Best Cogitamus Limited Podcasts (2025)

1
3/13 Commitment and determination: creating the South Wales Metro 34:01

9h ago34:01

34:01

One of the most exciting transport projects anywhere in the UK is the South Wales Metro which is now fully taking shape and promises to transform travel in and around the Cardiff Capital Region. In an extended interview, Christian hears from the person widely acknowledged as the visionary behind this metamorphosis - Mark Barry, Professor of Practic…

1
3/12 China’s high speed rail achievements and Heathrow’s shutdown 33:14

25d ago33:14

33:14

Christian reports back to listeners on the latest leg of his worldwide exploration of high speed rail networks, this time with the extraordinary progress made in the People's Republic of China [1:22]. Mark Walker and Christian discuss the impact of and explanations for the recent total shutdown of London's Heathrow Airport as a result of a fire in …

1
3/11 Tesla troubles and Lower Thames Crossing tensions 30:38

1M ago30:38

30:38

In an episode all about roads and cars, Christian and Mark Walker discuss the troubles facing electric vehicle giant Tesla as the company's reputation becomes entwined with that of its leader, Elon Musk [1:40]. Christian interviews Transport Action Network founder and director Chris Todd on why the UK Government should cancel the vastly expensive L…

1
3/10 Indian railway adventure (part 2), pressing deadline for HS2 and tribute to Professor Rod Smith 29:48

2M ago29:48

29:48

Christian brings listeners the second part of his report on rail developments in India with particular reference to the city of Mumbai [2:15]; Mark Walker and Christian discuss the growing pressure for a decision on how to replace HS2 between Birmingham and Crewe [19:03]; in a tribute from the departure lounge, Christian reflects on the life and wo…

1
3/9 Indian railway adventure (part 1), Great British Railways consultation and benefits of shared transport 49:33

2M ago49:33

49:33

Christian reports live from India in the first part of his latest exploration of the country's vast and diverse railway system [1:23]. The new UK Government's consultation on establishing its own version of 'Great British Railways' is discussed by Christian and Mark Walker [6:53]. Richard Dilks - Chief Executive of CoMoUK - speaks to Christian abou…

1
3/8 Reeves on planes, trains and automobiles plus family-friendly and more competitive rail travel 47:51

3M ago47:51

47:51

Christian and Mark analyse the speech from UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves MP and her proposals on London Heathrow Airport, the Lower Thames Crossing and East West Railway [1:42]. Christian interviews Abi Taylor and Joe Thomas on the campaign for family-friendly trains in Great Britain [17:38] and Steve Montgomery, Managing Director of…

1
3/7 Celebrating 200 years of railways and marking big reforms to buses 38:04

4M ago38:04

38:04

Christian interviews Alan Hyde from 'Railway 200' on the exciting programme of celebrations marking the bicentenary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and of the industry which changed not just the UK but the whole world [1:28]. Co-presenter Mark Walker discusses with Christian the big changes underway in England's bus industry with completion of…

1
3/6 Big in Japan! Plus a dramatic change of UK Transport Secretary 46:02

5M ago46:02

46:02

Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker examine the brief but spectacular tenure of Louise Haigh MP at the helm of the UK Department for Transport and ask what changes the past career and experience of new Secretary of State Heidi Alexander MP may bring [02:20]. Live from Tokyo, Christian reports on his experience of using the city's vast Metro syst…

1
3/5 How HS2 manages bats, society manages cars and Ministers manage Parliament 47:10

5M ago47:10

47:10

Christian applies his journalistic sonar to HS2's controversial bat mitigation measures, detecting new aspects to the saga [2:00]. Transport Planning Society Chair Ben Plowden is interviewed by Christian at the Society's conference ‘The Road Less Travelled: the Principles, Policies, Practicalities and Politics of Reducing Car Use in the UK’ [13:43]…

1
3/4 Does the Chancellor's Budget give any hints of a UK transport strategy? 50:22

6M ago50:22

50:22

In this episode of The Transport Podcast, Christian Wolmar interviews Steve Gooding, Director of the RAC Foundation on what last week's UK Budget by the Chancellor of the Exchequer says about current and future plans for road vehicle taxation as electrification spreads and discussion of journey-based usage charges grows [01:45]. Christian and co-pr…

1
3/3 Exclusive! Discover how the train drivers' pay dispute in England was really resolved 34:25

6M ago34:25

34:25

In this exclusive episode of The Transport Podcast, Christian talks to train drivers' union ASLEF's Assistant General Secretary - Simon Weller - about what really happened when the UK Labour Government came into power and negotiated a settlement of the long-running pay dispute [2:30], including exploring in detail the issues around Sunday working, …

1
3/2 Can London's Euston station be fixed and are Lime bikes a boon or a curse? 30:01

7M ago30:01

30:01

In this episode of The Transport Podcast, Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker examine the controversies and challenges at London's Euston station [01:30], ask just how much fun the BBC's 'Nightsleeper' drama is [17:08], debate the pros and cons of the Lime bike hire scheme and other micro-mobility technologies [17:18] and consider whether the Lo…

1
3/1 Live from Liverpool where Labour is "ripping up the very roots of Thatcherism" from transport 31:30

7M ago31:30

31:30

Launching Season 3 of The Transport Podcast, 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:…

1
2/25 Rail renationalisation passes key milepost and new road costs come under scrutiny 34:59

8M ago34:59

34:59

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 scheme…

1
2/24 Satnav guiding UK airliners and better train services across Britain's Pennines 33:39

8M ago33:39

33:39

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 inn…

1
2/23 Calling All Stations is LIVE! 32:43

9M ago32:43

32:43

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…

1
2/22 Transport manifestos for General Election and how to boost UK merchant shipping 50:45

11M ago50:45

50:45

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…

1
2/21 Transport choices in the UK General Election and 1944 Normandy rail heroes 37:10

11M ago37:10

37:10

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 A…

1
2/20 Birmingham transformed by HS2 construction while culture wars bedevil roadspace policy 33:24

12M ago33:24

33:24

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:…

1
2/19 Competing visions of 'Great British Railways' from Labour and the Conservatives 36:30

1y ago36:30

36:30

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…

1
2/18 John Major's rail privatisation helmsman torpedoes Conservatives' latest reforms 35:59

1y ago35:59

35:59

Christian speaks at length with Steve Norris, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the UK Department for Transport between 1992 and 1996, who was the key Rail Minister serving John Major's Conservative Government in delivering the privatisation of Great Britain's railways and the creation of new industry structures. While reflecting on the pas…

1
2/17 Are a fair deal for England's train drivers and fare-free public transport in London possible? 50:46

1y ago50:46

50:46

With further strikes scheduled in many of England's train companies, Christian speaks to Simon Weller, Assistant General Secretary of drivers' union ASLEF, about what the shape of a settlement to the long-running disputes over pay and conditions might look like [2:08 ]. Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker discuss the latest developments in Great…

1
2/16 Promoting cycling mobility in London and social mobility in Britain's railways 32:25

1y ago32:25

32:25

A double interview edition where Christian discusses expanding active travel across the capital with Greater London's Walking & Cycling Commissioner, Dr Will Norman [1:39] and a new initiative to promote social mobility through railway employment with Steve White, Managing Director of Southeastern [21:27]. Christian also reflects that the big tech …

1
2/15 Revealed! Draft Rail Reform Bill, new urban transport ambitions and rebranded Overground lines 45:50

1y ago45:50

45:50

With the Draft Rail Reform Bill published by the UK Government for scrutiny by the House of Commons Transport Committee, Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker discuss just what this says about the direction of travel after six years rail reform in Great Britain and ask whether any of the proposals will ever be implemented [01:30]. The centrepiece …

1
2/14 Featuring Surrey's pioneering hydrogen buses and celebrating forgotten WW2 rail heroes 42:03

1y ago42:03

42:03

Christian sees for himself the hydrogen-powered bus fleet introduced through the pioneering partnership between Surrey County Council and Metrobus [01:30] before discussing with Mark Walker the findings of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee on the cancellation of the northern sections of HS2 [30:47]. Listeners then receive an update on …

1
2/13 Should the next UK Government be aiming to complete more of HS2? 27:54

1y ago27:54

27:54

In this special episode with just one item, Christian discusses with Jim Steer, Director of Greengauge 21, the prospects for restoration of the cancelled sections of Great Britain's new high speed railway - HS2 - and the difficult choices facing whichever party forms the next UK Government later in 2024. Find 'Calling All Stations - the transport p…

1
2/12 Scotland's transport strategy drives rail innovation, LNER's big ticket changes, tripping over e-bikes and possible HS2 resurrection 39:54

1+ y ago39:54

39:54

Christian interviews Scotland's Railway's Managing Director Alex Hynes about how having a national transport strategy and the greatest possible collaboration between trains and track is powering innovation across the business [1:25] before taking a quizzical look with co-presenter Mark Walker at LNER's radical ticket reform proposals on its Edinbur…

1
2/11 Welcoming 2024 with aviation safety, EV progress, bus headaches and New Year predictions 47:39

1+ y ago47:39

47:39

Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker examine a positive report on progress in jet airliner safety alongside extraordinary incidents in Tokyo and Portland [02:00]. We have an extended interview debunking myths about electric cars with Edmund King OBE, President of the AA [12:40] and explore the implications of a Daily Mirror report on the scale of…

1
2/10 Happy 1st podcast birthday and Eurotunnel’s 30th but UK’s infrastructure chief isn’t happy at all 45:39

1+ y ago45:39

45:39

Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker consider the transport news and policy highlights of their first year of podcasting [1:10]. Christian celebrates 30 years of Eurotunnel operations with John Keefe, Chief Corporate and Public Affairs Officer at Getlink Group, asking what the future holds for the conveyance of road vehicles, growth in passenger …

1
2/9 How close are we to guilt-free flying, a more perfect Union and prosperous railways? 48:29

1+ y ago48:29

48:29

Christian interviews the Aviation Environment Federation's Tim Johnson about just how green the first trans-Atlantic commercial flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuel really was [2:40]. Mark Walker and Christian discuss the rail, road and aviation measures contained in the UK Government's response to the Union Connectivity Review [24:14]. Our co-pr…

1
2/8 May we see the bill please? Legal changes coming for autonomous vehicles and pedicabs but not railways 40:08

1+ y ago40:08

40:08

Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker delve into the details of UK parliamentary bills covering automated vehicles [1:40] and pedicabs [11:42] and reveal why legislation on railways in Great Britain won't get beyond the draft stage [17:15]. Picking up on the recent UK Government ministerial reshuffle, Christian and Mark look at the biographies and…

1
2/7 New transport laws, new job for a rail legend and a new airport shuttle 51:31

1+ y ago51:31

51:31

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 abou…

1
2/6 You turn if you want to - England spins booking office uey as USA throws robocar 180 28:33

1+ y ago28:33

28:33

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 Loung…

1
2/5 The strange cases of disappearing flightpaths, bridge arches and bus shelters 34:12

1+ y ago34:12

34:12

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 …

1
2/4 Live from Liverpool! Our ’special’ on the big transport news from the Conservative and Labour Party conferences 41:47

1+ y ago41:47

41:47

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 div…

1
2/3 Is the coming UK General Election the one (at last) to be dominated by transport? 39:40

1+ y ago39:40

39:40

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 Ale…

1
2/2 Hands-free or speed-free on the roads plus awesome site visit (part 2) as HS2 again under scrutiny 31:13

1+ y ago31:13

31:13

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 t…

1
2/1 Summer catch-up with awesome HS2 site visit (part 1), air traffic crisis, ULEZ and booking office rows 45:16

1+ y ago45:16

45:16

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…

1
Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 23 47:58

2y ago47:58

47:58

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 …

1
Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 22 39:36

2y ago39:36

39:36

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 …

1
Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 21 44:18

2y ago44:18

44:18

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 f…

1
Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 20 29:50

2y ago29:50

29:50

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 follo…

1
Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 19 38:01

2y ago38:01

38:01

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 whic…

1
Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 18 27:38

2y ago27:38

27:38

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). Chr…

1
Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 17 24:01

2y ago24:01

24:01

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 pr…

1
Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 16 28:52

2y ago28:52

28:52

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 William…

1
Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 15 36:03

2y ago36:03

36:03

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 …

1
Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 14 32:29

2y ago32:29

32:29

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 …

1
Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 13 26:09

2y ago26:09

26:09

Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker take a close look at the saga of the new ferries for island shipping services in Scotland [01:30], scrutinise promises of hands-free driving on Great Britain's motorways [11:15], reflect upon the renaissance of sleeper trains in Europe [17:00] and cheer on prospects for smoother boarding of flights from UK air…

1
Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 12 42:33

2y ago42:33

42:33

Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker look at the latest developments with HS2 and Euston [01:30], the controversies around Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and 15-Minute Cities [14:19], the UK Government's response to the Independent Review of Net Zero by Chris Skidmore MP [26:45] and how Queens Park Rangers are leading the way on sustainable travel in…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Cogitamus Limited Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide