Local Transport Today is the authoritative, independent journal for transport decision makers. Analysis, Comment & News on Transport Policy, Planning, Finance and Delivery since 1989.

‘Dishonest’ briefing claim as row over West Yorks rapid transit plans continues
Peter Stonham and Chris Ames

The row over an “independent peer review” that put the £2.5bn West Yorkshire mass transit project back by years has escalated, with an allegation from a senior councillor that the public portrayal of the secret report... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

TfL sets out major plans as court unblocks ticketing contract

Transport for London has secured court approval to go ahead with its major new ticketing and revenue management renewal, despite an ongoing dispute with previous supplier Cubic. It comes as TfL has published a wide-ranging new business plan for its activities over the next five years. The plan... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News
National Highways chief leaves amidst speculation on loss of board support leadership

National Highways chief leaves amidst speculation on loss of board support leadership
Chris Ames

In a surprise announcement, Nick Harris has said he will step down very shortly as... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

No decision on ending Shadow GBR as Chair recruitment begins
Rhodri Clark

 The DfT expects to have the first Chair of Great British Railways in post within months, but has not yet decided what to do with its Shadow GBR activity. Both have remits to bring together Network Rail and train operators in preparation for GBR’s launch next year. Applications for Chair... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

Senior DfT rail leader based in devolved Scotland

The DfT has published a spreadsheet which shows Alex Hynes, Chief Executive of DfT Operator Ltd, being based in Scotland. The spreadsheet, accompanying the latest update to the DfT’s organisation chart (LTT930), lists Hynes as a Director General, with his “office region” as... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

Mayoral rail plans may buck nationalisation as West Midlands Trains joins public sector
Rhodri Clark

West Midlands Trains was renationalised this week as the latest step in the Labour Government’s rail reform programme, but uncertainty is growing over the future private or public status of some local rail services in two areas with Labour mayors. One service could even be returned to private... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

Plan to move East West Rail back into Network Rail

The special purpose company set up to develop the East West Rail project looks set to be incorporated into Network Rail, following the Government’s review of arm’s length bodies. The Conservative Government announced in 2016 that delivery of design, construction and operation of the... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

Marsden seeks new DfT data release on its assumptions for decarbonisation
Peter Stonham

Professor Greg Marsden is on a new quest to obtain information from the Department for Transport related to the government’s Carbon Budget Growth Delivery Plan published late October last year. He wants the Department to report the areas it has supplied data and analysis for with respect to... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

Four Nations’ Ministers discuss electric HGVs as contribution to decarbonisation in freight

The Channel Tunnel has been used for the first time by an electric Heavy Goods Vehicle carrying freight. The innovation followed a meeting where transport ministers from the UK’s four nations discussed decarbonising HGVs and other Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDVs). Last week the Government issued a... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

‘Use franchising options flexibly’ DfT urges LTAs in detailed new guidance
Peter Stonham

The Department for Transport has published new detailed guidance explaining how local transport authorities in England can establish a franchising scheme for bus services in line with the new Bus Services Act 2025. It comes with an accompanying bus franchising manual. The 54 page guidance outlines... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

Follow West Mids ‘Project Coral’ pilot of integrated ticketing, LTAs told

Integrated ticketing plays an important role in improving passenger experience and supporting the delivery of a successful franchise or enhanced partnership says the DfT guidance, but it warns Transport Authorities not to try to set up their own schemes but adopt a project being developed with its... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

DfT Enhanced Partnerships review links future performance standards to grant funding
Peter Stonham

New minimum standards for Enhanced Partnerships (EPs) will be a condition of future bus grant funding, the Department for Transport says in a new Review of Enhanced Partnership performance to date, seeking to identify the characteristics that deliver best results. To promote transparency and... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

‘Start with DRT’ and 'shared risk’ among new franchising models suggested

A set of five flexible franchising options is given in the new DfT franchising guidance, including a ‘grow it out’ model as an example of a partial franchise model, which “could be a pragmatic route for authorities looking to build franchising capacity gradually, starting from a... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

Go-Ahead and Stagecoach win first Liverpool bus franchise contracts
Peter Stonham

Go-Ahead and Stagecoach have won the first bus franchise contracts to be awarded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) . Go-Ahead Group will run services in Wirral , and Stagecoach in St Helens. Both will start in the autumn Commencement of the contracts will begin a staged... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

West Midlands shapes fleet strategy under franchising

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is planning a rolling new bus procurement programme of around 90 vehicles per year once franchising in the region is in place from 2027. It aims to see the fleet for large contracts fully electrified by 2036, A report to the WMCA Board recognised the... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

FirstGroup moves in with Hills Coaches buy

FirstGroup has established a foothold in the West Midlands as franchising approaches with the purchase of Hills Coaches of Wolverhampton. It also marks a further expansion of First in the coach market. The deal brings 22 coaches and 40 staff based at a depot in the city where bus franchising is to... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

Welsh bus Act gets Royal Assent as TfW warns of process delay

The Bus Services (Wales) Act has received Royal Assent, though Transport for Wales warned of possible delay to starting the bus franchising process. The new Act goes further than equivalent legislation for England and Scotland in making future ministers responsible for providing all bus services... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

New moves on cycling, streets and micromobility

On cycling, the strategy says this “has significantly increased over recent years thanks to sustained investment in cycling infrastructure which has delivered more than 430km of high-quality cycle routes”, but it wants to build on this momentum. “Throughout the plan, investment in... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

£72bn investment and in-house bus operations in TfL’s five year plan
Peter Stonham

TfL’s new draft five year business plan focuses on a £72bn investment to modernize London’s network, targeting growth, financial sustainability, and reducing congestion. Key initiatives include expanding the DLR to Beckton Riverside/Thamesmead, new Piccadilly and DLR trains,... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

TfL 5-year highway and traffic plan aims to cut congestion and boost bus speeds
Peter Stonham

Transport for London ‘s new first-ever London network-wide strategy spanning all of London’s highway network pledges to cut overall traffic congestion and speed up bus services in the five years up to 2030. The London on the move plan outlines aims to roll out new technology, bus... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

Judge clears TfL to award new ticketing and revenue contract, but dispute goes on
Peter Stonham

The new seven-year contract from Transport for London for Indra Group to take over the Oyster and Contactless travel payment and authorisation system has now formally been placed, after a judged lifted a ban on that happening. Signing has been held up several months by a dispute between TfL and... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

What is the issue between TfL and Cubic?

At the court hearing granting TfL’s application to lift the automatic suspension it emerged that Cubic was disqualified in the bidding because it failed a specific TfL “pass-fail” technical requirement at the final tender stage. It continues to seek substantial damages for losing... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

TfL review errors prompt further controversy

TfL has been forced to withdraw its own Bus Stop Bypass Safety Review for a second time, it has been reported Previously the 2024 report had to be corrected because TfL had apparently undercounted the injuries at the stops by 30%.after admitting that data from 37 out of 121 bus stops was included... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

DfT floating bus stop guidance gets frosty reception from campaign groups
Peter Stonham

New Department for Transport (DfT) statutory guidance aims to improve the safety and accessibility of floating bus stops for all users, DfT says. On 20 November the Minister for Roads Simon Lightwood wrote to all local authorities in England asking them to pause the installation of floating bus... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

Transport Committee calls for DfT action on skills for transport manufacturing
Peter Stonham

A new House of Commons Transport Committee report has urged the Government to make the most of what it calls “once-in-a-generation opportunities to better support the transport manufacturing sector to nurture and grow the skills it needs to thrive.” Following its Inquiry into Skills for... continue

10 Feb 2026Local Transport Today News

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