Inside track - The state of transport 2026
Devolution is driving change.
Our report shows how the impact of new powers and funding for local areas is beginning to play out in transport trends - with optimistic signs for public transport.
Public transport has undergone a decade of change. After many years of relatively predictable, but often declining travel pattens, a series of major events have shaped how, why, and when people travel, in ways that few could have anticipated ten years ago.
Now extensive legislative, policy and funding reforms are starting to drive a more deliberate and structured change in how public transport is planned and delivered. While it will take time for these interventions to be fully reflected in local transport outcomes, together they offer reasons to be optimistic. They position local leaders with greater powers to shape their transport networks, supported by more stable long-term revenue and capital funding.
The last year
Over the last year, travel trends have started to stabilise. However, there are still examples of growth, especially across heavy and light rail networks. In areas where devolved powers have been implemented, changes are beginning to bear fruit.
Here are some of the key trends from the past year...
City region economies are growing
The economies of our largest city regions are starting to grow. A decade ago, only London was growing at or above the England average economic growth rate, with other core cities and their city regions falling behind. This trend is now reversing, and the city regions are beginning to close the productivity gap. However, there is still much more to do if we are to overcome the high levels of inequalities and deliver on the untapped potential.
Trip rates - growing but stabilising
The number of trips each person makes grew by 1% last year, with each person making 922 trips. However, the rate of growth has now fallen for three years in a row, and it appears that trip rates are starting to stabilise.
Bus patronage is stabilising, but there are still areas of growth
Bus patronage is starting to flatline nationally, with a 1% growth recorded in the last year. However, there was above average growth across many of the Combined Authorities, with the fully franchised network in Greater Manchester seeing 11% growth.
Heavy rail patronage has reached pre-pandemic levels
Heavy rail has become the first public transport mode to reach pre-pandemic patronage levels in national statistics. Although growth has slowed, it was still at 7% for the most recent year and looks like set to continue into the coming year.
Congestion remains a challenge
Although the number of trips made as a motor vehicle driver or passenger is still nearly 10% down on pre-pandemic levels, congestion remains a challenge in our city regions. The average speed on local authority ‘A’ Roads continued to fall last year. If we are to unlock the true economic potential of our city regions, we need to ensure that enough people can access them, with high capacity, reliable, public transport systems central to delivering this.
I’m proud to see how transport devolution is delivering growth and empowering our cities and regions to deliver better, more dependable public transport for all.
New powers and funding certainty are already making a difference on our travel trends. This offers hope that local accountability and decision making can drive our public transport networks forwards, delivering the services that our city regions need if they are to continue to grow.
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