Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar

Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker consider the UK's Automated Vehicles Bill [1:45] and the Draft Rail Reform Bill [6:30].  Christian then interviews new Freightliner boss and rail industry legend Tim Shoveller about his career and the lessons he draws for the future [11:43] before speaking on site to Luton DART General Manager Linsey Sweet about just how Britain's newest transport system works [43:36].  Finally, Christian refl...

Breaking news brings an extra episode from Christian Wolmar and Mark Walker who scrutinise the complete abandonment of proposed rail station booking office closures in England after a huge public backlash [1:30] and the withdrawal of Cruise self-driving cars in the USA following safety concerns [16:30].  In his Final Thought from the Departure Lounge, Christian asks whether the two stories show the limitations of technology in tran...

In an antidote to intense recent coverage of HS2 and alternative schemes, Christian Wolmar and Mark Walker take a look at 5 transport stories from around the UK listeners may have missed [2:20].  Christian reports on what the House of Commons Transport Committee was told about August's air traffic chaos [11:14], how National Highways in England has been persuaded to reverse the infilling of a much-loved railway bridge [16:50] and w...

In this special episode recorded in Liverpool focused on the 2023 principal UK political party conferences, Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker discuss the Conservatives’ announcement on measures designed to protect the interests of motorists [1:10] along with the cancellation of the remaining sections of the HS2 high speed rail line and the diversion of investment funds to Network North [7:55].  We then have an extended intervi...

As the 2024 UK General Election looms ever closer, Christian Wolmar and Mark Walker examine why both the Conservative and Labour Parties are tying themselves in knots over HS2 [2:40] and whether the reform of Greater Manchester's bus network is the precursor to a wave of changes across the country [10:28].  Still with buses, Christian interviews Alex Warner about the 'Great Scenic Bus Competition' which aims to make travel on this ...

Is Christian Wolmar's sceptical view of self-driving vehicles vindicated by the report from the House of Commons Transport Committee [1:59]?  Does the new default 20mph speed limit on residential streets in Wales point the way to better road safety or economic ruin [9:50]?  Will political choices leave the breathtaking HS2 Old Oak Common station as the terminus of a bizarre Acton to Aston railway [15:37}?  Christian and co-presente...

We're back!  Christian Wolmar and Mark Walker launch Season 2 bringing you up to date with three of the summer's biggest transport stories - air traffic control in crisis [1:49], Greater London's ULEZ extension [5:19] and England's main line rail booking office review [8:58] - including the take on the latter of ASLEF union leader Mick Whelan [13:51].  We then take listeners on the first part of our audio visit to the HS2 high spee...

SEASON ONE FINALE!  Christian examines in detail the advantages, challenges and myths around Low Traffic Neighbourhoods with Green member of Oxford City Council, Emily Kerr [2:53]; innovative passenger boarding technology at Eurostar is then explained by the company's Gwendoline Cazenave and Gareth Williams with Andrew Budd from iProov [24:50]; and no season finale would be complete without a cliffhanger ending [44:00].  Christian ...

Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker discuss the furious reaction to suggestions that booking offices at most of England's main line rail stations will be closed and the arguments put forward by advocates of this policy [01:30]; Christian undertakes a cab ride between London Paddington and Oxford with Great Western Railway Managing Director Mark Hopwood (and some very skilful drivers) in which they discuss a range of issues inclu...

EXCLUSIVE!  With industrial disputes continuing to affect most main line passenger rail services in Great Britain, Christian hears from ASLEF train drivers' trades union leader Mick Whelan that there has been no contact from UK Department for Transport Ministers since 6 January [1:04].  Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker also follow-up the item from Episode 20 about the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway [10:12] while the centrepiece...

Podcasting from Cambridge, Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker discuss the effectiveness of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway [00:00], the challenges of introducing a congestion charge for the City [06:18] and the status of the East West Railway project [14:10].  They then consider the lessons of the 2016 fatal crash on Croydon's tram system following the recent acquittal of the driver on criminal charges [16:45].  Finally, Chris...

Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker discuss how the tragic and very serious accident in Odisha should not be used to reinforce obsolete tropes about safety on Indian Railways [00:00]; Christian then returns to the subject of calls for graduated driving licences for young people in the UK by interviewing two trustees of the Under 17 Car Club which strives to enhance the skills and competences of young drivers from the outset [07:...

What a week!  Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker review the extraordinary impact of this podcast's revelation of UK Department for Transport plans to cut passenger wifi provision on franchised rail services in England, including an extensive debate in the House of Lords of the UK Parliament (to whom we are very grateful for the audio clips).  Christian also reflects on what recent troubles with UK Border Force e-gates at airpor...

SCOOP!  Calling All Stations brings news that the UK Department for Transport is trying to switch off passenger wifi on the train services it controls in Great Britain.  Christian Wolmar has the exclusive as our top story.  In a special edition focused on rail in Great Britain, Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker discuss the status of the reform programme [10:00], positive developments on post-pandemic usage recovery along with ...

Revealed - the latest position on reshaping Great Britain's main line rail industry.  In this podcast, Christian speaks at length with Anit Chandarana, Lead Director at the Great British Railways Transition Team on the work of the GBRTT, the wide range of reform issues the team is addressing and the prospects for legislation implementing the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail in what remains of the present UK parliamentary term.  Christ...

A preview of Christian's next book - 'The Liberation Line' - telling the story of the Allies' amazing reconstruction of railways in France and beyond following the Normandy landings of 1944 [01:15] is followed by an in-depth interview with Anthony Smith, Chief Executive of Transport Focus, the principal consumer watchdog organisation for rail, bus and road users in Great Britain [09:30], after which Christian asks whether BBC Radio...

This week, Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker examine the cutbacks to the UK Government's Smart Motorways programme in England [1:30], analyse what the grilling of UK Transport Secretary Mark Harper MP by the House of Commons Transport Committee tells us about the rail reform programme for Great Britain [8:12], discuss why two-wheeled forms of innovative transport may be falling out of favour in the UK and elsewhere [23:27] and...