Tag: transport

Scotland gets £66 million transport boost as part of record Spending Review settlement

The Chancellor visited Paisley yesterday to announce £66 million of investment in Scottish transport

  • Chancellor Rachel Reeves announces millions for West of Scotland transport links and extra funding to explore upgrades to the A75.
  • Investment follows the Industrial Strategy which boosted Advanced Manufacturing clusters and the Spending Review which delivered a record settlement for Scottish public services.
  • Funding is part of Government’s plan to invest in the economy right across the UK.

The investment will help workers access jobs in high growth sectors supercharged by the government’s modern Industrial Strategy and Spending Review.

The UK Government is boosting investment across Scotland through two investment zones and multiple industrial sites from the North East of Scotland Investment Zone to the Prestwick Aerospace Cluster.

This £66 million will work alongside these investments to fund three Scottish transport schemes and create direct links between towns and economic hubs in the West of Scotland.  

Renfrewshire Council will get £38.7 million to link Paisley town centre with Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) and Glasgow Airport. New walking, cycling, bus and car links will be built so local people can benefit from the growth of high value manufacturing in Renfrewshire. 

Another £23.7 million will be given to North Ayrshire Council to upgrade the B714. This upgrade will see a much faster route between the Three Towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston to Glasgow, and cut traffic in Kilwinning. The Chancellor prioritised finding this cash during last month’s Spending Review, which also saw billions invested in Scotland’s growth sectors.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said: “We’re pledging billions to back Scottish jobs, industry and renewal – that’s why we’re investing in the major transport projects, including exploring upgrades to the A75, that local communities have been calling for.

“Whilst previous governments oversaw over a decade of decline of our transport infrastructure, we’re investing in Britain’s renewal. This £66 million investment is exactly what our Plan for Change is about, investing in what matters to you in the places that you live.”

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government will be given an extra £3.45 million to suggest upgrades to the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway.  The key road, which links the Cairnryan port serving Northern Ireland with the rest of the UK, is vital to UK connectivity and growing the economy.

This new money comes on top of the up-to-£5 million announced at the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget 2024. 

As part of a wider investment strategy in Scotland the Spending Review saw around £200 million committed to the Acorn Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage project, subject to business cases, and £8.3 billion confirmed for Great British Energy, strengthening Scotland’s position as the home of the UK’s clean energy revolution. 

A multi-decade, multi-billion project to secure jobs at HM Naval Base Clyde was also kickstarted with an initial £250 million investment.

Whilst in Scotland the Chancellor will also visit the Edinburgh Supercomputer, which will receive up to £750 million in UK Government funding, later on Friday. The funding, announced during the Chancellor’s Spending Review will ensure that Scotland becomes home to the UK’s most powerful Supercomputer, supporting Scottish research and development, and industry.

The Spending Review delivered a record settlement for Scottish public services, with the Scottish Government’s largest settlement, in real terms, since devolution in 1998. Scottish Government’s settlement is growing in real terms between 2024-25 and 2028-29. This translates into an average of £50.9 billion per year between 2026-27 and 2028-29.

Scotland Secretary, Ian Murray, said: “This £66 million investment in Scotland’s roads demonstrates the UK Government’s commitment to improving infrastructure and driving economic growth in all parts of the UK as part of our Plan for Change.

“This investment will make a real difference to people’s daily lives and to the local economies of the South of Scotland, Ayrshire and Renfrewshire.

“New road links will connect Paisley town centre with Glasgow Airport and the new advanced manufacturing innovation district, to boost high value manufacturing in Renfrewshire.

“The upgrade to the B714 will speed up journeys between Glasgow and the three towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston, as well as cutting traffic in Kilwinning. And the A75 is strategically important just not within but beyond Scotland. Its upgrading is long overdue. I am pleased that the UK Government has stepped up to fund the delivery of the A75 feasibility study in full.

“This investment is yet another example of how the UK Government is building the foundations for a stronger, more prosperous future that benefits communities right across Scotland.

  • As strategic roads in Scotland are the Scottish Government’s responsibility, any future upgrades to the A75 will be funded from the Scottish Government’s block grant. 
  • The Ayrshire and Renfrewshire projects are part of a £378m UK-wide Levelling Up Fund cash boost, upgrading transport links across Britain, which were also announced yesterday.
  • Building work on the LUF projects will be able to start as final business cases are given the green light by the Department for Transport.

Discount of up to £3,750 on electric cars set to slash costs

Car manufacturers can apply for the Electric Car Grant from tomorrow

  • new £650 million grant will slash electric car prices, saving UK households up to £3,750 when they upgrade or switch to electric  
  • car manufacturers to apply through the Electric Car Grant – speeding up access and cutting costs for drivers and businesses  
  • comes as more than 380,000 zero emission cars were registered last year, delivering the government’s Plan for Change to kickstart economic growth and put more money in working people’s pockets

Drivers across the UK will soon enjoy discounts on dozens of new electric car models after the Transport Secretary today (15 July 2025) announced a £650 million grant scheme worth up to £3,750 per car, putting more money back in working people’s pockets as part of the Plan for Change and making owning an electric car a reality for thousands.  

Supporting the manifesto commitment to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, the £650 million Electric Car Grant (ECG) will back UK and other manufacturers, with eligibility dependent on the highest manufacturing sustainability standards. Discounts up to £3,750 will be available at the point of sale for new eligible electric cars priced at or under £37,000.

Drivers will start to benefit from discounts as soon as manufacturers successfully apply for their zero emission cars to be part of the grant scheme from 16 July 2025, with funding available until the 2028 to 2029 financial year.

With drivers citing upfront costs as a key barrier to adoption, the grant will narrow the upfront cost between petrol and electric vehicles, giving thousands more drivers access to savings of up to £1,500 a year in fuel and running costs compared to a petrol car. The discount means that zero emission cars are now cheaper to buy and run than ever before and comes on top of preferential tax rates, delivering real savings for working families.  

Owning and buying an electric vehicle (EV) is becoming cheaper, with 2 in 5 of used electric cars sold at under £20,000 and 34 brand new electric cars available from under £30,000.

‘Standing firmly on the side of British drivers’, this latest investment is part of the government’s major plan to support motorists, including a record £1.6 billion invested to tackle potholes and freezing the fuel duty at 5 pence until spring 2026, saving the average motorist £50 to £60 over the year.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “This EV grant will not only allow people to keep more of their hard-earned money – it’ll help our automotive sector seize one of the biggest opportunities of the 21st century.  

“And with over 82,000 public chargepoints now available across the UK, we’ve built the infrastructure families need to make the switch with confidence. 

“This is our Plan for Change in action. We’re backing British drivers, British jobs and British growth.”

This latest scheme builds on the government’s major £63 million package to support at home charging for households without driveways, transition NHS fleets to electric and create thousands of chargepoints at business depots across the country. 

In total, the government is investing £4.5 billion to turbocharge the switch to EVs, securing Britain’s position as a world-leader in electric vehicle adoption while helping put more money in people’s pockets. Today, the UK is already a global leader in the transition to zero emissions driving, with the largest EV market in Europe in 2024 and sales up a fifth on the previous year.

The latest update also comes as the UK hits over 82,000 public chargepoints nationwide – with one added every 30 minutes – giving peace of mind to drivers that they will be able to charge conveniently at home, work or on longer journeys.  

This latest move comes alongside the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, which requires manufacturers to sell increasing percentages of zero emission vehicles each year. Recent changes to the mandate give industry the certainty, stability and support they’ve been asking for, alongside crucial trade deals with the US, India and the European Union following the recent global economic headwinds.

Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, said: “Within weeks, discounted cars should start appearing at dealerships across the country. And, as the biggest savings will be given to cars with the strongest ‘green’ manufacturing credentials, drivers will be picking models that are not only better for their wallets, but better for the planet too.

“This is further welcome news following last week’s announcement about more funding for pavement gully charging solutions that will enable those without driveways to charge an EV at home. Together, these initiatives should mean more drivers than ever start benefitting from the lower costs of running an electric car.”

Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK, said: “This announcement is brilliant news – for drivers and for the UK’s transition to electric vehicles.

“With a commitment to invest £6 billion through to 2030, the UK’s charging industry has rolled out infrastructure ahead of demand to ensure that when drivers switch, the network is there to make charging as convenient as possible.

“There are now 82,000 public charge points and a new one goes in the ground every 29 minutes on average.

“Hot on the heels of the weekend’s announcement on measures to support charging, including meeting ChargeUK’s calls for improvements to signage on main roads, today’s package is another vital boost to the charging industry, helping it invest with confidence.”

Dan Caesar, CEO, Electric Vehicles UK, said:  “A targeted incentive program is a significant step forward in encouraging consumers to buy battery electric vehicles and to make them more accessible. While battery-only EVs are much cheaper to buy and run than most realise, surveys show that cost misperceptions are the primary reason for hesitance.

“A generous grant of this nature gives a new group of interested buyers, who might have thought that going electric was beyond them, a gentle nudge into what is great tech. More than 9 out of 10 battery EV drivers will never revert, and there’s a reason for that.”

John Lewis, CEO, char.gy, said: “It’s encouraging to see the government stepping up to support consumers in making the switch to electric vehicles. This move brings us closer to a future where driving electric is accessible to everyone – not just the privileged few.

“Combined with the introduction of the price cap and the additional funding for on-street charge points, we can get more affordable cars on the road and more people enjoying the benefits of EVs. The outcome will be cleaner air for all and more cash in the consumer’s wallet as they enjoy the long-term savings of driving electric.”

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Today’s announcement of the return of government support for the purchase of electric vehicles is a clear signal to consumers that now is the time to switch.

“Rapid deployment and availability of this grant over the next few years will help provide the momentum that is essential to take the EV market from just 1 in 4 today, to 4 in 5 by the end of the decade.

“This announcement is a welcome response to consistent calls from the industry for more support, which will be in addition to the substantive subsidies already provided by manufacturers.

“Taken with recent announcements regarding infrastructure investments and the Industrial Strategy, the UK has the opportunity to maintain its position as a leader in both the manufacture and sale of zero emission vehicles.”

100ml liquid rule lifted at Edinburgh Airport

The 100ml liquids rule for airport security has been lifted at Edinburgh Airport for the first time since it was introduced in 2006 following the installation of top-of-the-range security x-ray technology.

It means passengers will be able to keep liquids in their bags when going through security, and those liquid containers can now be up to two litres each.

Edinburgh Airport, now part of the VINCI Airports network, is the first airport in Scotland to lift the rule.

It comes after eight new X-rays were installed as part of a £24 million investment to transform the security process at Scotland’s busiest airport. Large electricals, such as tablets and laptops, can remain in bags, and liquids in containers up to two litres can now also be kept inside.

Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport said: “This is a big day for our passengers and the airport team – we are delighted to be able to lift this rule and really transform the whole security process, making it easier for everyone.

“A whole generation of travellers have only known the 100ml rule to be the case, so it really is a momentous day as we become the first airport in Scotland to lift the rule since it was introduced in 2006.

“The change allows more flexibility for passengers to take liquids through security, all while maintaining and improving our high safety levels through the use of 3D technology. But it is important that passengers continue to check with the situation at their return airport as not all airports will be moving away from 100ml just yet.”

George Street and First New Town project passes crucial milestone

‘We’re on our way to delivering a bold new vision for George Street and our city centre’

A full design for the George Street and First New Town project, has been approved by the Transport and Environment Committee.

The report discusses the completion of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stage 4 Technical Design. The progression of this stage has led to a revised overall cost estimate of £35.07m, representing a saving of over £4.3m on previous estimates.

The wider project was included to proceed under the City Mobility Plan Prioritisation programme in May 2025, following a rigorous assessment of feasibility.

The full design will contain the following features:

  • Plans for natural stone material throughout (including yorkstone slabs on the footway, re-laid traditional setts in the parking areas, whinstone kerbs and setts on the carriageway). 
  • Dwell zones with incorporated raised planters and seating.
  • Eight trees (four at the Charlotte Square end, four at the St Andrew Square end) along with low-level planting within a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SuDs), linking to the existing drainage system.  
  • Full suite of Hostile Vehicle Measures (HVM) at all junctions and associated utility diversions.

Under the current timeline, construction is due to begin in Autumn 2027 and take approximately two years with a further one-year defect period.   

The appropriate road orders will now be implemented before moving on to final budget confirmation and ultimately to RIBA Stage 4B (Tender) and securing of statutory consents. Final approval will then be sought to proceed to RIBA Stage 5 (Construction).

The full report is available to view on the city council website.

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “I’m really pleased that we’ve taken the decision today to move forward with the George Street and First New Town project. The project is rooted in making the area safer, more sustainable and accessible for all.

“This is a unique opportunity to bring one of Edinburgh’s most important streets into the modern world whilst still maintaining its unique history and features.

“The wider potential improvements are vast, from benefits to local residents and businesses to enhancing Edinburgh as a visitor destination, and beyond – we’re on our way to delivering a bold new vision for George Street and our city centre.

“Whilst we’re committed to this important project, we’re also committed to making broader improvements across the city for the benefit of all our residents.”

£1bn for renewal of broken bridges, ruined roads and tired tunnels

Chancellor spends £1 billion to enhance and repair run down transport infrastructure and futureproof England’s road network

Package also includes further £590 million to take forward the long-awaited Lower Thames Crossing, and follows record £15.6bn investment in city region transport announced ahead of the Spending Review.

Funding will ensure vital upgrades are made to tired bridges, flyovers and tunnels across Britain, supporting highly skilled job opportunities, delivering on the Plan for Change.

Drivers across the UK will benefit from major investments to improve vital road structures, alongside committing cash to finally deliver a new Thames Crossing, working with the private sector.

Across Great Britain, approximately 3,000 bridges are currently unable to support the heaviest vehicles, restricting access for agricultural and freight transport in regions, and slowing down journeys.

And nationally, the number of bridge collapses has also risen – a stark reminder of the need for urgent action to turn the tide on the decade of neglect.

The Structures Fund will inject cash into repairing run down bridges, decaying flyovers and worn out tunnels across Britain, and ensure other transport infrastructure is both more resilient to extreme weather events and to the demands of modern transport – making everyday journeys safer, smoother and more dependable.

The Government is also pledging a further £590 million to take forward the Lower Thames Crossing, the most significant road building project in a generation and a national priority- ending the painfully slow approach seen before.

The new crossing will cut frustrating congestion at Dartford, better linking up motorists and businesses in the Midlands and North with key ports in the South East, and spreading growth throughout the regions as outlined in the Plan for Change.

The Government will look to bring in private finance and expertise to support this major project.

These investments come as part of the new 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy, which will be published later this week, and sets out clear, achievable and robust vision for projects over the next decade of renewal.

This also comes swiftly after a record £15.6bn was announced at the Spending Review to enable local leaders to build long awaited projects like the Tyne and Wear Metro extension and the West Yorkshire Metro, and more investment to fund the TransPennine Route Upgrade and deliver East-West Rail.

The Government is also delivering direct funding to support growth across the UK – with funding for five new rail stations in South Wales, and financial backing for carbon capture storage in Aberdeenshire.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: “When it comes to investing in Britain’s renewal, we’re going all in by going up against the painful disruption of closed bridges, crossings and flyovers, and ensure they’re fit to serve working people for decades to come.

“Today’s investment also goes even further and faster to spread growth by providing critical funding to take forward the Lower Thames Crossing – not just boosting connectivity in the South East, but ensuring a smoother, less congested passage of vital goods from Europe to our regions.

“This is a turning point for our national infrastructure, and we’re backing it with funding to support thousands of jobs and connect communities, delivering on our Plan for Change.”

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “We’re finally getting on with the Lower Thames Crossing — a crucial project to drive economic growth, that has been stuck in planning limbo for far too long.

“This project is essential for improving the resilience of a key freight route and is critical to our long term trade with Europe. It will speed up the movement of goods from South East England to the Midlands and the North, crucial to thousands of jobs and businesses.

“Our structures fund will make long-overdue investments to repair ageing structures across the country, speeding up journeys, restoring pride and delivering our Plan for Change to boost the economy and support regional growth.”

Capital investment today will not only address these immediate risks over the next five years, but create skilled jobs in construction, engineering and maintenance, support vital regeneration in local areas by improving connectivity, and boost local economies by improving access to jobs, education and services.

The government will set out more detail about how funding will be allocated shortly. This funding is additional to the funding local authorities will receive for highways maintenance, which will be set out in due course.

Edinburgh marks a year of Low Emission Zone (LEZ) enforcement

NHS Lothian, and Asthma + Lung UK have praised the benefits of the LEZ, following a year of enforcement.

Experts at the NHS and a leading charity have highlighted the ongoing impact of the LEZ enforcement on air quality and health. In addition, the new rules have incentivised active travel and greater use of public transport.

A LEZ was introduced in Edinburgh on 31 May 2022, along with LEZs in Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee, restricting the most polluting vehicles and benefiting everyone’s health. Edinburgh began enforcement alongside Aberdeen on June 1, 2024. Dundee began enforcement on May 30, 2024, and Glasgow on June 1, 2023.

With Clean Air Day (19 June) just a few weeks away too this one-year anniversary is a timely reminder of the importance of the LEZ here in Edinburgh and beyond.

In recent years air quality in Edinburgh has improved, with our monitoring data showing reduced pollution levels, and people getting ready for the LEZ may have contributed to this.

Over the last year, the average amount of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued for non-compliant vehicles entering the zone has been decreasing steadily.

Between June 2024 and January 2025 alone the total number decreased by 56%. There is also evidence of lower numbers of second contraventions. The vast majority of vehicles entering the LEZ are compliant, over 95%. Around 3% of vehicles entering the LEZ are exempted classed.

The Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) has also published a study indicating that active travel and public transport use increased within the LEZ during the first six months after LEZ enforcement.

The first annual report on LEZ operation is expected to be presented to the Transport and Environment Committee later this year, including air quality trends and how the scheme contributes to our carbon reduction targets, as well as operational matters such as the number of PCNs issued, costs of maintaining and operating the scheme, gross and net revenue and other key issues.

The Council is working with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) on data collection and analysis of the LEZ and will present a report in the Scottish Parliament that will help inform the national picture of LEZ impact.

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson: “I’m proud that alongside Aberdeen, Dundee, and Glasgow we took the bold step of implementing and enforcing a LEZ. We’re sending a clear message that our major cities are united in pursuing a better future for all. Fundamentally, the LEZs are about making our cities healthier for everyone. 

“As Scotland’s capital city, we have a duty to lead on the response to the climate and nature emergencies which will define our country for generations to come. Multiple studies show that even low levels of pollution can have an impact on our health.

“Road traffic is one of the main sources of harmful emissions that are damaging people’s health and contributing to climate change, so we have a real responsibility to tackle this.

“The average decrease in PCNs here in Edinburgh show that people are getting used to the LEZ and modifying their habits accordingly. It’s also encouraging to see studies showing a positive shift towards greater use of active travel and public transport.

I look forward to seeing the annual report when it is considered by Committee.

“The LEZ is one important tool to help us achieve our ambitious climate goals, including net zero emissions by 2030.”

Flora Ogilvie, Consultant in Public Health, NHS Lothian said: “It’s great to know that the LEZ enforcement has been in place for a year, helping to improve air quality in the city and protect the health of our most vulnerable residents.

“Improving air quality and reducing traffic levels are also an important way of encouraging more people to travel by walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport.

“Travelling sustainably can help improve individual physical activity levels and mental wellbeing, as well as supporting better environmental health for the whole population and planet.”

Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland said: “We are pleased that Edinburgh along with Dundee and Aberdeen made the bold move a year ago to ban the most polluting cars from their city and it is a step in the right direction to help improve the air that we all breathe.

“With air pollution cutting short thousands of lives a year, we want to see our cities become far healthier places, where people can walk and cycle and not be forced to breathe in dirty air.

“With 1 in 5 people in Scotland developing a lung condition like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in their lifetime, for them, air pollution can trigger life-threatening asthma attacks and flare-ups.

“Children are more susceptible to air pollution as their lungs are still growing, and they also breathe faster than adults. As they grow, toxic air can stunt the growth of their lungs, making them less resilient into adulthood and placing them at greater risk of lung disease in the future.”

77% of all PCNs in the last year were served to light passenger vehicles (private cars) and 21% to light goods vehicles (panel vans) with the remaining 2% being divided among the other classes of vehicle. 62.4% of PCNs are paid within 14 days at the discounted rate.

The penalty charge structure for all of Scotland’s LEZs is set by the Scottish Government.

The city council publishes regular updates on PCN figures on their website.

Income from the LEZ will be used in the first instance to pay for the operation and maintenance of the scheme. Any surplus income will be contributed towards Council projects which contribute towards the wider goals of the LEZ, particularly improving air quality and climate change emission reduction.

All LEZ monitoring and evaluation information will be made available on our webpages.

Air pollution is associated with between 29,000 and 43,000 deaths a year in the UK.  The World Health Organization and the UK Government both recognise that air pollution is the largest environmental threat to our health.

Another key development is that the Low Emission Zone Support Fund has now resumed and is open to new applications. This is funded by Transport Scotland and administered by the Energy Saving Trust.

There are separate funds available for households, businesses and retrofitting vehicles.  All eligibility criteria and application details can be found on the Energy Saving Trust website

Speed limit cuts to be introduced across Edinburgh next month

From Monday June 9, the city council will begin implementing a series of speed reduction measures, from 40mph to 30mph, in locations across the city.

The new speed limit signs will be installed through June and July, beginning with Biggar Road. Once the new 30mph speed limit signs are in place, the new speed limits will be enforceable.

Motorists are being urged to look out for the new signage and respect the speed limit.

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “Road safety is a key priority for us and I’m glad that we’re moving ahead with this important process. Whilst this has taken longer than we initially anticipated, I’m confident that these measures will make many of our roads across the city safer.

“The evidence is clear – lower speed limits make roads safer for everyone. A pedestrian or cyclist has twice the chance of surviving a collision at 30mph compared to 40mph. Any action that we can take to make sure all road users are safer is a positive step.”

You can view a map of the roads with new 30mph speed limits on our website.

The full list of streets and road where the city council is installing new signage and reducing the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph is below:

  • Biggar Road
  • Calder Road
  • Frogston Brae
  • Glasgow Road (East section)
  • Glasgow Road (West section and Old Liston Road)
  • Gogar Station Road
  • Hawes Brae and Bankhead Road
  • Hillhouse Road
  • Lang Loan (section at the junction with Lasswade Road)
  • Lasswade Road
  • Milton Road, Milton Road East and Milton Link
  • Queensferry Road
  • Riccarton Mains Road
  • Sir Harry Lauder Road
  • Seafield Road
  • South Gyle Broadway
  • Straiton Road
  • West Approach Road
  • Wester Hailes Road

New dawn for rail as South Western services return to public hands

  • Watershed moment is the beginning of the end of 30 years of fragmentation, frustration and poor performance
  • Starting with SWR, publicly owned services will need to meet tough performance standards to be rebranded Great British Railways
  • Kicks off a ‘total reset’ of the railways to improve performance and win back public trust, boosting economic growth as part of the Plan for Change

A small piece of history has been made today (25th May) as South Western Railway (SWR) services become the first to transfer back into public control under the new legislation, ending almost 30 years of fragmentation and waste under privatisation.

Great British Railways won’t just be the name of the new nationally owned railway, it symbolises a complete reset that will mark the high standard of service and delivery the public should expect to receive.

Speaking from South Western Railway’s depot in Bournemouth, the Transport Secretary was clear that operators will have to earn the right to be called “Great British Railways”.

Starting with SWR, each operator will have to meet rigorous, bespoke performance standards on things like punctuality, cancellation and passenger experience, so we can rebuild a world class public service.

Two thirds of Britons have already expressed their support for public ownership, which will save the taxpayer up to £150 million a year in fees alone and ensure every penny can be spent for the benefit of passengers.

Public ownership is a vital first step in kickstarting the cultural reset needed to instil a sense of pride back into the railways, moving away from 14 siloed train operators, each with their own staff, incentives and competing commercial motivations. A new nationally owned body – Great British Railways – will manage track and train, with a sole focus of delivering for the public. As set out in the King’s Speech, we will introduce legislation to create Great British Railways this session.

By bringing track and train together Great British Railways will enable operations to run more seamlessly, bringing accountability and reliability back into the railways and in turn helping to reduce delays and cancellations. This will get more people using our trains to travel to work, education and for leisure – boosting both the national and regional economies as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.

Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said: “Today is a watershed moment in our work to return the railways to the service of passengers. Trains from Waterloo to Weymouth, Bournemouth and Exeter, will be run by the public, for the public.

“But I know that most users of the railway don’t spend much time thinking about who runs the trains – they just want them to work. That’s why operators will have to meet rigorous performance standards and earn the right to be called Great British Railways.

“We have a generational opportunity to restore national pride in our railways and I will not waste it.”

This follows the passing of the Public Ownership Act in November – one of the first major pieces of legislation to be delivered under the current Westminster Government – showing its commitment to putting an end to unreliable services and private profiteering at the expense of passengers.

All passenger services operating under contracts with the Department will return to public ownership by the end of 2027 and will eventually be integrated into Great British Railways. Services are being transferred after contracts reach the end of their minimum term, or where they can be ended early, ensuring taxpayers pay no additional costs for breaking contracts.

Lawrence Bowman, Managing Director of Southern Western Railway said: “I’m excited to join and lead the excellent team at South Western Railway, who come to work every day to deliver the best possible service for our customers, and moving into public ownership will make it easier for them to do so.

“My immediate priority is to work with colleagues to develop a plan for SWR, that will make the most of the new simpler industry processes to deliver improvements in reliability and an increase in capacity.

“Over the coming years I will focus on ensuring SWR moves into Great British Railways as a truly integrated industry-leading operation that delivers an excellent service to its passengers and the local communities we serve.”

Ben Plowden, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Today marks a turning point for Britain’s railways and it’s good to see the Government’s plans for reforming the railways continuing at pace.

“The creation of Great British Railways presents a once in a generation opportunity to change how the rail system works – structurally, financially and operationally – and put passengers and freight operators first.”

To commemorate this historic moment, the Secretary of State also unveiled a new coming soon logo on what will be the first publicly owned South Western Railway service to leave Waterloo at 06.14 today [Sunday 25 May], reiterating that our railways are coming back into the hands of the public.

Today [Sunday 25 May] digital screens at Waterloo will display the new ‘coming soon’ logo from 06.00 and a special Tannoy announcement celebrating the first publicly owned SWR service leaving the station. Displays at other SWR stations will also show the new ‘coming soon’ logo from today.

Scotland’s ScotRail service was re-nationalised on 1 April 2022.

Next stop: May half-term – train travel delivers over a £430m boost to local economies

This May half-term, families travelling by rail are set to contribute an estimated £191 million to the local area they depart from and over £240 million at their destination, boosting local microeconomies.

Those heading for seaside towns and villages could drive local spending of over £20 million across the entire May half-term.

Food and drink are the top spend in and around the departure station, with leisure passengers supporting local high streets and the hospitality industry when they travel.

Numbers of leisure travellers expected to jump by 9% in city destinations and leap by 1/3 in seaside towns during half-term week with rail passengers, giving a real boost to local economies.

This May half-term, when leisure travellers, families and friends opt to travel by rail, they will also be providing a significant economic boost to local communities across Great Britain. New data from Rail Delivery Group shows that rail travellers this May half-term will contribute an estimated £191 million to the local areas from which they depart and over £240 million at their destination.

When comparing the half-term week in May with surrounding weeks outside, numbers of leisure travellers are expected to jump by 9% in city destinations and increase by 1/3 in seaside towns with rail passengers, giving a real boost to local businesses.

Whether families are spending more time exploring new places, enjoying leisurely meals, or visiting seaside attractions during their holidays, every journey made during this half-term will contribute to local economies.

Just over half (58%) of all leisure travellers spend money in and around the departure station and the most common location to spend money is on the local high street (40% of leisure travellers) followed by inside the station (16%).

The data also found that passengers heading to seaside towns and villages are the most likely to spend money in and around their departure station (65%), followed by people travelling to non-coastal towns and villages (60%) and cities (58%) and with travellers to rural areas the least likely (49%).

Those families heading to the seaside are expected to make an even larger impact with an average spend of £34 in and around their departure station and £44 at their destination. This means that those travellers visiting seaside towns and villages could be contributing over £20 million throughout the entire half-term to their local high streets, independent businesses and beyond. Whether grabbing an ice cream, buying a book or enjoying a fresh batch of fish & chips, every journey will benefit the local economies.

Beyond the economic boost, choosing rail this May half-term has a real environmental impact. On average, a single train journey emits nearly five times less carbon emissions than the same trip by car—equivalent to saving as much carbon as boiling a kettle 455 times.

And compared with flying, domestic rail travel in Britain is up to 13 times greener. By choosing the train, half-term travellers can significantly reduce their carbon footprint while also supporting local communities across the country.

Jacqueline Starr, Executive Chair & Chief Executive Officer at Rail Delivery Group said: “May half-term is a great time for families to explore many wonderful towns and attractions across Britain.

“Our data shows that by choosing sustainable rail journeys, passengers not only reduce their carbon footprint but also play a vital role in supporting local communities.

“Whether it’s a seaside escape, exploring somewhere new, or visiting family, this half-term every trip is more than a journey; it’s a chance to support local high streets, independent businesses and further drive economic growth across the country.”

City Mobility Plan: Councillors agree ten-year prioritisation programme

An ‘ambitious’ prioritisation programme for projects under the City Mobility Plan (CMP), over the next decade, has been agreed by city councillors.

This programme effectively manages the resources we have, to continue to deliver on the city council’s CMP objectives to:

  • Reduce the volume of traffic going through the city.
  • Improve how we move around the city, with more options for sustainable travel, including prioritising public transport.
  • Provide safer conditions for walking, wheeling and cycling.
  • Reduce harmful emissions.
  • Provide better access to local facilities like shops, schools and outdoor spaces.
  • Improve community and public spaces.

The council says it has engaged extensively on the CMP and its objectives over the years with a range of stakeholders.

This reports also outlines the future decision-making process, with an annual update report covering any proposed changes.

Prioritisation was scored against 15 separate criteria points across three key areas: Objectives, Deliverability and Financial. Some examples include impact on road safety, public transport, inequality, and capital raising challenges.

Over 70 projects are set to be taken forward, including:

  • Walking, wheeling and cycling connection from the Meadows to the Union Canal, including better public space around the King’s Theatre.
  • Public transport and active travel route between West Shore Road and Waterfront Broadway, complementing the Granton redevelopment.
  • Major city centre projects, including a trial to reduce vehicle traffic on the Lawnmarket, Cowgate improvements, Meadows to George Street walking and cycling upgrade, and the transformation of George Street.

Over 50 projects are recommended to be paused, the vast majority of which are already on hold or not started. There are also around five projects which are set to be paused for this financial year only. Again, these are all either on hold or not started.

The full list of projects and their statuses can be found in the report on the city council’s website.

The report was approved with amendments from the Administration and the SNP group, along with an addendum from the Green group.

Transport and Environment Convener, Cllr Stephen Jenkinson said: “I’m really pleased that we’ve agreed this bold programme for our city. Prioritisation allows us to work smarter with the resources we have available – making sure we have a clear and achievable path to achieving our objectives.

“This programme follows the successes of major infrastructure projects such as Trams to Newhaven and active travel projects including the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL), Roseburn to Union Canal and Leith Connections.

“This is an extensive piece of work which allows the City Mobility Plan to be agile, and able to adapt in the future as necessary.

“However, one key element in this conversation is the fact that we remain dependent on external funding for many projects, particularly from the Scottish Government and by extension Transport Scotland.

“Complex projects which take years to plan and complete but which are subject to annual external funding decisions makes this situation inherently difficult, we need commitment and stability from the Scottish Government if we’re to deliver the changes which our city needs and deserves.

“We’ll now take forward these projects which will keep Edinburgh moving and make our city a safer, more sustainable and accessible place for all.”

Living Streets Edinburgh calls (again) for more investment in everyday walking

LIVING Streets Edinburgh wrote to city councillors prior to the meeting. The campaigners said: “We’re surprised, and very disappointed, to see no mention of some key initiatives which we were able to get included in the CMP delivery plan.

“Especially disappointing after the committee decided to freeze footway maintenance while increasing spending on roads, only last month.

“We’ve therefore sent councillors this message:

Dear Councillor

I’m writing in connection with the report on City Mobility Plan priorities, Item 7.5 on the TEC agenda for 22 May bit.ly/43ktlep  The recommendations do not adequately reflect the CMP’s ambition to effect “a transformational change in walking and wheeling in Edinburgh”.

Over two years ago, two new initiatives were introduced into the Active Travel component of the City Mobility Plan: ‘Action for Better Crossings” (ABC) and the “Edinburgh Accessible Streets Initiative” EASI). These programmes (both proposed by us) finally offered the prospect of a strategic, rather than piecemeal, approach to addressing some of the most fundamental problems with getting around the city as a pedestrian – for example:

  • the time that you have to wait for the green man at traffic lights,
  • the thousands of missing dropped kerbs on pavements,
  • narrow footways, 
  • pavement clutter, etc.

As we understand it, effectively nothing has been done yet to implement either initiative as a coherent programme. We had hoped that they would form a key part of this report. However, there is no mention whatsoever in the report of either ABC or EASI, despite Council having confirmed them as at the heart of CMP policy only last year (see attached).

Instead, some elements of ABC and EASI are simply noted as part of the ‘rolling programme’ in Appendix 4b. Paragraph 4.14 of the report states an expectation that these will be funded at “an overall level roughly equal to recent overall investment”. This isn’t good enough: there is no indication of how much money is budgeted for these schemes; certainly there has been no systematic investment at all in recent years in widening footways. Many of the other aspects like the pedestrian crossing programme and the crucial school streets reviews have huge backlogs owing to lack of resourcing.

These vital programmes need to be considered alongside, and on the same level playing field, as the active travel and public transport listed in Appendix 1. 

Councillors should be able to consider whether investment in school streets, road safety, ABC or EASI is more or less worthy than these projects, whether they be George Street, Hawthornvale-Salamander Street, the Lindsey Bridge or Dalry 20 Minute Neighbourhood.

Otherwise the opportunity to consider where best to invest both staff time and capital funding is lost and a ‘silo’ approach is entrenched.

We also have serious concerns with the overly-complex methodology for assessing projects in Appendix 1. It gives no weighting to walking and wheeling (“top of the travel hierarchy”) and doesn’t sufficiently value schemes relatively modest but important to pedestrians such as Calton Road and the Causey.

These projects fail to score highly enough only because work on them has already been “paused’ for years.

However, the fundamental weakness of the report is to take too narrow an approach to evaluating a limited set of projects. We would therefore like to see the report deferred perhaps for two cycles, and a new report brought forward with a more strategic approach to future investment, including the programmes mentioned above.

David Hunter – Convener