Tag: Department for Transport

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 16 January 2025.

Funding will boost growth and create jobs throughout the UK, as well as move towards an era of zero-emission shipping.

Coastal communities and businesses across the country will benefit from £30 million of new decarbonisation funding, helping to drive economic growth and create jobs – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.

The funding comes from the latest round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC6), launched today (16 January 2025). CMDC is designed to support clean maritime technologies including electric, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, wind power and more.

Previous rounds of the competition have seen funding delivered to over 300 organisations, bringing in more than £100 million of private investment across the UK.

Successful projects have included the installation of Britain’s first electric chargepoint network across ports in the South West, the largest ever retrofit of a hydrogen research vessel in Wales and the installation of a state-of-the-art carbon capture system on a vessel.

Maritime Minister, Mike Kane, said:

This new £30 million investment is part of our Plan for Change – growing the economy and making Britain a clean energy superpower.

I’m proud to see this funding boost growth and create jobs throughout the UK, as well as ushering in an era of zero-emission shipping.

Yesterday the Maritime Minister visited Hull to see how the city has benefited from £3.7 million of CMDC funding through one of the programme’s flagship projects, GT Wings’ AirWing™. The innovative wind propulsion system has been built and delivered locally at Alexandra Dock and will reduce emissions on vessels by up to 30%.

The first AirWing is being assembled at the MMS Docks in Hull and will be installed on a Carisbrooke Shipping vessel, with sea trials scheduled for March 2025.

This groundbreaking project is creating opportunities for skilled workers and bringing economic activity to the region, positioning Hull as a hub for maritime innovation.

Innovate UK will open the sixth round of the CMDC on 24 January. The application window will close on 16 April 2025.

Mike Biddle, executive director, Net Zero at Innovate UK, said:

Innovate UK is delighted to partner once again with the Department for Transport to deliver the latest instalment of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition.

CMDC round 6 is a great opportunity for UK innovators to take part in a world-renowned maritime transport R&D grant funding programme. The competition focuses on the ever-more prevalent issue of decarbonisation within the industry and we’re looking forward to seeing participation from across the maritime transport sector and beyond, focusing on physical, digital, system and skills-based innovation.

George Thompson, CEO of GT Wings, said:

We’re extremely excited about the imminent launch of AirWing, our next-generation, compact wind propulsion technology designed to help even the most challenging ocean-going vessels decarbonise by harnessing wind power.

This progressive step has been made possible thanks to the support of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, which recognised the transformative potential of this innovation and GT Wings’ ability to scale it for market impact.

With the UK leading the way in modern wind propulsion, it’s an exciting time to be driving fresh innovation in this space.

Captain Simon Merritt, senior fleet manager at Carisbrooke Shipping Ltd, said:

We look forward to the first AirWing being installed on our cargo ship this month, significantly reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

This project has been accelerated with funding from Department for Transport and Innovate UK under CMDC Round 4. It demonstrates the power of collaboration between leading British companies, turning innovative ideas into real solutions to decarbonise the maritime industry while creating job opportunities in the UK.

The sixth round of funding brings the total invested through the CMDC to £159 million, accelerating the vast economic benefits that green maritime funding has on local jobs, industries and economies.

CMDC funding comes from the £236 million UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, which is focused on decarbonising the UK maritime sector through research and development. Innovate UK is the delivery partner for CMDC and will manage the distribution of funds to successful applicants.

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 15 January 2025.

Government pledges funding to fix up to 7 million potholes across the country this year.

Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, is marking National Pothole Day (15 January 2025), with a visit to the JCB Factory outside Derby, to see cutting-edge technology helping councils tackle potholes.

Derbyshire, highlighted by the RAC as the worst area in England for potholes, is set to benefit from a share of the government’s record £1.6 billion investment to resurface across England.

This includes an additional £20 million for the East Midlands County Combined Authority, which includes Derbyshire, as part of a £1.6 billion funding for highway maintenance that will enable councils to fix up to 7 million more potholes.

At the J.C. Bamford Excavators Limited (JCB) power systems factory, the Roads Minister will speak to engineers to learn about the latest innovations being used to tackle the pothole plague. She will operate JCB’s ‘pothole pro’, a machine that can fix a pothole in 8 minutes, with a cost of around £30. The ‘pothole pro’ is currently used by 20 local authorities.

The minister will also meet with local leaders to discuss their plans for filling potholes to deliver safer, quicker and less costly journeys for all road users in Derbyshire. This is part of the government’s plans to work more closely with local authorities to ensure they have the powers to spend it where their communities need it most.

As part of its Plan for Change, the government is committed to delivering safer, smoother journeys – reducing delays, saving drivers money and going above and beyond its manifesto pledge.

Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said:

Potholes are a clear sign of decline in our infrastructure and for too long roads like those in Derbyshire have been left in a state that endangers and costs road users.

It’s time for change and we are investing £1.6 billion to fix up to 7 million more potholes across England this year, including over £75 million for the East Midlands Combined Authority.

JCB’s ‘pothole pro’ is one of the many great examples of using new technology to repair potholes faster and demonstrates how companies are harnessing new technology to repair potholes faster.

We’ll continue to engage with local leaders and industry to ensure innovations are being used to deliver roads the country deserves.

Ben Rawding, general manager, municipalities at JCB, said:

 We are looking forward to introducing the minister to the benefits that innovation and technology can deliver in tackling the plague of potholes in our country.

Last month’s announcement by the Department of Transport of £1.6 billion of funding for road repairs in England during 2025 is very welcome. Our appeal to the Minister will be for this funding to be spent wisely to ensure permanent long-term repairs become the priority for local authorities making best use of value-adding, productive technology such as the JCB pothole pro.

RAC senior policy officer, Rod Dennis, said:

There’s no motoring-related issue drivers are more concerned about than the state of their local roads – where almost everyone’s journeys begin and end.

Going beyond merely patching potholes is the name of the game, and using the latest technology to perform permanent repairs is a much better use of public money. To stop our roads falling apart in the first place, we support councils surface dressing them at regular intervals and resurfacing those that are beyond reasonable repair.

We’d also strongly encourage drivers to report potholes they’re aware of to their local authority, via GOV.UK, the RAC website or using the Stan app.

The government’s latest road maintenance funding builds on the wider support it’s giving to councils to deliver core services and serve their communities. £69 billion of funding will be injected into council budgets across England to help them drive forward the government’s Plan for Change through investment and reform and to fix the foundations of local government.

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 10 January 2025.

Discounted rail ticket prices will apply to journeys made between 17 January and 31 March 2025 across Great Britain.

Next week, passengers will be able to get their hands on millions of train tickets at half the price as part of the government’s annual rail sale.

From 14 to 20 January 2025, selected advance and off-peak fares will go on sale at up to 50% off for travel between 17 January and 31 March 2025.

As part of this year’s rail sale, thousands of popular routes across almost all UK train operators, including Transport for Wales and ScotRail, will be offering discounted tickets with journeys spreading the length and breadth of Great Britain.

Passengers in Liverpool could visit London for as little as £7, a journey from Preston to Edinburgh could be as cheap as £8.40 and a ticket from Nottingham to Manchester could cost less than a tenner.

These offers will not last long and there are only a limited number of tickets, so passengers are being encouraged to snap up these deals quickly if they want to save more on their train fares.

Following the success of last year’s sale – which saved passengers around £5.8 million in total – the government tasked the rail industry to deliver an even bigger sale to offer cheaper tickets for passengers and encourage more people to travel by train.

Whether it is connecting with family, friends and loved ones or getting out to explore more of Great Britain, passengers can find thousands of journeys at up to half price.

The railways play a vital role in connecting people and businesses across the UK, providing opportunities through essential links to jobs and education. Getting more people moving on our rail network is a key part of the government’s mission to build strong foundations through fuelling economic growth.

The sale delivers on the government’s commitment to put passengers at the heart of rail services and to raise living standards as part of the Plan for Change so working people have more money in their pockets.

Secretary of State, Heidi Alexander, said:

I’m launching the biggest ever rail sale so more passengers can get big discounts on train tickets to visit destinations across the country.

Whether you’re planning a getaway or wanting to visit friends or family, this sale offers huge reductions on all sorts of journeys.

Make the most of this sale, get your tickets while you can!

This year’s rail sale returns after more than 600,000 tickets were sold in last year’s sale, worth £5.1 million in ticket sales for the industry and resulted in an extra 440,000 journeys taken by train.

This comes on the 200th anniversary of the first steam-powered passenger train with celebrations expected throughout the year as part of Railway 200. This will honour Britain’s heritage as the birthplace of the modern railway and recognise the role rail continues to play in forming critical infrastructure and boosting local economies throughout the country.

Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive of Rail Delivery Group, said:

This year, as we celebrate 200 years of railways in the UK, we’re reminded that rail travel is about much more than simply getting from A to B – it’s about bringing people, communities and opportunities together.

Over 2 centuries, rail has become a vital part of the UK, shaping the economy and lives of millions.

The year’s rail sale will offer over 2 million discounted advance fares starting on 14 January 2025, which is a great way to save on your travel and celebrate 200 years of railway connections.

Rail remains one of the quickest and greenest ways to travel, with the government committed to getting more people onto the railways, cutting carbon emissions and freeing up vital space on our roads for emergency services and freight.

To encourage more people onto the railways, the government is undertaking the biggest overhaul of our railways in a generation through the creation of Great British Railways, which will bring track and train together under one directing mind with a relentless focus on improving services for passengers and customers.

As part of this, the Public Ownership Bill recently became legislation, delivering on a manifesto commitment and allowing the government to get on with improving services by clamping down on unacceptable levels of delays, cancellations and waste under decades of failing franchise contracts.

It will save up to £150 million a year in fees alone by ensuring every penny is spent on services rather than private shareholders, all while coming at no additional cost to the taxpayer.

Example fares during the rail sale

Journey	Sale price	Full price
St Pancras to Whitstable	£7.20	£11.30
Ashford to Ramsgate	£2.60	£5.20
Leeds to Manchester Airport	£5.90	£11.90
Newcastle to Carlisle	£6.00	£12.00
Liverpool to London Euston	£7.00	£14.00
Nottingham to Manchester	£9.20	£18.50
Leeds to Sheffield	£3.60	£7.20
London to Edinburgh	£26.15	£62.50
Aberdeen to Edinburgh*	£14.50	£29.00
Glasgow to Inverness*	£14.10	£28.10
Preston to Edinburgh	£8.40	£16.80
London to Newcastle	£23.60	£52.10

*Journeys on ScotRail

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 1 January 2025.

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate will support thousands of skilled jobs, deliver economic growth and help make the UK a clean energy superpower.

Flights are set to be greener as the UK’s ambitious Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate officially comes into force today (1 January 2025).

SAF is made from sustainable sources, such as materials like household waste or used cooking oil and produces an average of 70% less carbon emissions than traditional fossil-based aviation fuel.

By law, this type of fuel must now make up at least 2% of all jet fuel in flights taking off from the UK from 2025, growing year-on-year to 10% by 2030 and 22% by 2040.

These ambitious but achievable targets should see around 1.2 million tonnes of  SAF supplied to the UK airline industry each year by 2030 – enough to circle the globe 3,000 times.

Being one of the first countries in the world to sign the mandate into law, the UK is at the forefront of decarbonising air travel and is helping to kickstart the government’s Plan for Change.

Together with the other actions we are taking to grow a UK SAF industry, it will support thousands of skilled jobs in every part of the country, deliver economic growth and help make the UK a clean energy superpower.

Minister for Aviation, Mike Kane, said:

From this moment on, aviation will be a greener, more sustainable form of travel and today marks a significant milestone for the UK SAF industry.

With thousands of jobs supporting the UK SAF industry and flying becoming popular than ever, the mandate will help deliver our Plan for Change helping to grow the economy and giving people the freedom to travel in a more sustainable way.

Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, said:

UK airlines support the SAF Mandate as both a powerful and practical tool for driving down aviation carbon emissions and a clear signal that the industry is fully committed to a net zero future.

Our priority is ensuring airlines have access to the increasing volumes of SAF required to meet the mandate as global demand soars, at the most competitive price possible for consumers.

The UK mandate is ambitious and scaling SAF production will mean further work to expand eligible feedstocks, incentives to help cut costs and, critically, ensuring the design of the revenue certainty mechanism enables the UK to increase production of advanced fuels this decade whilst keeping costs as low as possible, critical for achieving mandate compliance and avoiding supplier buy-out.

Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, the trade body for UK airports, said:

The SAF Mandate is an important step towards decarbonising air travel and we are pleased the government has continued the work of its predecessor to implement it.

Aviation knows it must reduce carbon emissions and the mandate is something that it has long called for to help establish production of cleaner fuels. We will continue to work with all parties to ensure there is homegrown supply and that the UK benefits from this new industry through jobs and investment.

Duncan McCourt, Chief Executive of Sustainable Aviation, said:

Sustainable Aviation welcomes the introduction of this mandate, which will drive the demand needed to help deliver SAF at scale.

SAF is a critical component in the industry’s plan to reach net zero, representing almost 40% of the carbon reduction that will make net zero a reality in 2050.

Alongside the mandate, we also need a well-designed revenue certainty mechanism to help accelerate domestic SAF production and support compliance with the mandate, by kickstarting UK SAF production in earnest this decade. We look forward to the upcoming consultation and to the mechanism being delivered into law as soon as possible.

The start of the SAF Mandate is only one milestone on the UK’s path towards decarbonising aviation and comes following the first meeting of the Jet Zero Taskforce – a new and refreshed group charting a clear path toward cleaner aviation.

The government has also confirmed it will introduce a revenue certainty mechanism for SAF producers to attract investment in new plants in the UK.

Working alongside the mandate, it will help to reduce risk, give investors the confidence they need to invest in UK SAF plants and encourage the supply of  SAF for the UK aviation sector.

A further consultation on the revenue certainty mechanism will be launched early this year.

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 17 December 2024.

The Bus Services Bill will overhaul how bus services operate, delivering on our commitment to improve living standards across the country.

New legislation to improve buses and boost local control of services moved a step closer today (17 December 2024), as the Bus Services Bill was introduced in the House of Lords.

The bill will put buses back at the heart of communities, enhance connections to work and vital appointments to improve living standards and follows the government’s £1 billion investment to increase reliability and cap single bus fares at £3.

The plans will lift the ban on local authorities establishing their own bus companies, making it easier for them to control services and shape routes to work better for local people. The bill will also empower local authorities to work alongside private operators to improve bus services if they choose to not pursue full ownership.

It follows the announcement made earlier this week of new powers for local leaders to similarly be able to better shape rail services to better meet the needs of their communities.

Additionally, the bill ensures that lifeline bus services cannot be removed or changed without councils reviewing their ability to serve communities, especially those in rural or deprived areas.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:

It is high time we recognise that local leaders need to be able to make decisions about their buses.

The introduction of the Bus Services Bill marks the next step on our journey to overhaul how bus services operate, delivering on our commitment to improve living standards across the country.

This is on top of over £1 billion to help improve bus service reliability and frequency – better connecting communities across the country to job opportunities and public services.

The bill will also improve safety for both passengers and staff by mandating that drivers undertake training to identify and respond to threats of violence against women and girls and anti-social behaviour on buses and at bus stops.

The new powers will mean local transport authorities will be able to emulate the success of places like Manchester where public control has massively improved reliability and patronage. Manchester’s Bee Network has seen passenger numbers grow by 5% and service reliability improve since public control began a year ago.

To mark the introduction of the bill, the Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood, visited Reading today to discuss how the new powers will enable local authorities to implement their own improvements.

Today, the government has also responded to its consultation on guidance for local leaders seeking public control of bus services. Following positive feedback, new guidance has been published to support local authorities in streamlining the franchising process.

In an ongoing drive to improve buses, the government allocated £955 million in bus funding last month. This follows an intervention to cap single bus fares at £3, keeping travel affordable, with savings of up to 80% on some routes.

Improving local transport is an essential part of the government’s mission to rebuild Britain and grow our economy and this government is committed to building infrastructure which will drive growth and opportunity and improve living standards.

Regional Mayors, including Andy Burnham and Tracy Brabin, have pledged to use government support to maintain their local fare caps at below £3.

Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group, said:

Buses are the backbone of our public transport system. The introduction of the Bus Services Bill, and its intention to hand more powers to local areas, will herald a smoother ride for the bus.

The bill will help ensure the bus plays an active role in supporting and growing our local economies and connecting our communities.

Anthea Sully, Chief Executive, White Ribbon UK, said:

It’s vital that women and girls’ freedom of movement also equates to being safe while travelling.

The bus network and drivers play an important role in ensuring the safety of women and girls by being allies, which is reflected in the mandatory training that would be introduced in this Bill relating to knowing how to identify and respond to threats of gender-based violence.

This will help to change harmful attitudes and behaviours. We all have a part to play to ensure all women and girls can live free without the fear of violence.

Robert Williams, Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer, said:

Local ownership, local management and consistent coordinated thinking has allowed us to focus on planning and delivering the best possible network.

As our owner, the local authority can guarantee the maximum return on any investment in making bus services even more attractive.

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 17 December 2024.

Leadership will commence under new CEO as we work to deliver the HS2 line cost-effectively for passengers and taxpayers.

The Chair of HS2 Ltd, Sir Jon Thompson, has announced he will step down from his position in spring after almost 4 years on the Board.

Sir Jon joined the Board of HS2 Ltd as a Non-Executive Director in April 2021 and subsequently was appointed Chair of Britain’s largest rail project. Recently, as Executive Chair, he also provided continuity at a pivotal time for the project while the new Chief Executive Mark Wild was recruited.

During Sir Jon’s tenure, he has guided HS2 Ltd and its supply chain – a workforce of currently over 30,000 – to construct the infrastructure that will carry the high-speed track.

The recruitment of a new Chair will commence shortly to identify a successor who will lead HS2 Ltd through the next phase of the HS2 project.

Sir Jon’s successor will work with Mark Wild, one of the most respected figures in the infrastructure industry, who joined the organisation at the start of the month as CEO to oversee the completion of the high-speed railway.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:

I want to thank Sir Jon for his work over nearly 4 years to progress Britain’s largest rail project.

He has provided strong leadership during challenging times for the project, and we are grateful for his service.

The coming months will see fresh leadership commence under new CEO Mark Wild, as we work to grip budgets and deliver the line cost-effectively for passengers and taxpayers.

Today’s announcement comes after the government gave the project much-needed certainty by confirming HS2 will be delivered between Birmingham and Euston while pledging to grip budgets and bring the project back on track to deliver it cost-effectively for passengers and taxpayers.

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 28 November 2024.

The Integrated National Transport Strategy will set out a ‘people first approach’ to getting people around the country.

Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, has today (28 November 2024) set out her vision for more joined up and locally-led transport across England in a speech to Mayors and transport bosses.

Speaking at Leeds Civic Hall, she outlined her vision for a new Integrated National Transport Strategy, the first in a quarter of a century – which will set out a ‘people first approach’ to getting people around the country. Recognising that different passengers have different needs, and the quality of transport varies across the country, it will set out how government can support local areas to make all forms of transport work together better.

The strategy will set out a clear vision for how transport across England can evolve over the next 10 years so that more places offer better, more seamless journeys door-to-door – like those facilitated by the successful Bee Network in Greater Manchester and Transport for London. The Bee Network brings together bus, metro and active travel under one name, meaning transport works together better for people.

The Transport Secretary has looked to Dijon for inspiration, having visited it earlier this year to see how a city roughly the size of York, or Chester, is running buses every five minutes in rush hour, the tram every three and has a dial-a-ride service to the outlying villages. Dijon has also created a single app that brings together every mode of transport – from bus to tram, car hire to bike hire, planning journeys to paying for parking.

The department is also reforming its appraisal system, so that projects deliver good value for money as well as the right outcomes – such as more jobs, improved access to education and healthier communities. These reforms include giving sufficient weight to transport projects that enhance access to jobs, boost productivity, and help businesses grow, particularly in less affluent areas.

To support this, an internal panel of experts are also reviewing the department’s capital spend portfolio, to drive better economic outcomes in our transport system.

The Transport Secretary said:

Integrated transport in this country is lagging behind our European counterparts, and for too long our fragmented transport networks have stunted economic growth and made it harder for people to get around.

Today, I’m launching a new national vision of transport that seamlessly joins all modes of transport together, and puts people at the heart of our transport system.

I want everyone to be able to contribute to this vision and have launched a call for ideas on how the strategy can best deliver greater opportunity, healthier communities and better lives.

Regional roadshows will be hosted around the country to hear more from local leaders, transport operators and passenger bodies, as well as taking feedback from the public, to hear how to best deliver integrated transport.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said:

A better integrated public transport system is vital to growing our economy.

In West Yorkshire, I have big plans for a world-leading mass transit system that will be fully integrated with railways and a publicly controlled bus network, helping people to access new jobs and opportunities across the region.

The Secretary of State’s new Integrated National Transport Strategy will support me and other mayors to deliver on our ambition for better-connected and faster growing regions.

The Transport Secretary also emphasised the importance of using data in rural areas, where driving is a more practical choice, to manage traffic flows and help drivers easily find, and pay for, parking spaces. She also outlined her intention to promote cycling and walking as the best choice for shorter journeys, and prioritise pavement repairs, safe crossing and cycle infrastructure where they are needed most.

It is hoped that joining up all forms of transport will particularly benefit people in those areas that haven’t seen the links they need to get to jobs and services, thereby enhancing opportunities and driving national economic growth.

To oversee this new vision, the department will be recruiting a new Integrated Transport Commissioner to help deliver real change.

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 17 November 2024.

Funding will keep fares down, protect local routes and deliver more reliable services.

This government is delivering fair funding to ensure better services up and down the country, with £955 million earmarked to support bus services until 2026.

Marking a further step in the government’s mission to deliver growth across the UK, Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh has confirmed £712 million funding for local authorities to improve bus services, and a further £243 million for bus operators – a longstanding grant paid to keep fares lower and services more frequent than they would otherwise be.

Every region in England will benefit from the funding – but particularly those areas which have been historically underserved, like rural areas and small towns.

The funding settlement will mean many more urban areas will be able to maintain their high levels of service – while other areas will be able to offer more services.

Totalling £955 million, the funding represents a record level of recent investment for bus improvements for the majority of areas, alongside once-in-a-generation reform to deliver London-style bus services to every corner of the country.

Areas receiving an unprecedented amount of funding for bus services include Leicester, the Isle of Wight, Torbay, and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

The investment has been designated to enhance popular routes, protect rural services and increase bus use for shopping, socialising and commuting. It will prevent service reductions on at-risk routes and improve punctuality across England, to bring an end to the current postcode lottery of unreliable services.

In recent years, services have consistently suffered from complicated and inconsistent funding which have ultimately impacted the passenger. Today’s reformed funding settlement marks a departure from that approach with a simplified commitment from the government, giving bus providers the certainty they have long been calling for.

As part of this investment, the way funding is allocated has been reformed, meaning it will be allocated based on place need, levels of deprivation and population. This will stop areas competing for funding as in previous years, which in turn wastes resources and delays decisions.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said:

Buses are the lifeblood of communities, but the system is broken. Too often, passengers are left waiting hours for buses that don’t turn up – and some have been cut off altogether.

That’s why we’re reforming funding to deliver better buses across the country and end the postcode lottery of bus services.

“And it’s why we’re providing over £1bn of funding to keep fares down, protect local routes and deliver more reliable services.

“This is part of our wider plan to put passengers first and give every community the power to take back control of their bus services through franchising or public ownership.

By delivering better buses, we’ll ensure people have proper access to jobs and opportunities – powering economic growth in every corner of the country.”

This £955 million investment will also ensure that lifeline services between towns and hospitals can continue transporting patients to vital appointments, supporting the government’s ambitions to reform the NHS.

Across the country, local authorities can use funding to support community events, take the strain off commuters, or boost tourism. The government wants this investment to encourage social mobility by supporting those who need them most. In urban areas, some of the biggest allocations are given to combined authorities representing South Yorkshire (£17 million) and Liverpool City Region (nearly £21 million), while councils covering rural areas have also been allocated large allocations to protect lifeline routes. These include Lancashire (£27 million), Kent (£23 million), Essex (£17 million) and Norfolk (£15 million) county councils.

Buses remain the most relied on form of public transport and the government is turning the tide on decades of failed deregulation. The Buses Bill will be introduced in the coming weeks and will give local leaders across England greater control to deliver bus services in a way that suits the needs of their communities. Local authorities will be empowered to deliver modern and integrated bus networks that put passengers at the heart of local decision making.

Alongside the £955 million, £150 million has already been committed to step in and cap fares at a maximum of £3, with an inflationary limit also set to ensure that other fares are not automatically increased to £3. The cap is designed to help people with the cost of living and everyday travel costs and will now run until 31 December 2025, enabling savings of up to 80% on some routes.

This is on top of the additional £200 million City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements funding announced in the autumn budget, helping to improve local transport in our largest city regions and drive growth and productivity across the country.

This government is fixing the foundations and delivering change with investment and reform to deliver growth, with more jobs and more money in people’s pockets, and rebuild Britain.

Alison Edwards, Director of Policy and External Relations at the Confederation of Passenger Transport said:

Buses are vital to economic growth – they carry ten million passengers a day. This funding is a valuable investment in journeys that help people to earn, learn and spend in local communities.

It is encouraging to see that the funding will be shared across every English region. Bus operators look forward to working with local authorities on plans to speed up services, improve co-ordination and enhance frequencies.

Bus passengers deserve a fair funding deal. Every pound of public money invested in buses delivers a return of more than £4 in benefits to the environment, to public health and to communities.

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 14 November 2024.

One of the Britain’s largest transport projects is set to boost the Oxford-Cambridge economy by £6.7 billion per year by 2050, thanks to the government’s support for delivering East West Rail in full.

As set out by the Chancellor in the Budget, the new line will bolster the area’s thriving life science cluster, enable new housing developments along the route and support up to 28,000 jobs in Cambridge alone.

The Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, reaffirmed the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth and productivity across the region during a visit to a new-look Bletchley Station today (14 November 2024) to invite the public’s feedback on the latest plans for the scheme.

Along with East West Railway CEO David Hughes, Louise Haigh launched a 10-week consultation for the project, encouraging communities to have their say and shape the development of the line.

• East West Rail consultation 2024

This will include proposals for how trains could be powered on the route, outlining a preference for greener traction power and hybrid battery-electric trains, which would result in cleaner and faster journeys for passengers.

The public will also be invited to have their say on planned timetables and services, which include up to 4 trains per hour along the route, delivering a turn up and go style service for passengers.

With the first services between Oxford, Bletchley and Milton Keynes set to begin next year, East West Rail will provide easier and faster connectivity across the region, opening up better access to jobs and education opportunities, as well as regenerating town centres and supporting tens of thousands of new homes.

The Budget confirmed the acceleration of the Marston Vale Line, ensuring that services will run from Oxford to Milton Keynes and Bedford from 2030.

Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh said:

East West Rail will boost access to education and business opportunities while unlocking economic growth and productivity right across the region, including Cambridge’s world-leading life science cluster.

With these proposals, passengers can get ready for more frequent, faster and greener journeys through an electrified line, demonstrating our drive to deliver infrastructure that is truly fit for the future.

This consultation marks a significant moment for the project, offering the public an exciting opportunity to shape the development of this transformational line. I encourage local residents and businesses to get involved and have their say.

From today, the public will have the chance to shape how the new line between Oxford, Bedford, Milton Keynes, and Cambridge is developed, ensuring it meets the needs of local communities.

As part of this, East West Rail Company will be inviting feedback on revised infrastructure and design plans for the new stretch of railway between Bedford and Cambridge, plus essential railway improvement works to upgrade the rest of the line.

Over the next 10 weeks, local people will be able to attend drop-in events across the route, as well as online webinars and a virtual consultation room where people and businesses can find out more about the updated plans.

Feedback from the consultation will be taken into account as designs are further developed and preferred options chosen.

East West Rail Company CEO, David Hughes said:

The government set out its support for delivering East West Rail in full in the Autumn Budget, so it’s great to have the Transport Secretary officially launch our latest public consultation on this key infrastructure project.

East West Rail will support the government’s economic growth by providing faster, easier and more reliable journeys, which will improve access to jobs, education and days out.

I encourage people and businesses to get involved in our consultation by attending one of our events and reading our updated proposals, which include electrification to reflect our commitment to running a net zero carbon railway.

Network Rail North West and Central Capital Delivery Director, Christian Irwin OBE, said:

Today’s public consultation on future East-West Rail plans builds on the successful completion of the new railway between Bicester and Bletchley that was delivered ahead of time and under budget allowing passenger services to operate between Oxford and Bletchley/Milton Keynes in 2025.

This exciting new East-West service will deliver a fast sustainable transport option, improved connectivity and opportunity for local communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, as well as new freight connections to improve air quality and reduce congestion by taking lorries off our roads. This major investment can also unlock a multitude of other benefits that include better access to education and employment, including the 8,000 new jobs created by the project, to help drive innovation, business and economic growth.

We look forward to working with the East West Rail Company, the Department for Transport and industry stakeholders to hear local residents’ views on timetables and how trains could be powered along the route in the future.

Once up and running, the new service will provide a fast sustainable transport option for local communities improving connectivity between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, reducing travel times and providing better access to jobs, innovation and education.”

Ahead of East West Rail services running to Bletchley, the existing station has undergone significant investment over the past 4 years to ensure it’s ready to accommodate faster and more frequent services the line will deliver. This includes a new link bridge to the existing platforms and the construction of 2 new high-level platforms, which connect the station to the Bletchley Flyover and take the total number of platforms from 6 to 8.

Once the scheme is complete, the revamped station will accommodate a three-fold increase in passenger services along the Marston Vale Line between Bletchley and Bedford.

Meanwhile, a key milestone for the project was also reached last month with the first test train successfully completing its first run between Oxford and Milton Keynes.

Today’s announcement marks the latest in the Transport Secretary’s drive to transform the rail network and deliver infrastructure that works for the whole country.

The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 13 November 2024.

The review will help restore passengers’ confidence in the system.

The Transport Secretary has commissioned a review into the way train companies tackle suspected fare evasion.

This will include how clear terms and conditions are for passengers and how they are communicated, as well as when prosecution is an appropriate step.

Train operators are able to use a variety of methods to ensure customers are paying the correct amount – including, in some cases, prosecuting. However, reports have emerged of instances where a disproportionate approach might have been taken to those making a genuine mistake.

The Transport Secretary has therefore requested the independent regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), carry out a review of the issue and assess operators’ enforcement and broader consumer practices in this area, including the use of prosecutions.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said:

Make no mistake, deliberate fare-dodging has no place on our railways and must be tackled, but innocent people shouldn’t feel like a genuine mistake will land them in court.

An independent review is the right course of action, and will help restore passengers’ confidence in the system.

It is clear that ticketing is far too complicated, with a labyrinth of different fares and prices which can be confusing for passengers. That’s why we have committed to the biggest overhaul of our railways in a generation, including simplifying fares to make travelling by train easier.

ORR director of strategy, policy and reform Stephanie Tobyn said:

We welcome the opportunity to conduct this review.

It is important passengers are treated fairly and dealt with consistently and proportionately when ticketing issues arise, whilst also balancing the legitimate revenue protection interests of operators and taxpayers.

In commissioning the review, the Transport Secretary encouraged the ORR’s review team to draw upon advice from independent experts, including legal and industry specialists, as well as engaging fully with passenger representatives.

Officials at the Department for Transport will work at pace with the ORR to finalise the scope, timings and terms of reference.