TRANSPORT BRIEFING

I have been told that there is no coherent transport strategy. No joined up thinking. Little systematic aprisal of what is there, what is needed and how to get from a to b. Even when there is changes of staff and politicians wanting to put their own stamp on things mean that such policies are seldom carried out. Howard Becket the person standing to be the Unite leader referred to such a lack of joined up thinking when talking about energy production.

Many people say they want an integrated (now 'coherent', perhaps!) transport policy.  This means the train departure time linking with the bus arriving and the same at the other end of the train journey.  However, this is getting more difficult to achieve as new transport modes come on stream like LR, VLR and ULR that all take up room on our roads and railway lines!

LR = Metro "bus on rails" trams, called light rail (LR) rapid transit that Manchester has.

VLR = Very Light Rail as they are doing for a VLR test track on 2 Kms of mainline railway between Dudley Castle Hill and the Cinder Bank roundabout.

ULR = Ultra Light Rail like the Stourbridge Shuttle on the short branch line from Stourbridge Town to Stourbridge Jct stations.

Different experts and people want different things!

Suzanne Webb MP for Stourbridge wants the ULR, Stourbridge Shuttle extended on our wasted, half-used mainline railway to meet up with the Metro LR tram at Brierley Hill.

A councillor I know wants the Metro LR tram extended, instead, on the mainline railway to Stourbridge Jct.

I want the commuter and regional trains, that we saw for 100 years until 50 years ago, to finish what they have built to return to the 120 Kms (74 miles) between Worcester and Derby.  This can still be done, at least, on the two sections not getting LR "bus on rails" trams!

Andy Street wants multi-modal (I call it multi-mixed up) transport with HS2, HR (heavy rail trains), LR, VLR and ULR on both railways and roads.

No-one can agree or, certainly not enough people, that it is better to keep trains on train lines and roads for cars, vans, lorries, buses.  Since the 1950s, the authorities have been very busy destroying our tram network and the railways that continues to this day, with the top priority being given to the tram network being rebuilt on the railway and road networks!

How far do you think this is correct for transport? If so could the Metro Mayor with his oversight role create some cohesion from apparent confusion?  As I have just written, dear Andy (whom I voted for in 2017 and 2021) wants everything going, everywhere as all-new, fancy, flash, modern forms of public transport.  No one has thought of putting electric buses directly on roads without using railway tracks on roads for "bus on rails" trams.

I hope this summary helps, Carol to explain what is going on.  Basically, billions of pounds of greenhouse gases being emitted to hasten climate disaster!  We can never be satisfied with simple, plain, boring trains and buses working together.  And certainly, we never dream of being content with using existing transport infrastructure to the full or, giving the youngsters the regional Fare-Free Public Transport that old people like me have had for most of this century!

Do as we say; not do as we do!

TRANSPORT SUMMIT REVEALS MORE DOUBLE STANDARDS!

At today's city council Transport Summit in Birmingham Council House, Cllr Len Gregory, urged delegates to switch off when idling to cut exhaust gases, to cut carbon dioxide emissions and to save fuel.

Environmentalist, Tim Weller, in the first question after Cllr Mike Whitby sat down from his speech said,

"I fully support Cllr Gregory in his appeal to switch off when idling. However, he might start with his own leader on his left. Cllr Mike drives a 3 litre Jaguar, when he is the Leader of the Council who claims to lead all other councils in the UK in doing the most to cut very harmful carbon emissions. Three weeks ago I found his large limo idling uselessly in the Council House Courtyard when I returned for my cycle. When will he follow Cllr Len's example and, better, when will he lead from the front, gain the respect of of us all and either cut his hefty carbon emissions by driving a smaller car; or, car share with the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor's two Jags; or, even better, follow Prof Julia King's work to replace high carbon cars with electric vehicles and drive an electric or hybrid car."

Cllr Whitby was not at all embarrassed by his gas guzzler and explained that he did not drive it so had no control over the idling engine.

Tim Weller commented that "Former London Mayor Ken was a regular bus and train user, Mayor Boris rides a cycle but our two Mayors and Leader Mike all drive their own, personal, chauffeur driven, carbon spewing Jags. This is totally unacceptable. It is business as usual for our three leaders; but they tell us to drive less and use public transport more. There is no leadership, no action and even they don't change one iota!"

Prof Julia King of Aston University, Cllr Mike Whitby and Cllr Len Gregory were the lead speakers this morning.