Corporate Responsibility

Out-of-town

Travel enriches our lives. We go further and experience more than ever before. Cars are advertised with the illusion of freedom, but congestion makes this a myth. If we are to make a difference we need to encourage people to plan their travel and use low carbon methods of transport wherever possible. Only then will we be free to get where we need to be…

Fundamental changes need to be made to the current infrastructure if public transport use is to be encouraged.

Since privatisation there has been huge growth in rail use. This is a positive sign, but there are limits to what can be done to meet demand with the system as it stands. Capacity is an issue and needs to be addressed if rail is going to be a solution in the push to low carbon alternatives.

On the roads, coaches need to carry a bigger share of traffic, with commuters encouraged by dedicated rush-hour coach ways on trunk roads, controlled by remotely operated signs that respond to demand.

Dedicated motorway coaches could provide a practical long-distance alternative, with motorists leaving their cars in ‘park-and-ride’ style bays at service stations, continuing their journeys at a fraction of the environmental cost. To make this practical, we need high occupancy vehicle lanes and hard shoulder use at peak times.

Technical changes are also needed. We’d like to see extensions of the electrified rail network where possible and appropriate. On rural lines, trains could be powered by fuel cells, using hydrogen and producing no emissions except water.

We may see changes to the coach network, with the creation of out-of-town coach stations. Linking to these could be fleets of electric hire cars charged by onsite wind turbines for onward connections.

There is a key role for flexible, on demand services such as robotic controlled coaches operating on dedicated routes using GPS. More also needs to be done to encourage car sharing to ensure the one person car journey becomes a thing of the past.

As the government starts to develop ‘eco-towns’, public transport planning
will be critical. Walking, cycling and public transport need to take priority over the car, and low carbon connections with other destinations need to be created. Only then will the ‘eco-towns’ fulfill the goals they set out to achieve. The alternative is that they become extensions of the commuter belt and take us even further from our vision.

Using our IT platform we could become the central mobility provider for these towns, allowing people to plan their journey in one easy step. If carbon trading has become a reality we could help people manage their CO₂ allowance.

Understanding the impact of every journey will become critical. We have already launched online carbon calculators that show how much CO₂ is used on which service. This needs to broaden out to every journey, every time. Simple carbon labels need to show which mode wins on efficiency,
allowing travellers to make considered decisions.

Most of all, these changes need all of us to work together to keep public
transport at the top of the policy agenda and to ensure it receives the funding it requires. It’s our chance to make a difference.