Another year of change for passenger transport sector

Soaring oil prices, an increasingly difficult economic climate and a new transport secretary. Transit recalls some of the most significant events of the last 12 months

April - Tributes come in from all corners of the passenger transport sector for Gwyneth Dunwoody, the chair of the transport select committee, following her death.

April - Tributes come in from all corners of the passenger transport sector for Gwyneth Dunwoody, the chair of the transport select committee, following her death.

July - First ScotRail managing director Mary Grant is named Passenger Transport Professional of the Year at the Passenger Transport Management Awards.

July - First ScotRail managing director Mary Grant is named Passenger Transport Professional of the Year at the Passenger Transport Management Awards.

October - Former defence secretary Geoff Hoon is appointed transport secretary in a reshuffle that also sees Andrew Adonis and Paul Clark become transport ministers.

October - Former defence secretary Geoff Hoon is appointed transport secretary in a reshuffle that also sees Andrew Adonis and Paul Clark become transport ministers.

January

It was a difficult start to 2008 for Network Rail. The infrastructure controller came under fire after engineering works over Christmas and New Year overran by several days. It coincided with the company’s chairman, Sir Ian McAllister, being awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

The auction of Laing Rail concludes with Deutsche Bahn agreeing to pay fund manager Henderson a very full price of around £130m, so securing the...