How does Britain’s knowledge economy shape its cities? Paul Swinney from the Centre for Cities joins me to explore the North-South divide, the role of transport in economic growth and why second-tier cities underperform.

We discuss what agglomeration means and why it matters, how post-pandemic work trends are reshaping transport needs and why investing in urban connectivity is key to unlocking Britain’s economic potential.

Lee Waters did something unfashionable in modern politics: he led.

As both 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀, he curtailed road-building, introduced a national 20mph speed limit and set in motion reforms to create an integrated, publicly owned transport network.

This episode is a masterclass in the reality of political change: why transport is so often overlooked, how to challenge decades of car-first orthodoxy and why evidence-based policy isn’t enough without political courage.

Karen Vancluysen has an infectious passion for sustainable transport and urban mobility. As 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗦, she runs a network of over 100 European cities and regions, all innovating to accelerate the transition to more sustainable mobility.

In today’s episode, we chat about the places that are leading the charge, and the challenges of the growth of populism. She gives advice to political leaders aspiring to make change happen and is inspirational on what has been done - and what more needs to happen.

We end with her recommended mobility ‘grand tour’ of Europe, to see what’s already been achieved on the ground.

It’s a great start to Season 3!

Welcome back to The Freewheeling Podcast, everyone.

I got together with Sir Michael Holden (former Chief Executive of Directly Operated Railways, the Government’s own train company) to discuss this landmark first budget by a Labour chancellor for 14 years.

Shin-pei Tsay has had what you would call a varied career in transport. She's worked in advocacy organisations, as an exec in Uber and now leads innovation in the City of Boston.

She joins me on the podcast to talk about how to make change happen.

The Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee (the body responsible for setting Britain’s national carbon budgets and reporting on progress to Parliament) talks transport

With experience of running two types of franchise, a region of Network Rail and HS1, my guest Dyan Crowther is the ideal person to talk to about the post-Williams future.

Now we finally know what the Williams Shapps Plan says, I get together with Sir MIchael Holden to discuss it

Lilian Greenwood is one of the few politicians to have made transport a speciality. We talk about her time both as Shadow Minister and Chair of the Select Committee

Should ER target public transport with their protests? Who are ER and what do they want? This episode gets under the skin of this fascinating organisation

Head of Sustainable Mobility at IKEA on how to eliminate carbon emissions within the next ten years

Nina Lockwood on what the rail industry’s thinking; and whether there’s a transport type

Professor Emerita at the University of Sydney on alternative uses of the tax system such as property uplift and road pricing

After a momentous week for the bus industry, I get together with Leon Daniels to talk over what on earth happened

Heathrow Southern Railway CEO tells me how transport infrastructure could be paid for by pension schemes

Hack Partners founder talks frankly about why innovation in transport is hard - and what needs to change

Lecturer in film and literature on transport in films, from the 19th century to the present day

The Travel Editor of the Independent talks openly on politicians and where we’re heading