With a new government promising to ‘move fast and fix things’, I am excited about where public transport is now heading
Manchester’s Metrolink tram has greatly improved public transport and attracted significant investment in regeneration projects
At the start of the year, an MP said to me that the general election would be in June. I was sceptical, mainly because I could not see how a prime minister would go to the polls with such poor poll ratings. How wrong was I! Fast forward from that wet day in Downing Street when the PM announced the election to now. We have a new government with a huge majority, and a weight of expectations on its shoulders.
The scale of the general election result was a shock – I am sure as much to Labour as it was to the rest of the country. However, it has opened up a potentially exciting new chapter for public transport. The King’s Speech was packed with transport bills – five in total, which sends a clear signal that the government is serious about revolutionising how we move people and goods across our nation.
I’m particularly excited about two bills that will be game changers for us at the Urban Transport Group: the Better Buses Bill and the Rail Reform Bill. These two bills have the potential to transform our daily lives. Imagine a world where modal transport integration is not the sole preserve of London but available to all across the nation, with the possibility of a more integrated bus network working together with the rail system, trams and active travel. Transport networks that are better than just being mediocre.
I’m proud to say that initial indications are that the Better Buses Bill reflects many ideas from our joint publication with the Local Government Association, A Smoother Ride: Reviewing the Bus Services Act 2017 to empower local areas, which we released in 2023. It is promising to see our expertise shaping national policy.
The bill has the potential to help remedy some of the unintended consequences of the 2017 Act, which I hope will make it easier, and importantly quicker, for all areas to improve their bus services, whether that be through franchising or Enhanced Partnerships.
The bus sector is facing a potential funding crisis. The national fare cap is set to expire at the end of the year, and other bus funding runs out in March 2025
But let’s be honest – we’ve got some significant challenges ahead. The bus sector is facing a potential funding crisis. The national fare cap is set to expire at the end of the year, and other bus funding runs out in March 2025. We need to address this urgently to protect the progress we’ve made since the pandemic, to protect Britain’s most used form of public transport.
For our member transport authorities, bus funding is absolutely crucial. Buses are the backbone of our public transport system. They’re not just vehicles; they’re lifelines for millions across the country, especially those without access to a car. The Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and BSIP+ have been instrumental in driving service improvements. The government and officials at the Department for Transport should be lauded for the tireless work they did to help maintain bus networks across the nation since the pandemic. But as we look to the future, we need clarity on future funding, and we need it soon, because without it, we risk undermining the very goals of the Better Buses Bill.
We also need to keep pushing for those City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement funding milestones. These investments are vital for our city regions to grow and thrive. And let’s not forget – every pound we invest in public transport generates four pounds for our wider economy. That’s not just good transport policy, it’s smart economic policy.
We’ve seen the transformative power of transport investment first-hand. Look at Manchester’s Metrolink tram, which greatly improved public transport across Greater Manchester. Metrolink attracted and facilitated significant investment in economic and physical regeneration projects across both the public and private sectors, including residential and commercial. It is transport projects like these which make a real difference to people’s lives and communities.
As we move forward, I believe it is crucial that we in the transport sector support the government in delivering these ambitious plans. This is not about politics; this is about wanting to be a supportive actor to raise the bar higher for what can be achieved across the public transport sector. I’m encouraged by our new secretary of state’s mantra: “move fast and fix things.” It matches the urgency we feel, our members feel, and I am sure many across the sector feel to get Britain’s transport system back on track.
The National Infrastructure Commission estimates we need £43bn in additional funding for urban transport projects outside London by 2040
However, our support must be balanced with advocacy. We need sustainable funding to make these plans a reality. The National Infrastructure Commission estimates we need £43bn in additional funding for urban transport projects outside London by 2040. That’s a big number, but it’s an investment in our shared future.
The potential benefits are enormous. We’re not just talking about better transport – we’re talking about economic growth, more vibrant cities, and raising the bar of opportunity for all. We’re talking about supporting the UK’s climate goals and promoting social inclusion. We’re talking about creating more liveable, dynamic urban spaces.
Realising these benefits will take more than funding, however. People who know me know I am a collaborator, and it will take all of us working together – public and private sector, operators and transport authorities, planners, urban developers and economic strategists – to lock in success for our sector.
The new government has a unique opportunity to reshape our transport landscape. Yes, we face funding challenges. Yes, we need swift implementation, but I’m excited about where we’re heading – a better connected UK.
The coming months and years will be critical, but with the right decisions, sustained investment, and a commitment from across the sector and government to collaborate, we can create a transport system that not only meets our current needs but sets the stage for sustainable growth and prosperity for generations to come.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jason Prince became director of the Urban Transport Group, the UK’s network of city region transport authorities, in July 2023. He was previously head of public affairs for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, a position he held for over three years, and prior to that, he worked for Transport for Greater Manchester.
This article appears in the latest issue of Passenger Transport.
DON’T MISS OUT – GET YOUR COPY! – click here to subscribe!
The post We can create a better connected UK first appeared on Passenger Transport.