Tag: Department of Transport

Journey to Great British Railways gathers steam with landmark legislation

RAIL REFORM and GREAT BRITISH RAILWAYS

  • Government takes a major step forward with Bill to set up Great British Railways, owned by the public, for the public.
  • GBR will put passengers before profits with a strengthened passenger watchdog and ultimately a one-stop-shop app for simpler ticketing and customer services.
  • Measures unveiled to improve rail accessibility, including expanding disabled persons railcard eligibility, rolling out more Welcome Points.

Landmark legislation that will transform Britain’s railways was introduced yesterday (5 November), paving the way for a simpler, more reliable network which puts passengers before profits.

The Railways Bill will create Great British Railways (GBR) – a new publicly owned company which will bring together the management of passenger services and rail infrastructure.

GBR will be accountable to passengers, freight customers and taxpayers and will drive a relentless focus on responding to their needs. Responsible for co-ordinating the whole network: from track and train, to cost and revenue – GBR will deliver lasting change.

GBR, which will be headquartered in Derby, will create a simpler, more unified railway that delivers easier journeys and offers better value for money. This will include a new one-stop-shop app where passengers can check train times and book tickets.

The Railways Bill will also establish a strengthened passenger watchdog which will be a powerful new voice to investigate poor service and advocate for improvements.

Rail reform is a cornerstone of the Government’s Plan for Change, with GBR working hand in hand with the Government’s missions to drive growth and opportunity, such as housebuilding, creating jobs and boosting productivity.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Britain deserves a railway that is fit for the future – one that rebuilds the trust of its passengers, regenerates its communities and restores reliability and value for money.

“The introduction of this legislation is a major step towards a rail network that supports Britain’s businesses and delivers for the travelling public – paving the way for economic growth and access to opportunity across the country.”

Passengers are currently at the mercy of a complex rail system of over 17 different organisations, resulting in complex fares, delayed upgrades, disjointed timetables, and an industry with no single authority in charge.

The Railways Bill builds on the Government’s public ownership programme, which is already driving improved services. Southeastern and LNER are among the top five operators nationally for lowest cancellation rates.

South Western Railway has more than tripled the number of new trains in service since entering public ownership, offering more comfortable journeys, and passengers can now use tickets across publicly owned operators during cancellations – at no extra cost.

Major changes in the Bill include:

  • A strengthened Passenger Watchdog which will act as passengers’ champion and create a better, more inclusive railway for all. The watchdog will have powers to investigate poor service and demand improvements, as well as ensuring passengers have a clear and accessible service to escalate their complaints.
  • Fare and Ticketing reform – the Railways Bill will empower GBR to bring fares and ticketing into the 21st century. Passengers will ultimately be able to purchase tickets through a new GBR website and app, replacing 14 existing operator ticketing platforms. Tickets will be available to purchase at station ticket offices, via ticket vending machines and onboard trains, to ensure all passengers can purchase a ticket with ease and travel with confidence. GBR will also build on the expansion of successful Pay As You Go and fares trials, making travel more flexible and simpler.
  • Better business planning – the Railways Bill will place a duty on GBR to grow rail freight, meaning freight operators will benefit from a longer-term strategic approach to planning, including a new capacity allocation and timetabling process. This longer-term certainty for businesses will give critical stability to the railway’s supply chain and increase investor confidence and support the growth of the sector.
  • Localised decision making – the Railways Bill will give the Devolved Governments and England’s mayors a new role and a bigger say in how the railway is run in their patch to improve local connectivity.

In a further move to improve services for all passengers, the UK Government will today publish the Accessibility Roadmap, which provides immediate actions to improve services for disabled passengers in the lead up to GBR’s establishment.

Commitments in the Roadmap include expanded eligibility criteria for the Disabled Persons Railcard, planning for the wider rollout of Welcome Points across the network, more consistent training for staff, and improvements on installing and maintaining key infrastructure, like lifts and escalators so that people can travel with confidence.

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates said: “I very much welcome the introduction of the UK Railways Bill which will improve rail services and deliver a more integrated, accountable, and passenger-focused railway across the UK.

“It is also a significant step forward in our collaborative approach to rail reform, and I am confident that our continued joint working with the UK Government will ensure the delivery of a modern, integrated railway that works for passengers in Wales and throughout the United Kingdom.”

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “The introduction of the Railways Bill to Parliament marks a pivotal moment for rail reform across the country.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make trains more reliable and tickets easier to use, with clearer accountability for passengers and greater confidence in every journey.

“In Greater Manchester, we’re already making progress by working with the government and the rail industry to connect trains, buses, trams, and cycling routes as part of the next phase of the Bee Network.

“We’ll keep working closely with partners to shape the new legislation, ensuring Mayors and city regions have a key statutory role in joining up the railways in their areas, making them work for everyone and unlocking rail as an engine of growth across the country.”

Ben Plowden, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “An accessible, affordable and reliable rail network integrated with the wider transport system is key to delivering sustainable economic growth and improving regional productivity.

“Today marks another important step on the road to realising this vision and delivering a railway that works for passengers, freight operators and the country as a whole.

“We look forward to working with the Government, MPs and the rail industry over the coming months to make sure this Bill provides the right foundation for a reformed railway.”

Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Businesses welcome plans for a more joined up rail system which gives regions a stronger voice in shaping services.

“An efficient rail network is crucial to unlock opportunities for investment, jobs and growth across the country.

“Great British Rail must deliver the certainty and connectivity that businesses are desperate for – with the needs of passengers and freight customers central to future decision making.”

TRANSPORT SECRETARY HEIDI ALEXANDER’s STATEMENT TO PARLIAMENT

Today (5 November 2025) I have published our consultation response: A Railway Fit for Britain’s Future and introduced the Railways Bill to Parliament.

Up and down the country and across all political parties, the consensus is clear: our railways need urgent reform. Passengers feel abandoned – forced to treat delays, cancellations and poor value for money as unavoidable facts of daily life. Meanwhile, a broken, outdated model is holding the railway back, stopping it from unlocking the growth our country needs and delivering the efficiency taxpayers rightly expect.

The need for change was laid bare in the thousands of responses to our recent consultation. The British public were unequivocal: we need an affordable, reliable railway that passengers can count on and that makes the most of every taxpayer pound invested. One that makes education, healthcare, public services and even just the support of family and friends more accessible to those who need them. A railway that backs our businesses and helps our communities thrive. A railway fit for Britain’s future.

So today I am bringing forward legislation that will pave the way for the biggest transformation of Britain’s railways in 30 years. Informed by the consultation feedback, the Railways Bill will give us the tools we need to create Great British Railways (GBR) – a new, publicly owned company to oversee the management of track and train.

Today’s passengers are at the mercy of a complex system of poorly coordinated organisations, all incentivised to look inward and outsource blame. GBR will put an end to this by bringing together the work of 17 different organisations – from train operators to public bodies, government, and the regulator – eliminating unnecessary duplication and creating a single organisation responsible for operating, maintaining and improving our railways.

Unencumbered by the bureaucracy and perverse incentives of the old system, GBR will have the tools and authority it needs to make the railway deliver for passengers, freight and taxpayers – and to be held unambiguously accountable for doing so. It will be the ‘directing mind’ for the network, responsible for improving performance and taking long-term decisions across the whole system to unlock growth, decarbonise transport, enable the construction of new homes and support a thriving supply chain. GBR will be underpinned by a clear set of statutory duties – including those relating to passengers and accessibility, rail freight and social and economic benefits – as well as an overarching strategic direction set by the government. This approach will enable GBR to make decisions with a whole-system view, optimising network use and utilising opportunities such as open access to make the most of constrained capacity.

GBR will create a new culture that prioritises passengers and their experience. It will simplify fares and ticketing, setting more transparent fares in line with parameters set by ministers. It will consolidate the ticket retailing operations of 14 separate train companies – each with their own websites and apps – into a single, straightforward GBR ticketing platform. A new GBR app and website will make it easy to purchase tickets, check train times, and access a range of support all in one place. Together, this will make it easier for passengers to understand the fares system, to know they are buying the right ticket and to be confident they are getting the best value.

The bill will pave the way for creating a powerful voice for passengers, with a passenger watchdog responsible for setting tough standards and, where these are not met, investigating issues and resolving disputes. It will protect and advocate for all passengers’ interests and rights, offer advice and independently monitor passenger experience, reporting on its findings publicly and transparently.

GBR will work in partnership with devolved leaders to create a national railway that serves local needs. Through a new statutory role for devolved leaders, national and local strategies will be factored into GBR decision-making ensuring communities across Britain feel the benefits of our reforms. England’s mayors will have a greater say in how the railways will run, enabling genuine local influence and laying the foundations for integrated public transport that meets the needs of the communities it serves.

Devolved ministers in Scotland and Wales will also have an enhanced role, with bespoke arrangements to ensure GBR is able to deliver an integrated national network across Great Britain.

I will publish a joint memorandum of understanding with Welsh ministers setting out how our continued collaboration will drive improvements to our railways across Wales and Borders.

Scottish ministers have a similarly strong settlement reflecting their role as funder of the railway, including powers of direction and guidance over GBR. This will be set out in a joint memorandum of understanding that will outline how GBR will work with Scottish ministers to maximise local opportunities and deliver for communities.

Whilst this bill will unlock the most significant set of reforms our railway has seen in a generation, we are not waiting for the creation of GBR to drive improvements across the rail network.

We have accelerated the roll out of pay-as-you-go and we are ushering in a new era of transparency with latest performance data now available at over 1,700 stations. We recognise that disabled passengers’ experience on today’s railway too often falls short. That is why today I have also published an Accessibility roadmap: a transitional plan focused on delivering immediate improvements while laying the foundations for longer-term transformation led by GBR.

This bill enters Parliament 200 years on from the birth of the modern railway. The first passenger train between Shildon, Darlington and Stockton in 1825 marked the start of a technological revolution that would change the course of world history and trigger an explosion of growth and prosperity across the country.

As this government continues its mission to deliver a decade of national renewal, the plans I am setting out today will ensure the railway is fit to drive economic growth in the 21st century as it has done in the past.

Nearly £2 million to fund innovative transport tech

  • Over 60 projects awarded funding develop pioneering transport tech that could enhance people’s daily lives and support growth across the UK
  • Projects backed by nearly £2m, include 80% based outside of London awarded funding to help revolutionise transport
  • Augmented reality app for visually impaired passengers to help them navigate stations and kites to tow ships are among creative projects receiving new funding

Personalised navigation apps for disabled passengers and robots for freight at ports are among 67 transport technology projects being developed and tested through new Government funding.

Technology Minister Jesse Norman has announced today (6 June) 67 innovative projects developing transport technology which are receiving a share of £1.96 million in funding as part of the Government’s Transport Research and Innovation Grant (TRIG) Programme. A record number of this year’s winning projects are based outside London, with almost four in five based outside the capital.

The projects receiving funding include an app that uses augmented reality (AR) to help visually-impaired passengers get around rail stations, remote-controlled robots for deliveries, kite-powered tug boats to reduce emissions and drones to deliver packages in hard to reach areas.

The TRIG programme looks to encourage engineers, academics and innovators to develop ‘blue-skies’ research into real-world solutions to address some of transport’s most pressing issues, such as decarbonisation. This can be a useful way for researchers to take their first steps creating a new company, helping to grow the economy and create jobs across the UK.

Transport and Decarbonisation Minister Jesse Norman said: “From making travelling easier for visually impaired passengers to improving rural connectivity, these winning projects have the potential to transform the future of transport.

“The Government wants the UK to be a world leader in the future of transport, and through the TRIG programme the Department for Transport is supporting innovators and businesses to decarbonise and improve transport while growing the economy and supporting jobs across the UK.”

Some of this year’s winning projects include:

  • Makesense Technology to create an app that uses augmented reality to create bespoke walking routes to help visually impaired travellers get around railway stations.
  • Bluewater Engineering Ltd to develop its unique SKYTUG system which uses large kites to tow ships at the same speed as a traditionally-powered craft, which could help reduce the use of polluting engines and decarbonise shipping.
  • IONA Logistics Ltd to explore how autonomous drones based out of small delivery hubs can be used to deliver small packages faster and cheaper to hard to reach rural areas.
  • Transreport Limited to create an app that allows disabled and older passengers to book the support they need on plans in advance to improve the experience. This app is already in use on trains.
  • Port of Tyne to explore the viability of using remotely-controlled, and in some instances automated, electric heavy-duty robots to replace HGVs to provide a cleaner and faster alternative, reducing delays in the delivery process.
  • CC Informatics to explore the use of drones to create 3D digital models of structures, such as bridges and rail tracks, to identify cracks and defects in the structures that would otherwise be invisible, meaning repairs can be made quicker and before more serious issues could develop.
  • Imperial College London to research the use of Kiacrete, a new type of paving made from recycled materials, instead of concrete as a more permeable solution to see how it can be used on highways to drain away surface water and reduce flooding.

Through the TRIG programme, funded projects could have a transformative impact on transport. This year’s winners bring the total amount invested through the TRIG programme to over £12 million since it launched in 2014, having funded nearly 300 projects.

The programme is designed to focus on a range of transport-related areas, including maritime decarbonisation, the future of freight, local transport decarbonisation, improving the rail passenger experience, and transport resilience to severe weather and flooding.

The TRIG programme, delivered in partnership with Connected Places Catapult, brings together talented innovators – mainly start-ups and universities – and policymakers at the earliest stage of innovation to help enhance the UK’s transport system.

Nicola Yates OBE, Connected Places Catapult, Chief Executive Officer said: “By getting funding into innovative start-ups, we are creating jobs of the future and growing vital areas of the economy.

“Transport Research and Innovation Grants support high-potential innovators to develop their ideas into new products and services. In addition to an injection of funding, companies that join the TRIG cohort benefit from access to experts from Connected Places Catapult to help them on their journey to commercialisation.”

Calling time on cyclists who ride dangerously

The former transport secretary, Grant Shapps, recently proposed a Whitehall review of how cyclists who break the law should be tracked and prosecuted.

Initial ideas put forward to facilitate this include insurance cover for riders and registration plates for bikes, and it appears from the latest research by Venson Automotive Solutions that the UK public are in favour.

62% of those surveyed by Venson agreed that riders of bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters should have insurance cover and nearly half (49%) believe these modes of transport should carry registration plates.

Cyclists who jump red lights – which is an illegal act for all road users – are creating dangerous situations on the road for themselves and other road users, but unlike motorists, the odds of escaping prosecution are high. However, if caught jumping lights, cyclists will be issued with a standard Fixed Penalty Notice of £30 opposed to a potential maximum fine of £1000 for motorists and points on their licence.

Currently, under the Highway Code and Road Traffic Act speeding limits only apply to motor vehicles and their drivers, exempting cyclists and scooter riders of this vital safeguard.

The survey found that 94% of respondents support the introduction of penalty points and fines for riders of bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters breaking speed limits and greater penalties for those red light jumping.

One in four also believe that before riders of a bicycle, e-bike and e-scooter take to the road, they should obtain a rider’s licence which includes taking a theory and road test. 

Alison Bell, Operations Director at Venson Automotive Solutions says, “A lot of private motorists and businesses operating fleets are looking for greener transport options for themselves and their employees, including bicycles and e-bikes which can be offered under a salary sacrifice scheme by employers.

“With Government setting a target for half of all short trips to be walked or cycled by 2030 in England, this type of ‘micro-transport’ could provide a viable transport alternative and support that ambition.

“However, the reality is just 9.1% of people cycled at least once a week for any purpose between November 2020 and November 2021. The latest figures from the Department for Transport also showed that this is down 11.6% compared to the same period the year before.

“Clearly, to meet the Government’s transport green goals, more needs to be done to encourage people and businesses to change their transport habits, especially for shorter trips. 

“Nevertheless, changes to legislation that impose stricter rules for cyclists and scooter riders could significantly deter people from making a switch. Striking a balance will be crucial to successfully growing this micro-transport, whilst protecting all road-users fairly.”

The Highway Code: Changes you need to know from today – 29 January 2022

Rules for all types of road users have been updated in The Highway Code to improve the safety of people walking, cycling and riding horses.

The changes follow a public consultation on a review of The Highway Code to improve road safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses. It ran from July to October 2020, and received more than 20,000 responses from the public, businesses and other organisations. Most people who responded were in favour of all the changes.

The changes were made to The Highway Code on Saturday 29 January 2022.

Here are 8 of the changes that you need to know about.

1. Hierarchy of road users

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The introduction section of The Highway Code has been updated to include 3 new rules about the new ‘hierarchy of road users’.

The hierarchy places those road users most at risk in the event of a collision at the top of the hierarchy. It does not remove the need for everyone to behave responsibly.

It’s important that all road users:

  • are aware of The Highway Code
  • are considerate to other road users
  • understand their responsibility for the safety of others

The 3 new rules are numbered H1, H2, and H3.

Read the new rules

2. People crossing the road at junctions

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The updated code clarifies that:

  • when people are crossing or waiting to cross at a junction, other traffic should give way
  • if people have started crossing and traffic wants to turn into the road, the people crossing have priority and the traffic should give way
  • people driving, riding a motorcycle or cycling must give way to people on a zebra crossing and people walking and cycling on a parallel crossing

A parallel crossing is similar to a zebra crossing, but includes a cycle route alongside the black and white stripes.

Read the updated rules

3. Walking, cycling or riding in shared spaces

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There is new guidance in the code about routes and spaces which are shared by people walking, cycling and riding horses.

People cycling, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle should respect the safety of people walking in these spaces, but people walking should also take care not to obstruct or endanger them.

People cycling are asked to:

  • not pass people walking, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle closely or at high speed, particularly from behind
  • slow down when necessary and let people walking know they are there (for example, by ringing their bell)
  • remember that people walking may be deaf, blind or partially sighted
  • not pass a horse on the horse’s left

Read the updated rules

4. Positioning in the road when cycling

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There is updated guidance for people cycling about positioning themselves which includes:

  • riding in the centre of their lane on quiet roads, in slower-moving traffic and at the approach to junctions or road narrowings
  • keeping at least 0.5 metres (just over 1.5 feet) away from the kerb edge (and further where it is safer) when riding on busy roads with vehicles moving faster than them

People cycling in groups

The updated code explains that people cycling in groups:

  • should be considerate of the needs of other road users when riding in groups
  • can ride 2 abreast – and it can be safer to do so, particularly in larger groups or when accompanying children or less experienced riders

People cycling are asked to be aware of people driving behind them and allow them to overtake (for example, by moving into single file or stopping) when it’s safe to do so.

People cycling passing parked vehicles

The updated code explains that people cycling should:

  • take care when passing parked vehicles, leaving enough room (a door’s width or 1 metre) to avoid being hit if a car door is opened
  • watch out for people walking into their path

Read the updated rules

5. Overtaking when driving or cycling

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You may cross a double-white line if necessary (provided the road is clear) to overtake someone cycling or riding a horse if they are travelling at 10 mph or less (Rule 129).

There is updated guidance on safe passing distances and speeds for people driving or riding a motorcycle when overtaking vulnerable road users, including:

  • leaving at least 1.5 metres (5 feet) when overtaking people cycling at speeds of up to 30mph, and giving them more space when overtaking at higher speeds
  • passing people riding horses or driving horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 10 mph and allowing at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) of space
  • allowing at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) of space and keeping to a low speed when passing people walking in the road (for example, where there’s no pavement)

Wait behind them and do not overtake if it’s unsafe or not possible to meet these clearances.

People cycling passing slower-moving or stationary traffic

The updated code confirms that people cycling may pass slower-moving or stationary traffic on their right or left.

They should proceed with caution as people driving may not be able to see them. This is particularly important:

  • on the approach to junctions
  • when deciding whether it is safe to pass lorries or other large vehicles

Read the updated rules

6. People cycling at junctions

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The code has been updated to clarify that when turning into or out of a side road, people cycling should give way to people walking who are crossing or waiting to cross.

There is new advice about new special cycle facilities at some junctions.

Some junctions now include small cycle traffic lights at eye-level height, which may allow cyclists to move separately from or before other traffic. People cycling are encouraged to use these facilities where they make their journey safer and easier.

There is also new guidance for people cycling at junctions with no separate facilities.

The code recommends that people cycling should proceed as if they were driving a vehicle where there are no separate cyclist facilities. This includes positioning themselves in the centre of their chosen lane, where they feel able to do this safely. This is to:

  • make them as visible as possible
  • avoid being overtaken where this would be dangerous

People cycling turning right

The code now includes advice for people cycling using junctions where signs and markings tell them to turn right in 2 stages. These are:

  • stage 1 – when the traffic lights turn green, go straight ahead to the location marked by a cycle symbol and turn arrow on the road, and then stop and wait
  • stage 2 – when the traffic lights on the far side of the junction (now facing the people cycling) turn green, complete the manoeuvre

People cycling have priority when going straight ahead at junctions

The code clarifies that when people cycling are going straight ahead at a junction, they have priority over traffic waiting to turn into or out of a side road, unless road signs or markings indicate otherwise.

People cycling are asked to watch out for people driving intending to turn across their path, as people driving ahead may not be able to see them.

Read the updated rules

7. People cycling, riding a horse and driving horse-drawn vehicles on roundabouts

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The code has been updated to clarify that people driving or riding a motorcycle should give priority to people cycling on roundabouts. The new guidance will say people driving and or riding a motorcycle should:

  • not attempt to overtake people cycling within that person’s lane
  • allow people cycling to move across their path as they travel around the roundabout

The code already explained that people cycling, riding a horse and driving a horse-drawn vehicle may stay in the left-hand lane of a roundabout when they intend to continue across or around the roundabout.

Guidance has been added to explain that people driving should take extra care when entering a roundabout to make sure they do not cut across people cycling, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle who are continuing around the roundabout in the left-hand lane.

Read the updated rules

8. Parking, charging and leaving vehicles

The code recommends a new technique when leaving vehicles. It’s sometimes called the ‘Dutch Reach’.

Where people driving or passengers in a vehicle are able to do so, they should open the door using their hand on the opposite side to the door they are opening. For example, using their left hand to open a door on their right-hand side.

This will make them turn their head to look over their shoulder behind them. They’re then less likely to cause injury to:

  • people cycling or riding a motorcycle passing on the road
  • people on the pavement

Using an electric vehicle charge point

For the first time, the code includes guidance about using electric vehicle charging points.

When using one, people should:

  • park close to the charge point and avoid creating a trip hazard for people walking from trailing cables
  • display a warning sign if you can
  • return charging cables and connectors neatly to minimise the danger to other people and avoid creating an obstacle for other road users

Read the updated rule

Find out about all the changes

In total, 10 sections of The Highway Code have been updated, with 50 rules being added or updated.

You can find a summary of all the changes in The Highway Code updates list on GOV.UK.

Stay up to date

The Highway Code is essential reading for everyone. It’s updated regularly, so it’s important that everyone reads it – not just learner drivers.

Many of the rules in the code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you’re committing a criminal offence.

If you do not follow the other rules in the code, it can be used in evidence in court proceedings to establish liability.

The full updated version of The Highway Code is available, free of charge, on GOV.UK.

You can pre-order an updated version of The Highway Code book online now, and buy a copy at most high street bookshops from April 2022. It has a new cover design so it’s easy to recognise.

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You can also download The Highway Code iOS app. An Android version is being developed.

Other ways to stay up to date

To stay up to date, you can also:

‘Bonfire of the Banalities’

Unnecessary train announcements to be binned

  • UK government to review and remove train announcements that add unnecessary noise and disruption to journeys
  • the Department for Transport will ensure train operating companies retain important safety messages and work with accessibility groups so that passengers receive the necessary information
  • announcement follows the publication of the government’s Plan for Rail, which puts passengers back at the heart of the railways

Quieter train journeys are set to become the norm after the government announced it will identify and remove repetitive and unnecessary onboard announcements on trains in England.

The changes mean that passengers will no longer be bombarded with unnecessary ‘tannoy spam’ that distracts from important safety-critical messaging.

Working closely with the Rail Delivery Group, passenger groups including Transport Focus, and train operators, the Department for Transport (DfT) will identify how the vast number of announcements can be cut or reduced while maintaining vital obligations to ensure train travel remains accessible for all. Messages that play a safety critical role, or that ensure the railways are accessible for all, will remain.

The review will take place over the course of this year, with redundant messages identified and starting to be removed in the coming months.

Banal announcements set to be culled include self-evident instructions, such as having your ticket ready when leaving the station and contradictory calls for passengers to keep volume levels low while onboard announcements blare out. There will also be new curbs on the maximum frequency at which remaining announcements will be heard. 

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:  “Train passengers are all too often plagued by an endless torrent of repeated and unnecessary announcements. 

“In line with the passenger improvements, we are rolling out with our Plan for Rail we want to see improvements to the railways for those who use them day in day out.  

“That’s why I’m calling for a bonfire of the banalities to bring down the number of announcements passengers are forced to sit through and make their journey that little bit more peaceful.”

As passengers come back to the railways, DfT will continue to ensure journeys are more comfortable to all users and that passengers continue to receive the important information they need about their journey.

Officials will work with accessibility groups to ensure that access for all is maintained.

The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, launched last year, ‘puts passengers at the heart of the railway’. To improve the comfort and enjoyment of train travel, customer service will be modernised and upgraded across all stations and, on trains, focused on providing passengers with better communication and a more personalised service. 

Anthony Smith, Chief Executive of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: “Passengers will welcome a review intended to cut out unnecessary announcements.

“Transport Focus looks forward to helping with the review so passengers get the information they want, including those with additional accessibility needs.

Jacqueline Starr, CEO of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “We know people want the most relevant and timely messages on their journeys and to help with this, train operators are continuing their work to improve customer information, including cutting unnecessary onboard announcements.

“We’re also going further by asking customers what they want to know and using their responses to plan more useful and consistent announcements across the network, helping people have a better experience travelling by train.”

Smart motorway rollout to be paused as Government responds to Transport Committee report

  • Rollout of new All Lane Running smart motorway schemes will be paused until five years of safety data available 
  • Current stretches of smart motorway to be further upgraded with best-in-class technology and resources 
  • £900 million commitment to ensure drivers feel safe and confident, including extra £390 million to install additional emergency areas

The rollout of new smart motorway schemes will be paused until a full five years’ worth of safety data is available, as the Department for Transport invests £900 million to improve safety on existing All Lane Running (ALR) motorways.

In line with the Transport Committee’s most recent recommendations, the rollout of new ALR smart motorways will be paused until a full five years’ worth of safety data becomes available for schemes introduced before 2020. After this point, the Government will assess the data and make an informed decision on next steps.

Although available data shows smart motorways are comparatively the safest roads in the country in terms of fatality rates, while their rollout is paused, the UK Government will go further by ensuring current smart motorways without a permanent hard shoulder are equipped with best-in-class technology and resources to make them as safe as possible.

This will include investing £390 million to install more than 150 additional Emergency Areas so drivers have more places to stop if they get into difficulty. This will represent around a 50% increase in places to stop by 2025, giving drivers added reassurance.

The Department for Transport has welcomed the Transport Committee’s report, which endorsed its focus on further upgrading the safety of existing ALR smart motorways rather than reinstating the hard shoulder.

As concluded by the Committee, evidence suggests hard shoulders do not always provide a safe place to stop, and by reducing motorway capacity, they could put more drivers and passengers at risk of death or serious injury if they were to divert onto less safe local roads.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “One of my first actions as Transport Secretary was to order a stocktake of smart motorways and since then, I have worked consistently to raise the bar on their safety. I am grateful to the Transport Committee and to all those who provided evidence for its work.

“While our initial data shows that smart motorways are among the safest roads in the UK, it’s crucial that we go further to ensure people feel safer using them.

“Pausing schemes yet to start construction and making multi-million-pound improvements to existing schemes will give drivers confidence and provide the data we need to inform our next steps. I want thank safety campaigners, including those who have lost loved ones, for rightly striving for higher standards on our roads. I share their concerns.”

National Highways CEO Nick Harris said: “We have listened to public concerns about smart motorways and we are fully committed to taking forward the additional measures the Transport Committee has recommended.

“While we pause those all lane running schemes yet to start construction we will complete the schemes currently in construction, we will make existing sections as safe as they can possibly be and we will step up our advice to drivers so they have all the information they need.

“We are doing this because safety is our absolute priority and we want drivers to not just be safer, but also to feel safe on our busiest roads.” 

Independent road safety campaigner, Meera Naran, whose 8-year-old son Dev, died in a motorway crash on the M6 in 2018, said: “Conventional and smart motorways both have their risks and benefits. I welcome this pause in the rollout of smart motorways which will give us all a positive opportunity to assess the future of our motorway network.

“I’m encouraged by the commitment of £900 million to improve the safety of our motorways, following my campaigning since Dev died. However, I’ll continue to both challenge and work alongside the Department for Transport to ensure even more is done, including calling for legislation to be looked at for Autonomous Emergency Braking and further support for on-going driver education.”

The Government’s response to the Transport Committee builds on the significant progress already made against the Department’s 18-point Action Plan to improve smart motorway safety, announced in March 2020, including adding emergency areas and upgrading cameras to detect Red X offences. 

The measures in the Stocktake and Transport Committee response represent over £900m of improvements in total, including £390m of new money for extra emergency areas, with the remainder of the funding delivering other measures such as Stopped Vehicle Detection and concrete central reservation barriers.

National Highways will also ‘ramp up’ communications so drivers have better information about how to drive on smart motorways. 

While the Department for Transport will be taking forward all the recommendations set out in the Committee’s recommendations, it does not agree with the view that smart motorways were rolled out prematurely or unsafely. All ALR smart motorway schemes are, and will continue to be, subject to high standards of design, risk assessment and construction, followed by detailed monitoring and evaluation once opened to traffic. 

While further data is being collected, National Highways will continue work to complete schemes that are currently in construction, which will all open with technology in place to detect stopped vehicles.

These schemes are all more than 50% completed and halting progress on them now would cause significant disruption for drivers. Design work will also continue on those schemes already being planned, so they are ready to be constructed depending on the outcome of the pause. No preparatory construction work will take place.

Also, in line with the Committee’s recommendations, National Highways will pause the conversion of Dynamic Hard Shoulder (DHS) motorways – where the hard shoulder is open at busy times – into All Lane Running motorways, while it investigates alternative ways of operating them to make things simpler for drivers. National Highways will also install technology to detect stopped vehicles on these sections.

Any use of hand-held mobile phone while driving to become illegal

Prosecution regulations tightened on the use of hand-held mobile phones at the wheel

  • government strengthening existing laws making it illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving under virtually any circumstance
  • follows public consultation which found that 81% of people supported such a move
  • highway code will change making it clear that hand-held phone use at traffic lights or in traffic jams is illegal

Police will soon be able to more easily prosecute drivers using a hand-held mobile phone at the wheel after the government strengthens existing laws to further improve road safety.

It is already illegal to text or make a phone call (other than in an emergency) using a hand-held device while driving. Next year, laws will go further to ban drivers from using their phones to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists or play games.

This will mean anyone caught using their hand-held device while driving will face a £200 fixed penalty notice and 6 points on their licence.

Drivers will still be able to continue using a device ‘hands-free’ while driving, such as a sat-nav, if it’s secured in a cradle. They must, however, always take responsibility for their driving and can be charged with an offence if the police find them not to be in proper control of their vehicle.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Too many deaths and injuries occur while mobile phones are being held.

“By making it easier to prosecute people illegally using their phone at the wheel, we are ensuring the law is brought into the 21st century while further protecting all road users.

“While our roads remain among the safest in the world, we will continue working tirelessly to make them safer, including through our award-winning THINK! campaign, which challenges social norms among high-risk drivers.”

This follows a public consultation that found 81% of respondents supported proposals to strengthen the law and make it easier for culprits to be prosecuted.

Following the public consultation, the government will revise The Highway Code to explain the new measures. It will also be more precise about the fact that being stationary in traffic counts as driving, making it clear that hand-held mobile phone use at traffic lights or in motorway jams is illegal except in very limited circumstances.

There will be an exemption to the new law for drivers making a contactless payment using their mobile phone while stationary to ensure the law keeps pace with technology.

This exemption will cover, for example, places like a drive-through restaurant or a road toll, and will only apply when payment is being made with a card reader. It will not allow motorists to make general online payments while driving.

Mary Williams OBE, Chief Executive of Brake – the road safety charity, said: “Driver distraction can be deadly and using a hand-held phone at the wheel is never worth the risk. This important road safety decision by government, coinciding with Road Safety Week, is very welcomed.

“This news is particularly welcomed by families suffering bereavement and catastrophic injury due to drivers being distracted by phones. The theme for Road Safety Week is road safety heroes – we can all be road safety heroes by giving driving our full attention.”

The Department for Transport has also today published a study by Ipsos Mori about drivers who use mobile phones while driving.

Among other findings, the research reveals younger motorists are more likely to have used a handheld device at the wheel, supporting the focus of the government’s award-winning THINK! campaign, which works to boost road safety by targeting higher-risk, younger motorists and road-users.

More than half of drivers break speed limit in residential areas

More than half of Britain’s drivers routinely broke the speed limit in built-up areas in 2020, according to new figures from the Department for Transport.

During the height of the first lockdown – April to June 2020 – 63% of motorists travelling on 30mph roads exceeded the speed limit. Drivers breaking the speed limit by 5-10 mph never dropped below 19% last year but spiked to 26% during the first lockdown.

Motorway driving echoed this behaviour although motorists broke the speed limit slightly less but tended to do so by 5 or 10mph in greater percentages. Single carriageway users (60 mph limit for cars) were more likely to comply with speed limits, with 10-17% breaking the limit and just 1-3% exceeding it by 10mph or more. 

Night drivers were most likely to break the 30mph speed limit in built-up areas, with 75% speeding between the hours of midnight and 6am, compared with an average of 37% of motorists during daylight hours.

The figures are based on driver behaviour on roads with free flowing traffic where there are no impediments such as bends or steep climbs. The report is based on nearly 40,000 vehicles observed on roads in residential areas, around 150,000 on motorways and 21,000 on single carriageways.

Responding to the new data, Greg Wilson, founder of leading car insurance comparison platform Quotezone.co.uk, says: “It’s staggering to realise that half of all motorists are breaking the speed limit across motorways, single carriageways and residential 30mph zones, but it’s the speeding offences that occur in those built-up areas that could potentially be the most dangerous, because far more accidents happen on these smaller roads than on motorways and dual carriageways.

“While some motorists may assume that there won’t be pedestrians or cyclists on the road after dark in these 30mph zones, there’s always a heightened risk of an accident when a driver exceeds the speed limit, so it’s worrying that the Department for Transport data suggests 75% of motorists are taking this risk.

“Even if an accident doesn’t occur, if drivers in Great Britain are caught speeding on these roads, they face a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 and three penalty points on their licence if they exceed the limit by a marginal amount, or six points and a fine of up to £1,000 if they’re doing more than 41mph in a 30mph zone.

“If convicted, it is important to be honest and fully disclose the offence to your insurance provider, because failure to do so can result in the policy being invalidated, meaning you won’t be covered. 

“Some of our providers offer car insurance policies with competitive rates for convicted drivers which can help motorists find an affordable premium, but it probably goes without saying that the best way to keep your car insurance price low is to obey the speed limit in the first place.” 

Penalty points can add anything from 5% to 25% to your car insurance premium, depending on the number of points your licence has been endorsed with.

Recommended by 97% of reviewers, Quotezone.co.uk helps around 3 million users find better deals on their insurance every year, with over 400 insurance brands across 60 different products including niche items like telematics insurance and classic car insurance.

Crash statistics reveal lack of progress in UK road deaths

The UK’s largest independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, is calling for the Government to show real leadership to drive down death and injury on UK roads after yet another year of no real improvement according to figures released by the Department for Transport yesterday.

Provisional figures for 2019 in: Reported road casualties in Great Britain: provisional results 2019, revealed there were 1,748 reported road deaths, compared to 1,784 in 2018. Although this is, a welcome two per cent fall it marks an eight-year period of no significant reduction in deaths on UK roads. It means that on average almost five people are still dying on UK roads every day.

Fatalities for older road users – aged 60 and over – was the largest increase for any group increasing by eight per cent from 588 in 2018 to 637 in 2019.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart’s Director of Policy & Research, said: “These results are frankly embarrassing. We need UK Government to show real leadership and push road safety up the political agenda if we are to see a return of year-on-year improvements.

“Some quick wins could include: graduated driver licencing, more traffic police on the roads, a new approach to older drivers – such as an eye test on licence renewal at 75, mature driver assessments on prescription and more powers for the Health and Safety Executive to insist on good driver risk management across UK business.”

IAM RoadSmart expects 2020 to be a unique year, due to COVID-19, and comparisons with previous years will almost certainly not be possible. But with 2020 results not being published for another year the true impact of the pandemic on road deaths in the UK will not be clear for some time.

Neil added: “Up to date collision information is essential to avoid transport policy being developed in a data vacuum.

“We urge the Government to issue road safety figures for the last few months now so that informed decisions can be made. This is particularly important following the significant shift we’ve seen in recent months due to the pandemic and increasing use of new modes of transport.”

SHARP RISE IN PEDESTRIAN DEATHS IN SCOTLAND

Latest road safety statistics reveal a 35 per cent increase in pedestrian fatalities last year. Transport Scotland’s ‘Key Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2019’ report, published yesterday, gives provisional statistics of reported injuries and shows pedestrian deaths rose from 34 in 2018 to 46 in 2019.

It comes after the Prime Minister announced a consultation into the Highway Code to make it safer for people walking and cycling this week (27 July 2020).

A key feature of the proposals is the idea of a ‘hierarchy of responsibility’, with road users who cause the greatest harm having a greater responsibility to reduce the threat they pose to others; along with proposed changes at crossings and junctions and additional narrative on the dangers of speeding. 

Stuart Hay, Director of Living Streets Scotland, part of the UK charity for everyday walking, said: “It is deeply concerning to see any rise in pedestrian deaths, especially at this level. We urge the Scottish Government to investigate the spike in casualties. 

“The majority of these incidents occurred in urban areas, highlighting the need to bring speeds and traffic levels down. The changes proposed to the Highway Code this week, along with a mandatory 20mph limit, are vital if we’re to keep people safe on our streets. 

“The Highway Code currently treats all road users – from children walking to lorry drivers – as if they are equally responsible for their own or other people’s safety. However, people walking cause the least road danger but are often left paying the price – as these figures show. 

“Whether we choose to drive or cycle, we are all pedestrians at some point. These proposed revisions will benefit all of us and I urge people to respond to the Highway Code consultation so that this may be the last year we see increases like this.”

For more information and to take part in the Highway Code consultation, visit livingstreets.org.uk/no1

The full report from DfT can be found here.

Tens of thousands of drivers get increased fines for using mobiles at wheel

More than 26,000 motorists have been caught using a handheld mobile phone while driving in the first year since harsher penalties came into force. Among these are 500 novice drivers who have had their licences revoked for using their phone behind the wheel in their first 2 years of driving. Continue reading Tens of thousands of drivers get increased fines for using mobiles at wheel