment. Edinburgh was not ‘the only place to be’. The new Hydro in Glasgow has been named one of the world’s top entertainment venues.
Non city centre shopping in Glasgow has seen resumed growth at Silverburn close to the M77. Glasgow Fort adjacent to the M8 has announced further extensions and new shops, including the arrival of Marks & Spencer in 2015.
RESEARCH & STATISTICS
The Transport Debate has been published by Profs Jon Shaw of Plymouth and Iain Docherty of Glasgow University. This 230page paperback is available from the Policy Press (www.policypress.co.uk). The authors see a continuing and important role for transport investment and pricing but with much better targeting. They call for a shift to inter-city and high-speed rail investment associated with a large rise in high-quality city-related public transport related to land use policies favouring cities offering a better quality of life, less motorised traffic and rises in walking and cycling by residents and visitors.
David Metz has published Peak Car : The Future of Travel, Landor Books, 2014. This argues that advanced countries are moving into a new phase of stabilised or falling movement by car (apart from the impacts of population growth) though with growth in electronic communication and in public transport, walking and cycling – especially in larger cities. Air travel over longer distances will continue to grow.
Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen Airports report solid growth in the year to April. Glasgow passengers are up 4.9% on the previous April with international passengers up 7.9% compared to a 2.4% domestic rise. Edinburgh is up 4.9% with a domestic rise slightly above international passengers. Aberdeen rose 9.1%.
All airports were aided by the timing of Easter. HIAL reports a 5.4% rise in passengers over the past year with most of this growth related to a buoyant oil sector.
Long-haul air tourism is experiencing stronger growth while VisitScotland chief executive, Malcolm Roughead, expects 2014 to be a bumper year for in-tourism to Scotland as well as a year or rising out-tourism. This is expected to lead to higher growth in overseas air travel to and from Scotland. Despite the recent rise in ’staycations’, January data on bookings suggests more Scots will holiday abroad in 2014.
AECOM has released its study of transport access to Glasgow Airport. In the short-term, it urges better bus links to Paisley Gilmour St station, costing around £3m. Following options include an automated peoplemover to Gilmour St (£72m), a tram train to central Glasgow (£92m) or heavy rail services from the airport (£207m) Due to track capacity issues between Gilmour St and Glasgow Central, final tramtrain costs may be little different from heavy rail. RailQWest has argued for a £137M New GARL with trains privately financed. Other options include improvements in existing express bus services to central Glasgow and an extension of Glasgow-Renfrew Bus Fastlink services and other local buses to the airport (aiding employee access rather than having a high proportion of air service users)
In a Scotsman article on 30 May Derek Halden, Chair of the Scottish branch of CILT, has urged greater attention to the social value of logistics with local communities becoming more involved in the transport, collection and delivery of goods. Community engagement could help larger logistics companies deliver better value.
New car sales in Scotland have reached their highest level for more than a decade and are outpacing registrations in England. May registrations were up 15.8% on 2013 though the rise in total car usage remains much lower with evidence of decline in inner Edinburgh and Glasgow. Older vehicles are being scrapped with younger people less active in taking up driving and older people more cautious about actual trips made. Shifts to public transport and cycling are taking place.
New research by Nutmeg has shown that workers in Glasgow have the cheapest commute of any major UK city. Average monthly costs of travel to work in Glasgow are £63, almost half the London total. Average time taken on travel to work in Glasgow is 52 minutes compared to 75 minutes in London. Edinburgh has the same average travel time as Glasgow but monthly costs are £70.
TUC report finds a huge rise in working from home since 2007. In Scotland, the number working mainly from home has risen from 238,000 in 2007 to 287,000 . TUC is urging employers to do more to encourage home working. GMB trade union says that more needs to be done to combat poor air quality. Areas in Aberdeen and Glasgow were among the worst in Britain. Since 2012 NO2 pollution has worsened on Byres Road in Glasgow, Central Road in Paisley and Seagate in Dundee
2011 Census shows that 10% of Edinburgh residents work from home – also a 16% rise in those using public transport, walking or cycling to get to work since 2001. Census indicates that rises in walking and cycling to work are mainly in cities with walking and cycling to work down in other areas.
Sustrans sensors show that the Middle Meadows Way in Edinburgh has almost 1000 cyclists by 9am
A report by consultant David Hunter to disabled groups has called on local authorities to do more to make public transport more accessible. This should have a larger role in published Equality Outcomes.
ORR reports an annual 2.9% rise in Scottish rail passenger trips in 2012-13 to 89.6m, an all-time high with growth greater than in any other British region apart from London and the south-east. In 2012/13 Scotland had 26 stations with 1m or more passenger arrivals and departures compared to 16 in 2005/06. Glasgow Central, Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen St remained the top 3 stations but the SECC station in Glasgow rose from 633th passengers to 1.4m. Falling air traffic at Prestwick Airport has seen the Airport rail station drop out of the 100 most-used rail stations in 2012/13.
Recent ORR data also shows that average public funding per rail passenger trip in both Scotland and Wales (£7.60 and £9.33 respectively) remains much higher than the English average of £2.19. In England, fares cover 73% of average passenger costs compared to 46% and 44% in Scotland and Wales. These averages are heavily influenced by higher population density in England with infrastructure costs per passenger trip and passenger kilometre being much lower. ORR does not publish separate data on train operating costs relative to fares income but this should show a smaller difference in support levels. The marginal cost of service improvements on existing track is normally low except where track capacity is limited. Using the ORR methods, the public support costs of car passengers using the new Forth Road Bridge may be higher than the Scottish average for rail passenger support.
Despite lower crude oil prices and the continuing Budget policy of lowering the real level of petrol and derv taxation, UK petrol sales in the first three months of 2014 were down 24.7% compared to 2008. This reflects a mix of more fuel efficient vehicles, more careful driving, some shift to diesel fuel and shifts to both shorter trips and to public transport and cycling. Diesel sales continue to rise but are only 5% above 2008 levels compared to a 40% rise in diesel vehicles. Rises lead to a fall in air quality due to particulates.
More than 2000 annual deaths in Scotland are attributed to the failure to cut air pollution with Edinburgh having the worst problems closely followed by other areas of higher population and road traffic density.
According to TripAdvisor, Edinburgh is topped only by London as the best visitor destination in the UK though Glasgow visits will be boosted by the Commonwealth Games. One-fifth of tickets sold are to people who have never visited Glasgow. Barclays predict Scotland will be the UK’s leading tourist hotspot by 2017
High street footfall in still caught in the post-recession doldrums and changing patterns of shopping. The answer in part is seen as a different kind of eco-friendly and leisure-related high street. Hammerson reports an 0.6% rise in footfall in January to April (compared to 2013) at indoor malls it owns, including Silverburn in Glasgow.
Academics at Stirling University, headed by Prof. Amir Hussain, are developing new computer programmes which could give a lead in producing the world’s first self-driving smart car
BUSINESS & PERSONNEL
Airline group Emirates has seen profits soar 40% to £560m but Ryanair blames strong competition for the first fall in profits in five years. Investors are relieved that the fall in profits was kept to 8%.
FirstGroup reports that route and fare changes have allowed Glasgow bus operations to return to profit and ensure an end to falling usage. But First Group has lost out in the race for the new Thameslink franchise and in awaiting the outcome of bids for the ScotRail franchise which it currently holds.
The Eddie Stobart trucking business has been sold to investors in a deal worth around £280m. Stobart is retaining a 49% share in the company which will now be led by the founder’s youngest son, William Stobart. The sale will almost wipe out company debt and allow more focus on biomass energy and air and rail markets.
Network Rail is to slash bonuses for top directors after safety record criticism. Ian Craig, boss of Lothian Buses, saw pay rise to £269,000 in the past year, including a £73,400 bonus reflecting good performance.
Babcock International, which runs Rosyth dockyard, is preferred bidder for £200m of Network Rail track work in Scotland, Wales and Wessex. Scottish firms have secured less than half the total amount of contracts linked to the new Forth road bridge.
Prof Kevin Cullinane, Director of the Transport Research Institute at Napier University, has moved to Gothenburg University. Keith Dickinson has returned to TRI as Interim Director. Former Scottish Financial Enterprise Ray Perman is to succeed Jeremy Peat as director of the David Hume Institute