While June was dominated by political change, July has been more about the transport sector beginning to understand what a Burnham Government might mean in practice. Politics continues to shape conversations across the industry, with stakeholders watching closely as Ministers start to establish, or re-establish, their priorities.
The early signs point towards more continuity than change. Within the Department for Transport, the retention of the key ministers provides stability following multiple reviews, restructures and ever shifting priorities. The broad direction of travel is also familiar – accelerating devolution, and a continued focus on buses and integrated transport.
That all comes as little surprise given Andy Burnham’s record as Mayor of Greater Manchester. Transport has been at the heart of his approach to economic growth, with bus reform, integrated networks and local control seen as the approach to improve connectivity and support regeneration. The question now is how that approach translates from a city-region level into national policy.
However, it is still early days; the transport sector has become accustomed to ambitious announcements followed by long periods of implementation, and the coming months will be important in understanding what a more devolved approach means for funding, responsibilities and investment decisions. The practical detail will, of course, matter as much as the political direction.
Away from Westminster, July’s announcements show that much of the sector’s work continues regardless of the political backdrop, from progress on rail reform through the Railways Bill to ongoing investment in major infrastructure, buses, active travel and the transition to zero-emission transport.
This reflects the wider reality for transport – while politics sets the direction, delivery remains the true measure of success. For now, there is cautious optimism across the industry. The early signals suggest a continued focus on integration, devolution and growth, but the detail of how those ambitions are delivered will become clearer as the Government settles into office and begins to turn policy into action.
Below we take a look in more detail at what’s been happening in our core policy areas of transport, decarbonisation and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Follow us on LinkedIn or sign up to our mailing list to keep up to date with our analysis of key industry topics.
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JFG in July
Supporting delivery of inclusive infrastructure across East London
JFG Communications has been appointed to the London Legacy Development Corporation’s (LLDC) Engineering and Associated Services Framework as part of the Buro Happold-led team, alongside AECOM, LDA Design and Turner & Townsend.
The appointment recognises the important role that strategic communications, stakeholder engagement and public affairs play in delivering complex infrastructure, regeneration and placemaking projects that create lasting benefits for communities.
Working with Buro Happold and the wider team, JFG will support the delivery of inclusive infrastructure across East London, helping ensure that communities, stakeholders and decision-makers are engaged throughout the lifecycle of major projects.
Supporting the Transport Planning Society in Manchester
JFG was delighted to support the Transport Planning Society’s successful Summer Reception in Manchester this month, bringing together transport professionals from across the sector to connect, share ideas and celebrate the work of the transport planning community.
The event provided an opportunity for members, partners and stakeholders to discuss the future of transport, the challenges facing the sector and the role of transport planning in creating better-connected, thriving places.
Active travel funding allocations announced for local authorities
The Government has published new active travel funding allocations for local transport authorities, setting out support for walking, wheeling and cycling improvements over the coming years. The funding will support infrastructure delivery, network planning and the development of local active travel schemes.
The announcement marks the next stage of delivering the Government’s wider active travel ambitions. The focus will now be on how effectively local authorities can translate funding into connected, safe and practical networks that support everyday journeys.
Public Transport
Buses
Government confirms extension of £2 bus fare cap
The Government announced this month that the £2 bus fare cap will be extended from January 2027, continuing efforts to make bus travel more affordable for passengers across England. The measure is intended to support household budgets while encouraging greater use of public transport.
The announcement reinforces the Burnham Government’s expected focus on buses as an essential service that supports access to jobs, education and local services. However, the sector continues to highlight that affordability must be matched by improvements in reliability, frequency and network coverage if buses are to play a greater role in everyday travel.
New long-term bus funding provides councils with greater certainty
Local authorities have received confirmation of longer-term bus funding arrangements this month, providing greater certainty over future investment decisions. The move is intended to support more strategic planning by councils and operators, moving away from shorter-term funding cycles.
The announcement comes as more regions explore bus reform and franchising models, with funding certainty likely to be important in supporting better integrated networks and service improvements.
Rail
Railways Bill progresses through House of Lords
The Railways Bill has been debated in the House of Lords this month, marking a significant step towards establishing Great British Railways and delivering the Government’s planned overhaul of the rail sector. The Bill sets out the legislative framework for GBR, including provisions around rail strategy, passenger representation and the future structure of the industry.
The Lords stages have provided further scrutiny of how GBR will operate, including questions around accountability, the relationship between government and the rail industry, and the role of devolved transport authorities. With the Bill moving closer to becoming law, attention is shifting from the principles of reform to the practical challenges of implementation and ensuring the changes deliver improvements for passengers, freight and the wider economy.
TransPennine Route Upgrade continues delivery with West Yorkshire improvements completed
The TransPennine Route Upgrade has reached another delivery milestone, with a 28-day programme of improvement works in West Yorkshire completed this month. The works included track renewals, drainage improvements, foundations for overhead line equipment and station enhancements at Batley and Dewsbury.
The latest activity highlights the continued pace of delivery on one of the North’s most significant rail investment programmes. As government focuses on improving connectivity and supporting regional growth, TRU provides a live example of how long-term infrastructure investment can improve capacity, reliability and connections between towns and cities.
E-mobility
E-vehicles
EV charging rollout faces continued pressure as transition accelerates
New analysis this month has highlighted ongoing concerns around the pace of public EV charging infrastructure rollout, with questions remaining around investment, delivery costs and whether charging provision is keeping pace with the transition to electric vehicles.
The issue reflects a wider challenge for policymakers and industry: increasing EV uptake will depend not only on vehicle availability, but on ensuring drivers have confidence that charging infrastructure is accessible, reliable and convenient.
Industry continues to call for certainty on Zero Emission Vehicle mandate
Vehicle manufacturers have continued to call for greater certainty around the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, highlighting concerns around consumer demand, affordability and the pace of market transition.
The debate demonstrates the challenge facing government as it seeks to balance ambitious decarbonisation targets with supporting consumers and maintaining the competitiveness of the UK automotive sector.
Transport safety and inclusion
Rail workforce conditions highlight ongoing challenges around inclusion
Concerns raised this month around rail workforce facilities have highlighted the importance of considering the needs of transport workers alongside passengers. Issues around access to suitable facilities and working conditions have been linked to wider discussions about recruitment, retention and improving diversity across the sector.
The debate reinforces that creating a more inclusive transport system requires attention to both the passenger experience and the conditions faced by those working across the network.
Scotland
In Scotland, transport debate continues to focus on the performance and resilience of existing networks, alongside wider questions about the future direction of transport investment. Operational challenges, including disruption on parts of the rail network during July, have kept reliability and passenger experience firmly in focus. As in other parts of the UK, the challenge remains balancing investment in major infrastructure with delivering a dependable day-to-day transport service for communities.
Wales
In Wales, the focus has remained on building a more integrated and reliable transport network, with continued progress on major programmes including the South Wales Metro. July saw further investment in Transport for Wales’ rail capability, with funding announced to improve maintenance facilities at its Canton depot, supporting better reliability and the long-term growth of the network.
Bus reform continues to reshape the future of public transport in Wales, with the ambition of creating a more coordinated, passenger-focused system.