If May was dominated by HS2, June has been defined by politics. With Andy Burnham now set to be Prime Minister, the transport sector has increasingly turned its attention to what a Burnham-led government will mean for investment priorities and the focus of transport policy, especially the extent to which a Burnham government will prioritise the North.
Throughout his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham has consistently championed integrated transport, including bus reform, alongside devolution and investment in regional connectivity as drivers of economic growth. That track record is prompting questions about how his interventionist, proactive approach to transport policy in Manchester may now translate into national policy, at a time when transport is increasingly being framed around its role in enabling growth, housing and productivity at both national and regional levels.
After several years of reviews, restructures and changing priorities, the sector is yearning for continuity – something we could have been forgiven for thinking we had in spades after Starmer’s decisive 411-seat majority just two years ago. But politics has a habit of confounding expectations, and we now face a Prime Minister who may bring very different transport priorities to his predecessor.
What is less likely to change is the funding settlement, or the clear priorities that now exist such as integration (see Better Connected) and rail reform, and potentially even the political leadership within the Department for Transport. Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, is well positioned with Andy Burnham, and Lord Hendy, the Rail Minister, brings such expertise that his role is likely to remain secure should he wish to stay in post. Louise Haigh, Alexander’s predecessor, could make a return to her former role but is widely tipped for a senior coordinating role across the government, which could also have implications for wider transport policy.
That discussion naturally leads to the future of northern transport. Northern Powerhouse Rail looks set to enjoy more time in the sun, while the TransPennine Route Upgrade continues to demonstrate the scale of investment already underway across the region.
The latest developments around HS2, particularly the National Audit Office’s warning against rushing into further resets without clear confidence in deliverability, alongside continued scrutiny of costs, timescales and scope beyond Birmingham, continue to reiterate the importance of realistic planning and strong governance. Meanwhile, work towards Great British Railways continues steadily behind the scenes, with rail reform progressing even if it attracts fewer headlines than Westminster politics.
Transport will remain central to the Government’s growth agenda, but the sector should prepare for a sharper focus on delivery that enhances cities as places. The priority will be on schemes that unlock wider economic and social benefits, with integration – across modes and local growth plans – at the heart of decision-making.
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.
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JFG supports APPG for Women in Transport AGM
As Secretariat to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Women in Transport, JFG Communications supported the Group in delivering its tenth Annual General Meeting and setting its priorities for the year ahead. The meeting saw the election of Dr Julia Buckley MP as Chair, alongside Lord Daniel Moylan, Dr Scott Arthur MP and Rachel Taylor MP as Officers. Members agreed to focus on tackling sexual harassment across the transport network, improving facilities for transport workers and strengthening accountability through the Women in Transport Equity Index, reflecting a shared commitment to driving measurable progress on equity, diversity and inclusion across the sector.
Active travel
- The Government has announced a new Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy backed by £4.5 billion over five years, aimed at transforming active travel across England. The plan sets out delivery of 5,000 new walking, wheeling and cycling routes and 10,000 safer crossings, alongside new national targets for 55% of short urban journeys to be made actively by 2035. The strategy, developed across transport, health and housing departments with Active Travel England, is intended to improve safety, reduce congestion, cut emissions and boost public health by making walking and cycling a more practical option for everyday journeys.
- Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has completed the main 10km Rhondda Fach Active Travel Route, opening the final section between Ferndale and Tylorstown. Delivered with Welsh Government funding and support from Transport for Wales, the route provides a dedicated walking and cycling corridor connecting communities from Tylorstown to Maerdy. The final phase also includes three new bridges built to modern active travel standards, with further links to local destinations planned.
- Brighton & Hove has launched a new e-cargo bike hire pilot, delivered by social enterprise OurBike in partnership with the city council and the University of Brighton. Funded through Active Travel England’s Innovation Fund, the scheme aims to make shared e-cargo bikes a practical alternative to cars for short journeys, helping residents transport children, shopping and equipment while encouraging more sustainable travel
- The Bikeability Trust has published new research highlighting a ‘lost generation’ of adults who lack the skills and confidence to cycle. Based on a survey of over 2,000 UK adults, the report finds that three-quarters have not cycled in the past year and that cycling is still largely limited to leisure use rather than everyday journeys. It also identifies a significant gender confidence gap, with women less likely to feel safe cycling in traffic. The report calls for expanded, standardised adult cycle training through Bikeability to improve confidence, increase everyday cycling, and better support investment in active travel infrastructure
- Transport for Wales has completed phase one of its Cycle Hangar project, installing 40 secure cycle storage units across housing associations and local authority areas in Wales. Each hangar provides safe storage for up to six bikes and is designed to remove one of the key barriers to cycling in residential areas. The scheme, delivered in partnership with housing associations, is already supporting residents to cycle more confidently, with a second phase planned to expand provision further across additional regions
- The Government has set a new target for 60% of children aged 5–16 to walk, wheel or cycle to school by 2035, as part of its updated Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. Backed by £4.5 billion of planned investment over the next five years, the strategy also aims to increase active travel for short urban journeys to 55%. It will be delivered with Active Travel England and local authorities through 5,000 new walking and cycling routes and 10,000 safer crossings, with the aim of improving safety, reducing congestion and supporting healthier, lower-cost travel options.
Public transport
- Construction of Hereford’s new £10 million transport hub is around 75% complete and remains on track to open at the end of October. Located at the city’s railway station, the hub will improve connections between rail, bus, walking and cycling, while providing new passenger facilities including covered cycle parking, an enclosed waiting area, a café and enhanced public spaces. Funded through government Levelling Up funding, Herefordshire Council and active travel investment, the scheme aims to strengthen sustainable transport links and support the local economy.
- Transport for London (TfL) is marking Pride Month with a series of network-wide cultural and community initiatives, including a new Art on the Underground Pride Audio Tour. Developed with TfL’s LGBTQIA+ staff network OUTbound, the tour highlights LGBTQIA+ perspectives linked to artworks across the transport network. TfL is also marking 10 years since diversity-themed pedestrian signals were introduced around Trafalgar Square, alongside new portrait posters celebrating LGBTQIA+ staff and community contributors. The organisation will also take part in the Pride in London parade, reinforcing its focus on inclusion and representation across London’s transport system.
Buses
- Transport for Greater Manchester has ordered a further 125 electric buses for the Bee Network, supplied by Wrightbus, as part of its transition to a fully zero-emission fleet by 2030. The new vehicles will operate across Greater Manchester, building on previous orders and supporting the region’s goal of improving air quality and decarbonising public transport through its franchised bus network.
- Hampshire County Council has committed £3.4 million to expand zero-emission bus services in the Portsmouth area, funding upgrades to Stagecoach’s Farlington depot to support up to 77 new electric buses. The investment will deliver new charging infrastructure and grid improvements, enabling electric buses to operate across routes linking Portsmouth with surrounding towns including Havant, Waterlooville and Petersfield. The wider programme also includes additional electric buses on the Portsmouth–Chichester corridor, supporting a broader regional transition to cleaner public transport.
- Transport for Wales has introduced 30 new TrawsCymru buses to strengthen long-distance public transport links across Wales. The investment aims to improve connectivity between rural and urban communities where rail access is limited, supporting access to jobs, education and services. The new vehicles form part of efforts to modernise Wales’ ageing bus fleet, enhance sustainability, and provide more reliable cross-country travel across the TrawsCymru network.
Rail
- Cambridge South station has officially opened following a £250 million government investment, significantly improving rail connectivity to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The new station provides up to nine trains per hour to London, Birmingham, Stansted Airport and other key destinations, reducing journey times to London to around 45 minutes via a single direct service. Designed to support major employment growth in the region, the station is expected to serve around 1.8 million passengers annually and improve access to jobs, healthcare and research facilities across the Oxford–Cambridge corridor.
- A major heatwave has caused severe disruption across the UK rail network, with Network Rail and train operators warning passengers to avoid non-essential travel. Temperatures forecast to reach up to 40°C triggered a Met Office red extreme heat warning, leading to widespread speed restrictions, timetable reductions and cancellations on key intercity routes, including services between London, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh. Operators such as Chiltern Railways and LNER have urged passengers not to travel during the worst-affected days, as heat-related risks to tracks, overhead lines and signalling systems continue to impact services nationwide.
E-mobility
E-vehicles
- A new survey highlights continued resistance to electric vehicle adoption in the UK, with two-thirds of drivers saying they are not considering switching to EVs. The research, covering 1,000 motorists, found that concerns over upfront cost, charging infrastructure, range anxiety and future running costs remain major barriers. Despite government policy pushing toward the 2030 phase-out of new petrol and diesel car sales under the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, most respondents indicated they are either unwilling or planning to delay the switch until closer to the deadline, suggesting a cautious “wait and see” approach among drivers.
- Oxfordshire County Council has awarded contracts for the installation of more than 1,500 new public EV charging sockets across the county. Delivered by Connected Kerb and EZ-Charge, the network will include on-street chargers, park-and-ride sites and public car parks, with a focus on areas where residents lack off-street parking. The programme, supported by government and private investment, aims to expand access to reliable charging infrastructure and make it easier for more households to switch to electric vehicles, including through new community “microhub” charging sites.
E-bikes
- Lime has launched a new e-bike hire scheme in Wolverhampton as part of a wider West Midlands rollout of shared electric bikes. The electrically assisted bikes are being deployed across the city to provide residents with a flexible, sustainable option for short journeys such as commuting, shopping and local travel. The scheme is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s wider active travel strategy and follows earlier deployments in Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull, with users accessing bikes via the Lime app.
Roads and vehicles
- A new survey commissioned by Transport Scotland reveals widespread dissatisfaction with the condition and repair of Scotland’s major roads. Fewer than one in four drivers are satisfied with how quickly potholes and road defects are fixed, while concerns also extend to the quality of repair work. Around half of respondents believe road conditions have worsened over the past two years, with particularly low satisfaction in south-west Scotland. Road safety groups and motoring organisations have called for faster, more durable maintenance approaches, while Transport Scotland says it continues to prioritise safety-critical repairs within long-term asset management plans.
- A new high-capacity electric HGV charging hub has been launched in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, marking one of the UK’s first megawatt-scale freight charging facilities. Developed by amphos in partnership with the Russell Group and supported by Innovate UK, the site enables rapid charging of electric heavy goods vehicles in around 40 minutes, with future upgrades expected to reduce this to approximately 20 minutes using Megawatt Charging System technology. The project is designed to support large-scale electrification of freight transport by reducing downtime and demonstrating how high-power charging infrastructure can enable zero-emission logistics operations.
Transport safety
- A new investigation by Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) has found widespread safety gaps across UK railway stations, with women disproportionately affected. The survey of over 370 stations found that more than half lacked visible security provision, only around one in ten were staffed at all times, and many had poor lighting or limited CCTV and help points. The report highlights persistent concerns about passenger safety nearly 30 years on from the charity’s original study, and calls for mandatory minimum safety standards across stations, including improved staffing, lighting, emergency systems and clearer accountability for passenger security.