Comment & Analysis
The first day back at work after the festive break can be a dispiriting experience. That’s certainly true for users of public transport, whose reluctant return to reality is compounded by annual ticket fare hikes.
The elasticity of transport pricing struck me on 4 January as commuters at my local Tube station waited in line for the pleasure of paying more for the same service that they had always received. The queue was bigger than ever, with passengers exhibiting a resigned acceptance of the fare increases, a reflection of the monopolistic nature of transport provision.
Peak-time queues are a common sight throughout the year at many train and Tube stations around the country, with our economy still primarily based on nine-to-five timekeeping where most office-based commuters are expected to work rigid hours. School timetables, shops, healthcare and leisure facilities also fit within this pattern, adding to the peak load. A transport network that is over-burdened at peak hours and relatively quiet for much of the rest of the day is inherently inefficient. Yet we seem wedded to traditional ways of working, to our obvious detriment.
So is this our accepted future? Ever higher fares, for ever crowded services? Or can transport policies eventually result in a better way of doing things?
On the demand side, it always surprises me that, with the advent of smartphones and video conferencing, the public and private sectors don’t place more emphasis on ensuring that staff avoid unnecessary travel, in particular during the morning and evening peaks. Despite terrific advances in technology, employers seem conditioned to be suspicious of remote working.
There’s resistance on an individual level, too. I’ve seen experienced engineers react with terror at the thought of conducting an interview on a video conferencing call. Such reticence underpins outdated methods of working which places extra pressure on creaking public transport systems.
Perhaps, ultimately, it’s up to government to show leadership and introduce policies that encourage companies to implement more flexible working patterns. The Department for Transport appears to give little thought to how it might incentivise fewer journeys, or how it might work in tandem with transport providers to introduce smarter ticket pricing structures that might encourage more off-peak travel.
The IMechE thinks this matters. A recent report that it published into integrated transport systems contained a detailed section on how road and rail networks have evolved to cater for these inevitable morning and evening peaks. This has led to targeted capacity expansion, much of which is utilised for only a few hours each weekday.
There has to be a more intelligent way of doing things. We need fresh thinking, and new ideas – whether it be incentives, smarter ticketing, car sharing, or whatever. A rapidly increasing population will place growing pressure on the transport system in the future, and our current rigid usage patterns risk bringing it to a state of perpetual paralysis. In London, some Tube stations are regularly closed on weekday evenings to avoid overcrowding. Unless we are careful, we run the risk of this becoming the national norm.
• Having worked on PE for 18 years, and 336 issues, I will at the end of this month be moving on to try something new. It’s been a real privilege to write for such an engaged and technically knowledgeable audience. Many thanks for all your emails and letters. I’d like to sign off by wishing you all the very best for the future.
Contact Lee Hibbert, PE Editor, at Unit G4, Harbour Yard, London SW10 0XD. lee.hibbert@caspianmedia.com