Very pleased to talk to my old friend Christian Wolmar about my new book about the demise of Britain's trams (tinyurl.com/astrotrams) on his calling all stations podcast. bsky.app/profile/bett...

Ever heard of astroturfing? If you have, you probably associate it with social media, climate deniers or Russian bots. A hundred years ago it flourished in the letters columns of newspapers. And as revealed in my new book it brought the British tram to the brink of extinction. tinyurl.com/astrotrams

Yesterday the UK released its new transport strategy: Better Connected. When the public consultation started the Department for Transport inspired stories about a resurgence of trams. Now the new mantra is places, people and partnership. Take out the pees and there’s little of substance left.