Category Archives: Transport

News, Transport

Rise of the “supercommuter”: long distance commuting by rail doubles in hybrid working era

  • New research from Trainline reveals the number of UK “supercommuters” travelling by rail has almost doubled since the pandemic (+47%), a trend enabled by hybrid working.
  • Three-quarters of supercommuters (73%) surveyed are happy with a longer commute, citing a better work-life balance (34%) and a reduced cost of living (29%) among the main reasons
  • More than half of regular UK commuters (51%) surveyed say they would be open to supercommuting in the future, showing the boom of supercommuting will continue


London, 1st July 2024: New research from Trainline reveals the number of UK “supercommuters” using rail to travel longer distances to work has doubled since Covid. Almost half (47%) of current supercommuters surveyed made the lifestyle change either during or post-pandemic, and over four in five (84%) of these new supercommuters say hybrid working has enabled this switch in their commuting habits.

Trainline’s survey of 1,004 rail supercommuters, defined as journeys to work of at least 90 minutes, finds that supercommuters are still regulars at their desks – spending an average of three days a week in the office. Despite most supercommuters surveyed spending at least 2 hours travelling in each direction (65%+), it is important for many to find a balance between working from home and the office. The overwhelming majority (93%) of those surveyed believe it’s important they commute often enough to maintain strong bonds with their colleagues and clients.

Three-quarters of supercommuters (73%) surveyed said they are happier with a longer commute than they would be living closer to work. Lifestyle considerations are key to these employees deciding to undertake a longer commute, such as achieving a greater work-life balance (34%), a reduced cost of living (29%) and more opportunities for their family (29%).

The top destination for most super commuters (27%) is London,* but the phenomenon can be seen across the country with other popular cities including Manchester (6%), Nottingham (5%), and Birmingham (5%).

Trainline also surveyed a group of 1,001 regular UK commuters to assess the potential growth in the number of rail supercommuters. Just over half (51%) said they would be open to supercommuting in the future, with achieving a better work-life balance the number one motivation (63%). The vast majority of this number (84%) would be willing to spend at least 75 minutes on the train.

Commenting on the findings, Sakshi Anand, VP of Growth at Trainline, said: “Hybrid working has helped fundamentally shift work and travel habits over the past few years, with more people now choosing a longer commute so they can both live and work where they want. Our research shows that not only are these rail supercommuters on the rise, but that the phenomenon is here to stay. As more people become supercommuters, they face an array of ticket options with a trade-off between price and flexibility. At Trainline, we can help supercommuters navigate these complex decisions by making it easy to identify and buy the right ticket that gives them the best value for their journey.”

 

Business, Cardiff, Cardiff News, Transport, Transport Tech

Veezu returns to Whitchurch Heath Cricket Club as club sponsor

VEEZU, south Wales’ leading private hire platform, is returning as the club sponsor for Whitchurch Heath Cricket Club’s upcoming season.

 

Whitchurch Heath has four Senior league sides and a thriving youth section that runs teams at ages under 9, 11, 13 and 15. They are dedicated to playing competitive cricket in a welcoming, inclusive and social atmosphere in the north Cardiff suburb.

 

This marks Veezu’s third year of sponsoring the club through its ‘Funded by Veezu’ programme, an initiative in which organisations, charities and sports teams can apply for funding and grants, set up to improve the communities in which Veezu operates.

 

The sponsorship will go on to fund day-to-day expenses such as ground maintenance and equipment.

 

Peter Bryon, Whitchurch Heath Chair, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Veezu once again and are very grateful for their ongoing support and commitment to WHCC. This sponsorship is invaluable to us as we can invest in the club’s grounds and facilities to improve the overall experience for our members.”

 

Sally Krouma, Hyperlocal Marketing Manager at Veezu, said: “We are very excited to be continuing this partnership and supporting Whitchurch Heath in their upcoming season. Funded by Veezu is all about reaching out to our local communities and supporting them in any way we can. It’s wonderful to see another great organisation benefit from the programme, and we look forward to seeing this partnership develop even further.”

Business, Transport, Transport Tech

Veezu headlines Solihull Music Festival as official ride partner

Veezu, the Midlands’ leading private hire operator, is the headline sponsor and official ride partner for the Solihull Music Festival through its new partnership with Solihull BID.

 

The Solihull Business Improvement District (Solihull BID) is a not-for-profit organisation, with a voluntary board of directors to represent the town’s businesses. The group works to improve and promote the town centre of Solihull. For the past 13 years, the work of Solihull BID has resulted in a reduction in crime, increase in footfall and the introduction of a thriving events calendar, such as the Solihull Music Festival.

 

The partnership arose from a mutual agreement between Veezu and Solihull BID to address the need to make travel easier for businesses and locals in and around Solihull.

 

Through its partnership, Veezu is sponsoring six events with Solihull BID. Marking its first event, Veezu will be the official ride partner of Solihull Music Festival on 20-23 June.

 

Veezu will be providing safe, reliable and convenient travel for festivalgoers for the whole weekend, with £5 off rides for event visitors and Solihull BID VIP Membership card holders. Rides can be booked through the Veezu app, available here.

 

Melanie Palmer, Chief Executive of Solihull BID, said: “We are delighted to have the established brand of Veezu join us as our official ride partner for our town centre events.

 

“We know how many people enjoy visiting Solihull for the calendar of iconic events and now we are able to offer tailored discounts for those choosing to arrive in style with a Veezu taxi. Great partnership working makes Solihull the destination of choice for fun and relaxation without the worry of or restrictions of driving. Now, bring on the sunshine.”

 

Letitia Young, Hyperlocal Marketing Manager for Veezu, said: “We are very excited to be the official ride partner for Solihull BID and the Solihull Music Festival. This partnership further marks our commitment toward strengthening our ties with the local community in Solihull. We are especially proud to be playing a part in making travel easier for Solihull locals, and ensuring that more people can enjoy the fantastic events taking place in the town. Keep an eye out for us at future Solihull BID events.”

Business, Cardiff, Sport, Transport

Veezu kicks off local football sponsorship

VEEZU, south Wales’ leading private hire operator, supported the Radyr Rangers Football Club at their Football Festival on 8 June.

As part of the Funded by Veezu programme, set up to improve the communities in which Veezu operates by offering funding and grant opportunities, Veezu was a silver sponsor at the event, making a £500 donation.

The Radyr Rangers Football Club provides community football to Radyr, Morganstown and the surrounding area, and successfully provides football training for over 400 children and young people engaged in fun and healthy activities, aiming to provide a safe and fun environment for all.

Through this sponsorship, Veezu welcomes the Radyr Rangers to their community of local sponsorships, with its latest donation in south Wales being to Cash For Kids’ Holiday Hunger appeal.

Wyn Williams at Radyr Rangers FC said: “We are incredibly grateful to Veezu for their support and generosity in enabling our Football Festival to be such a success. It was a joy to see our community come together, with teams from all ages getting stuck in to a fun-filled day of football.”

Sally Krouma, Hyperlocal Marketing Manager at Veezu, said: “The Radyr Rangers held a fantastic event and it was wonderful to see the development of such a welcoming community for young people, and how important organisations like these are. We strive to support as many local community groups as possible in south Wales, and look forward to what the Radyr Rangers go on to do next.”

Business News, Driving, Driving Tech, Electric Vehicles, Transport, Transport Tech, Travel, UK

Veezu teams up with Seatfrog to end the anxiety with trains and taxis

The travel duo join forces to upgrade passengers’ journeys from home to destination.

 

Veezu, the UK’s largest and fastest-growing private hire taxi technology platform, and Seatfrog, the rail ticketing app revolutionising train travel are excited to announce a strategic partnership to end the anxiety with trains and taxis.

 

From today, Seatfrog’s cutting-edge technology will be connected to Veezu’s extensive vehicle network, taking passengers from their home straight to the best seats on trains and then directly into a Veezu car on arrival at the best price available.

 

The partnership will eliminate the headache many passengers face across the UK, waiting in endless taxi queues or missing taxis because their train is running late, by connecting train journeys and taxi network data for the first time. Passengers’ rides will automatically connect to their rail departure and arrival times, so they can step out of the train station straight into their waiting Veezu ride.

 

Veezu passengers will also be able to easily upgrade their train tickets to first class on the way to the station, from as little as £13 – with Seatfrog’s unique app features, where Brits have saved over £80 million on first class upgrades.

 

Nathan Bowles, CEO of Veezu, commented, “Partnering with Seatfrog is an exciting step towards redefining travel in key UK cities. Together, we’re going to make it easier than ever for passengers to enjoy an integrated journey and sit in the best seats on the train.”

 

Seatfrog’s CEO, Iain Griffin, added, “Journeys should be easy, but in the UK, we’re constantly reminded that we’re mere mortals every time we jump off a train to catch a taxi – long queues, no vehicles available, surge pricing, stress. No one has seamlessly connected taxis to train journeys, changing that is long overdue.”

 

For more information about the collaboration between Veezu and Seatfrog visit https://www.veezu.co.uk/partners/seatfrog  and www.seatfrog.com/veezu.

Midlands, Transport, Transport Tech, Travel

Veezu crosses the finish line into partnership with Wolverhampton Racecourse

VEEZU, the Midlands’ leading private hire operator, is bolstering its partnership with Wolverhampton Racecourse as official ride partner and sponsor.

 

Upgrading its existing partnership, Veezu will be making travel even easier for hotel and racecourse visitors. For ease of booking, guests can request their Veezu vehicle from the grounds, through the pre-existing ride booker device located in the hotel’s reception. With the introduction of a new pick-up point, located outside of Holiday Inn Wolverhampton – Racecourse’s entrance, guests will now have instant and convenient access to their ride.

 

In addition to providing reliable transport, Veezu has sponsored the course’s finishing posts, with signage having launched last month.

 

Formerly known as Go Carz, this sponsorship is one of many that Veezu’s Midlands branch has made since rebranding, as it extends its links in the local community.

 

Graham Hoof, Regional Operations Director at Veezu, said: “We are very excited to extend our partnership with Wolverhampton Racecourse and support the many fantastic events and experiences hosted at the grounds throughout the year. This partnership is one of many that brings us closer to our goal of providing safe, reliable and convenient transport to passengers across the Midlands, and we look forward to further easing travel for Midlands locals and visitors.”

 

David Ideson, Executive Director at Wolverhampton Racecourse, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Veezu as official ride partner and sponsor. This partnership will ensure that all guests can have the best experience possible, and not have to worry about their race day travel. The team at Veezu have been wonderful to work with already and I look forward to our future events with them.”

Charity, Community News, Driving, Liverpool, Transport

Britannia Taxis supports disadvantaged youth with latest community donations

BRITANNIA Taxis, Liverpool’s leading private hire operator, is stepping up to support disadvantaged youth in the local community through the Funded by Veezu programme.

Britannia is a regional hub of the UK’s fastest growing private hire technology platform, Veezu, and is supporting Tribe Dance School and Brins Gym to empower disadvantaged youth.

Tribe Dance School, founded in September 2023 by Becky Middleton, hosts acro, ballet, tap and commercial dance classes for children aged 2-11 alongside an adult’s dance class in Roby Community Centre, a Big Help building.

Britannia Taxis has donated £800 to fund dance classes for children from low-income households who otherwise cannot afford to attend, and sponsors one young dancer in particular to progress and attend free classes.

Becky said: “We’re so grateful to Britannia for their support, allowing children from all backgrounds to be able to participate in dance.

“I set up this school after running another class with a friend for over 10 years, before her passing last year. Lots of people reached out with fond memories and great experiences of the class, so I set up Tribe in honour of her and with the hope to help more children grow and develop. Britannia’s kind donation will ensure that nobody is left out.”

Britannia Taxis has also donated £1000 to Brins Gym, a local boxing club that works with young people at risk of antisocial behaviour. The donation will go towards the purchase of a new kit for the gym’s 50th anniversary.

In addition to its donation, Britannia sponsored the Gym’s anniversary boxing show at Rainhill Ex-Services Club which took place on April 19 and welcomed young people from across the Northwest to box against each other.

Andrew Robinson, Coach at Brins Gym and Veezu driver-partner, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Veezu for its ongoing support at such an exciting time for us. Our gym is an important place for so many people as our number one priority is to empower disadvantaged children and keep them on track.

“The best part of running the gym is witnessing how many people we have been able to welcome over the last 50 years, and the difference it has made in the community. With Veezu’s support, our event was a huge success, and the future for Brins Gym looks very bright.”

Rosanna Hynes, Hyperlocal Marketing Manager for Britannia Taxis, said: “Being a local provider, supporting our local community is at the heart of what we do. Both groups do life-changing work in supporting disadvantaged young people and have incredible stories to tell; it’s a privilege to lend our support wherever we can. We are very much looking forward to what the future holds for both these organisations.”

Driving, Transport

Aqua Cars helps combat holiday hunger with charity donation

 Aqua Cars, Portsmouth’s leading private hire operator, has donated £500 to the local arm of Cash for Kids for its Cash for Kids Day on 2 May.

Acquired by Veezu earlier this year, Aqua Cars stepped in to donated through the Funded by Veezu initiative, where local residents, charities and sports teams can apply for funding and grants, set up to improve the communities in which Veezu operates.

Cash for Kids supports children and young people affected by poverty, abuse, neglect, life-limiting illness and those with additional needs. Based across 22 areas in the UK, Cash for Kids is a grant giving charity that helps community groups, charitable organisations, schools and individual cases. The latest figures from the End Child Poverty Coalition show that 1 in 3 local children are living in poverty and, in some areas, it is as high as 36%.

2 May marked Cash for Kids Day, where organisations came together to raise as much as possible for the cause, with a particular focus on combating holiday hunger to make sure all children have access to a hot meal during the holidays.

Veezu has donated £500 from its regional areas of Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield and Portsmouth, bringing the total donation to £3000. According to statistics given by Cash for Kids, it’s predicted that £3000 will help 60 children in need.

Sally Aitchison MBE, Managing Director at Cash for Kids, said: “We are so grateful to Veezu for supporting us across the UK in six regions for Cash for Kids Day. For the passengers of Veezu, they can feel confident in their choice, as they will be helping disadvantaged children access activities and food during the school holidays. For many children it will be their only daily meal. The generosity of companies like Veezu, as well as donations from the general public, help us help children that need it the most.”

Bruce Hall at Veezu, said: “We are delighted to be giving back and supporting our local community with our first donation through the Funded by Veezu scheme. The work that Cash for Kids do makes an incredible difference to children across the UK, and it’s a joy to know that our donation will go toward providing a hot meal for those who need it the most.”

For more information on Cash for Kids Day, and how you can get involved, visit: https://cashforkids.org.uk/cfkday

Midlands, Sport, Transport

Veezu supports local cricket team in new sponsorship

VEEZU, the Midlands’ fastest growing private hire operator, is sponsoring Tipton Tigers Cricket Club to mark the second year of their partnership.

As the club’s official sponsor this season, Veezu, formerly known as A2B Radio Cars, will provide a new kit for the team.

The sponsorship continues Veezu’s support of local community groups through its Funded by Veezu programme. Funded by Veezu is an initiative in which local residents, charities and sports teams can apply for funding and grants, set up to improve the communities in which Veezu operates.

Zukky Shabir, Tipton Tigers Team Member and driver-partner with Veezu, said: “We are very appreciative to Veezu for their generous donation last year as it helped set up our team and has provided a solid foundation going into our second year.

“With our team being a group of local players, and some of us working with Veezu, its ongoing support for the local community is all the more valued. Our hopes are to win the title this year in the Wolverhampton League, and we are proud to have Veezu by our side throughout this.”

Graham Hoof, Regional Operations Director for Veezu, said: “We are delighted to be supporting another local team in the Midlands. Our Funded by Veezu programme has been an incredible success already in giving local groups the opportunity to access funds and resources they may not have had before.

“With our growing presence in the Midlands, supporting our local communities and forming positive connections is one of our top priorities.”

News, Technology, Transport, Transport Tech

Network Rail Embraces AI: Oakland’s Partnership Marks a New Era in Rail Industry Innovation

Oakland, a leading Microsoft Data and AI SolutionsPartner, are collaborating with Network Rail to address the challenges of knowledge management within the rail industry.  Leveraging the power of AI, Oakland has developed a solution to revolutionise how Network Rail harnesses its wealth of information and insights.

Network Rail has just started their new financial period (CP7) – committing an investment of £44 billion in the UK railway infrastructure throughout 2024 to 2029. This significant investment aims to achieve ambitious goals, including a 20% reduction in delays, a 30% increase in capacity, and a 70% decrease in carbon emissions.*

Like many complex organisations, Network Rail faced challenges when it came to managing valuable information and how it was stored across various formats such as PDF and video, meaning there was an opportunity to better leverage these as data sources. Acknowledging the broader challenges faced by Network Rail, Oakland identified an opportunity to leverage AI to share insights from past projects before and throughout the lifecycle of new projects. This proactive strategy is designed to prevent issues later in the project timeline, improving overall efficiency and effectiveness.

The project harnesses generative AI capabilities to allow users to interact with the language model through a dynamic chatbot interface. This solution enables users to pose queries and receive tailored responses drawing from Network Rail’s extensive library of thousands of learned lessons and valuable data sources. Powered by cutting-edge AI algorithms and Azure AI Services, it represents a significant advancement in knowledge management not just in the rail industry, but with the potential to be deployed across all sectors.

Having worked together for over a decade, at the heart of the partnership with Network Rail and Oakland thrives on a shared goal of innovation and operational excellence, driving industry-leading solutions and best practices. 

Jack Evans, Principal Consultant at Oakland, adds

“Network Rail saw knowledge management as a prime candidate for AI. By placing AI at the heart of the solution, they can unlock a wealth of possibilities to make a real, positive impact for years to come. This is a game-changer for sharing and leveraging knowledge across the organisation.”

In an era defined by rapid technological advancements, Network Rail remains steadfast in its dedication to innovation to improve collaboration in the organisation and seek efficiencies. Implementing AI-driven knowledge management solutions reflects the commitment to harnessing cutting-edge technologies to propel the rail industry forward.

Mo Momodu, Programme Manager – Rail Infrastructure Centre of Excellence, shares;

“The deployment of generative AI capability within the learning from lessons library will transform the way we harness knowledge, enrich insights, and encourage cross-industry learning”