Regional and Urban Rail

Class 333 train at Leeds station
Our booming regional rail networks are key to sustaining city centre economies, whilst rail also provides the wider connectivity the city regions need.
The case for investment in urban and regional rail
london overground
The case for devolution of urban and regional rail
 

Resources

What next for urban transport?

September, 2019

This report - published to coincide with the 2019 Autumn Party Conferences - identifies four urban transport challenges and four solutions needed to overcome them.

It also details what transport authorities need from Government to bring about these changes. 

On launching the report, Stephen Edwards, Chair of the Urban Transport Group and Executive Director of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, said: "There is much more that needs to be done if transport is to contribute effectively to meeting the many challenges that city regions face, from the climate crisis to public health challenges associated with a lack of physical activity. The right policies can help overcome these challenges."

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Rail regulation
Active Travel
Funding
Concessionary Travel
Governance
Sustainability
Health and Wellbeing
Smart Futures

Number crunch 2019: Urban transport trends in changing times

June, 2019

We are living in rapidly changing times. Big shifts are taking place in urban transport trends.

Number crunch 2019 is the second in our Number crunch report series and provides an updated overview of the key trends over the last ten years, as well as taking a look at what the new and most recent data is telling us. The report also investigates some new issues – including housing need and social inclusion.

In these changing times, the case for coordinated and integrated transport planning at the city region level is stronger than ever. So is the case for long term funding frameworks for local urban transport rather than stop-start funding as is currently the case.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Tram
Active Travel
Concessionary Travel
Capacities and Capabilities

Williams Rail Review - Call for evidence: objectives and assessment criteria

April, 2019
Our consultation response to the Williams Rail Review's call for evidence on objectives and assessment criteria. The Review was established to recommend the most appropriate organisational and commercial frameworks to support the delivery of the government’s vision for the railway.
Consulting body: 
Department for Transport
Document: 
PDF icon Urban Transport Group consultation response - Williams Review Call for Evidence on Objectives and Assessments.pdf
Topic: 
Regional and Urban Rail
Rail regulation

The place to be: How transit oriented development can support good growth in the city regions

January, 2019

This report examines ‘transit oriented development’ - the principle of putting public transport front and centre in new residential and commercial developments, with the aim of maximising access by public transport, encouraging walking and cycling, and minimising the need to own and use private cars.

The report suggests that transit oriented development has the potential to meet housing need without undermining the green belt or creating more traffic congestion and sprawl. It also examines other areas where it can deliver wide-ranging benefits, such as to local economies; air quality and carbon emissions; social inclusion, employment and skills; health; and public transport patronage.

The place to be sets out a five point plan on how to realise more building developments which are based around sustainable, public transport and active travel.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Tram
Active Travel
Social inclusion
Sustainability
Health and Wellbeing

About towns: How transport can help towns thrive

November, 2018

This report examines the key role that transport interventions can play in supporting post-industrial towns.

It features case studies from the UK and the wider world of how different types of interventions - from transport’s role as an ‘anchor institution’ for local economies and as an employer, through to how transport interchanges can act as ‘gateways’ and sources of civic pride and renewal -  can achieve results.

A key finding of the report is that isolated capital interventions in transport infrastructure are insufficient in themselves. Instead, more co-ordinated programmes of transport capital and revenue investment and support are needed if towns are to truly thrive. 

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Active Travel
Governance
Social inclusion
Sustainability

Policy futures for urban transport

September, 2018

The latest edition of Policy futures for urban transport emphasises how a new deal on funding and powers is essential to keep the UK's cities moving forward.

The report sets out the 10 key policy changes that are needed to make cities healthier, fairer and more prosperous.

These include further devolution of rail services; greater funding for buses; reform of taxi and Private Hire Vehicle legislation; an ambitious strategy to encourage more cycling and walking; a long term investment plan for urban rail services; and a visionary national policy framework on air quality.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Tram
Active Travel
Funding
Governance
Social inclusion
Sustainability
Health and Wellbeing
Freight
Smart Futures
Capacities and Capabilities

Rail Cities UK: Our vision for their future

June, 2018

Significant rail expansion is the 'only viable option' to help UK cities achieve their ambitions on economic growth and meeting housing demand, whilst also creating attractive urban centres with less road traffic and better air quality.

This report sets out a vision of what a step change in rail provision could mean for passengers and cities - and the obstacles that stand in the way.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Regional and Urban Rail

Number crunch: Transport trends in the city regions

April, 2018

Our report, Number crunch: Transport trends in the city regions, identifies some of the most defining patterns of the past decade (and projected future trends) that are changing the face of the UK’s city regions, and the way that people travel within them.

Ageing urban populations, rapid bus passenger decline and huge growth in private hire vehicles are just some of the dramatic shifts taking place in UK cities.

The report draws on data from our unique, free and interactive online tool ‘Data Hub’, which allows users to generate bespoke analysis, graphics and charts of transport, economic and population data.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Tram
Active Travel
Funding
Freight
Smart Futures
Capacities and Capabilities

Pages

What next for urban transport?

September, 2019

This report - published to coincide with the 2019 Autumn Party Conferences - identifies four urban transport challenges and four solutions needed to overcome them.

It also details what transport authorities need from Government to bring about these changes. 

On launching the report, Stephen Edwards, Chair of the Urban Transport Group and Executive Director of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, said: "There is much more that needs to be done if transport is to contribute effectively to meeting the many challenges that city regions face, from the climate crisis to public health challenges associated with a lack of physical activity. The right policies can help overcome these challenges."

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Rail regulation
Active Travel
Funding
Concessionary Travel
Governance
Sustainability
Health and Wellbeing
Smart Futures

Number crunch 2019: Urban transport trends in changing times

June, 2019

We are living in rapidly changing times. Big shifts are taking place in urban transport trends.

Number crunch 2019 is the second in our Number crunch report series and provides an updated overview of the key trends over the last ten years, as well as taking a look at what the new and most recent data is telling us. The report also investigates some new issues – including housing need and social inclusion.

In these changing times, the case for coordinated and integrated transport planning at the city region level is stronger than ever. So is the case for long term funding frameworks for local urban transport rather than stop-start funding as is currently the case.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Tram
Active Travel
Concessionary Travel
Capacities and Capabilities

The place to be: How transit oriented development can support good growth in the city regions

January, 2019

This report examines ‘transit oriented development’ - the principle of putting public transport front and centre in new residential and commercial developments, with the aim of maximising access by public transport, encouraging walking and cycling, and minimising the need to own and use private cars.

The report suggests that transit oriented development has the potential to meet housing need without undermining the green belt or creating more traffic congestion and sprawl. It also examines other areas where it can deliver wide-ranging benefits, such as to local economies; air quality and carbon emissions; social inclusion, employment and skills; health; and public transport patronage.

The place to be sets out a five point plan on how to realise more building developments which are based around sustainable, public transport and active travel.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Tram
Active Travel
Social inclusion
Sustainability
Health and Wellbeing

About towns: How transport can help towns thrive

November, 2018

This report examines the key role that transport interventions can play in supporting post-industrial towns.

It features case studies from the UK and the wider world of how different types of interventions - from transport’s role as an ‘anchor institution’ for local economies and as an employer, through to how transport interchanges can act as ‘gateways’ and sources of civic pride and renewal -  can achieve results.

A key finding of the report is that isolated capital interventions in transport infrastructure are insufficient in themselves. Instead, more co-ordinated programmes of transport capital and revenue investment and support are needed if towns are to truly thrive. 

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Active Travel
Governance
Social inclusion
Sustainability

Policy futures for urban transport

September, 2018

The latest edition of Policy futures for urban transport emphasises how a new deal on funding and powers is essential to keep the UK's cities moving forward.

The report sets out the 10 key policy changes that are needed to make cities healthier, fairer and more prosperous.

These include further devolution of rail services; greater funding for buses; reform of taxi and Private Hire Vehicle legislation; an ambitious strategy to encourage more cycling and walking; a long term investment plan for urban rail services; and a visionary national policy framework on air quality.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Tram
Active Travel
Funding
Governance
Social inclusion
Sustainability
Health and Wellbeing
Freight
Smart Futures
Capacities and Capabilities

Rail Cities UK: Our vision for their future

June, 2018

Significant rail expansion is the 'only viable option' to help UK cities achieve their ambitions on economic growth and meeting housing demand, whilst also creating attractive urban centres with less road traffic and better air quality.

This report sets out a vision of what a step change in rail provision could mean for passengers and cities - and the obstacles that stand in the way.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Regional and Urban Rail

Number crunch: Transport trends in the city regions

April, 2018

Our report, Number crunch: Transport trends in the city regions, identifies some of the most defining patterns of the past decade (and projected future trends) that are changing the face of the UK’s city regions, and the way that people travel within them.

Ageing urban populations, rapid bus passenger decline and huge growth in private hire vehicles are just some of the dramatic shifts taking place in UK cities.

The report draws on data from our unique, free and interactive online tool ‘Data Hub’, which allows users to generate bespoke analysis, graphics and charts of transport, economic and population data.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Tram
Active Travel
Funding
Freight
Smart Futures
Capacities and Capabilities

The Transformational Benefits of Investing in Regional Rail

October, 2017

Regional rail services carry more than three times the numbers of passengers than the much higher profile long distance (Inter-City) services. As the UK’s city regions increasingly develop their service sector economies and concentrate employment in city centres, rail enables large numbers of people to be moved efficiently and effectively into these ever more congested places.

With signs that central government is beginning to recognise the strength of these arguments, there is a need to translate them into something more tangible and practical by using evidence taken from case studies from around the UK rail network. By providing case studies that potentially have a resonance with other locations, this report aims to help these locations demonstrate the potential economic, social and environmental benefits of developing their own projects to stakeholders and funding and delivery partners.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Regional and Urban Rail

Policy Futures

September, 2017

Policy futures for urban transport sets out how, with more focused governance in place, the city regions are delivering major investment programmes including on public transport, highways and active travel, and smart ticketing. The report says that - with the right national policy framework - further and faster progress can be made, including:

  • ensuring that the benefits of transformative technological change are maximised including new ways of paying for access to transport, connected and autonomous vehicles and data;
  • that barriers between different sectors are broken down so that the benefits that transport can bring to achieving wider policy goals - in areas like health, employment and education - are fully realised.

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Active Travel
Funding
Governance
Social inclusion
Sustainability
Health and Wellbeing
Freight
Smart Futures
Capacities and Capabilities

Rail Devolution Works

July, 2017

Our ‘Rail Devolution Works’ report argues that further rail devolution will enable other regions and areas to also radically transform rail services in a way that supports economic growth at the same time as improving the journey experience for passengers.

The report takes a detailed look at how devolution changed rail services for the better in Merseyside, on London Overground, in Scotland and in Tyne and Wear.

 

PDF icon Download Full Report
Topic: 
Regional and Urban Rail
Governance

Pages

Williams Rail Review - Call for evidence: objectives and assessment criteria

April, 2019
Our consultation response to the Williams Rail Review's call for evidence on objectives and assessment criteria. The Review was established to recommend the most appropriate organisational and commercial frameworks to support the delivery of the government’s vision for the railway.
Consulting body: 
Department for Transport
Document: 
PDF icon Urban Transport Group consultation response - Williams Review Call for Evidence on Objectives and Assessments.pdf
Topic: 
Regional and Urban Rail
Rail regulation

Pages

National Infrastructure Commission is right to make devolved transport funding for cities a key test for Government’s future infrastructure plan

Monday, May 13, 2019

 

The National Infrastructure Commission’s call for Government to make devolved funding for urban transport to cities a key test of the Government’s forthcoming National Infrastructure Strategy is hugely welcome, says the Urban Transport Group.

Topic: 
Bus
Regional and Urban Rail
Rail regulation
Tram
Active Travel
Funding
Concessionary Travel
Governance
Social inclusion
Children and young people
Sustainability
Health and Wellbeing
Freight
Smart Futures
Smart ticketing
Capacities and Capabilities

South Yorkshire transport chief is new Chair of Urban Transport Group

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Stephen Edwards, the Executive Director of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), is the new Chair of the Urban Transport Group.

His appointment follows the end of the two-year term of outgoing Chair Tobyn Hughes, Managing Director at Nexus.

Topic: 
Bus
Competition Commission Inquiry
Regional and Urban Rail
Rail regulation
Tram
Active Travel
Funding
Concessionary Travel
Governance
Social inclusion
Children and young people
Sustainability
Health and Wellbeing
Freight
Smart Futures
Smart ticketing
Capacities and Capabilities

Pages

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