• 3/1 Live from Liverpool where Labour is "ripping up the very roots of Thatcherism" from transport
    Sep 25 2024

    Launching Season 3, Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker report from the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on the keynote address by UK Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh MP [3:48]. Christian analyses a meeting discussing driverless cars addressed by Minister for the Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood MP [13:50} and talks about his own presentation on transport challenges for the Labour Government given at the Public Transport Reception hosted by the Campaign for Better Transport and sponsored by Porterbrook [18:09]. Finally, Christian celebrates London Mayor Sadiq Khan's adoption of his own longstanding proposal for the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street [28:00].

    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
  • 2/25 Rail renationalisation passes key milepost and new road costs come under scrutiny
    Sep 4 2024

    Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker bring listeners right up to date with progress of the new UK Labour Government's rapid legislation to allow franchised passenger train operations to return to state control [01:45]. Mark discusses with Christian his recent Guardian article calling for the abandonment of all England's major road building schemes [23:22]. Finally, Christian previews the reissue of his book 'Fire and Steam' to mark the bicentenary of the world's first railway [33:14].

    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • 2/24 Satnav guiding UK airliners and better train services across Britain's Pennines
    Aug 19 2024

    Christian looks skyward with HACAN Policy Director Paul Beckford to turn the spotlight on UK Airspace Modernisation and what this will mean for both passengers and residents living under the flightpaths [2:07]. Next, it's a discussion with TransPennine Express Managing Director Chris Jackson about restoring train service frequency and a host of innovations coming down the track [18:01]. Finally, Christian reflects on the agreement between the UK Government and trades union ASLEF which should see an end to the long-running train drivers' pay dispute in England [31:22].

    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • 2/23 Calling All Stations is LIVE!
    Jul 24 2024

    In our first ever episode recorded in front of a live audience at the Cogitamus and Rail Forum #allchangerail seminar, Christian Wolmar and Mark Walker examine the outcome of the UK General Election and the appointments of Labour's Transport Ministers [1:08] along with publication of the new Government's extensive transport legislative programme in the King's Speech [06:00]. We then have a featured and extensive interview with Martin Tugwell - Chief Executive of Transport for the North - who discusses with Christian the agenda for investment across all modes in northern England [16:42].

    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • 2/22 Transport manifestos for General Election and how to boost UK merchant shipping
    Jun 13 2024

    Christian and Mark Walker look at the main UK parties' General Election manifesto pledges on transport with Labour's hot off the press [1:35]. Nautilus International General Secretary Mark Dickinson speaks to Christian about his union's manifesto for a thriving merchant shipping industry in the UK [15:17]. Christian recounts his cycling tour of the Normandy liberation sites raising funds for veterans' charity SSAFA [48:29].

    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • 2/21 Transport choices in the UK General Election and 1944 Normandy rail heroes
    Jun 3 2024

    Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker examine the transport policy choices facing the UK political parties contending to win the 2024 General Election [1:25]. Mark interviews Christian about his latest book - The Liberation Line - telling the heroic story of how the reconstruction of the railways in France after D-Day from June 1944 hastened the Allied victory over Nazi Germany [20:22]. Finally, Christian reflects on an early suggestion of possible disagreement between a possible Labour Government and the Mayor of London on the extent of transport devolution [35:00].

    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • 2/20 Birmingham transformed by HS2 construction while culture wars bedevil roadspace policy
    May 15 2024

    Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker visit the impressive HS2 station and viaduct construction sites in central Birmingham to see how the project is transforming the city's connectivity and skyline [1:30]. They also discuss the latest twists in the UK's roadspace culture wars including the insane conspiracy theories around '15-minute cities' [20:48]. Finally, Christian asks whether the classic car business is receiving disproportionate attention from the UK Department for Transport [31:02].

    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • 2/19 Competing visions of 'Great British Railways' from Labour and the Conservatives
    Apr 26 2024

    Taking a brief pause between media interviews on the Labour Party's freshly published plan for railways in Great Britain, Christian discusses with Mark Walker the strategy, proposals, details and still unanswered questions revealed in the Shadow Transport Secretary's paper [1:09]. Christian and Mark then examine the progress by the House of Commons Transport Committee in its pre-legislative scrutiny of the Conservative UK Government's draft Rail Reform Bill [28:51]. In his final thought, Christian examines some innovations by rail operators in sustainability....and privacy [34:03].

    Show More Show Less
    37 mins