We would like to raise awareness that, during the Christmas period, there are ongoing consultations that are worth taking part in.
Integrated National Transport Strategy: a call for ideas
Published: 28 November 2024
Call for evidence description
The Department for Transport is developing a strategy which will set the high-level direction for how transport should be designed, built and operated in England over the next 10 years.
It will set out a single national vision which will put people who use transport and their needs at its heart and empower local leaders to deliver integrated transport solutions that meet the needs of their local communities.
To help us create the strategy, we are now asking people:
• about their experience of transport in England
• what we could do to make it better
We want to hear from:
• people who use any form of transport, including cars, vans, motorbikes, mopeds, trains, underground, metro, trams, buses, minibuses, coaches, bikes, e-bikes, walking or wheeling
• frontline transport workers – people who work in the transport industry
• companies and organisations that operate in the transport sector
Responses to this call for ideas will be considered in the drafting of the Integrated National Transport Strategy.
This call for evidence closes at
11:59pm on 30 January 2025
Link to consultation
Call for evidence: Review of train operators’ revenue protection policies
Office of Rail and Road
Date of publication: 16 December 2024
We are carrying out an independent review of train operators’ revenue protection practices, including the use of penalty fares and prosecutions.
We'd like to hear from you if, for whatever reason, you boarded a train without a ticket, or with an invalid ticket, and as a result you:
• were required to buy a new ticket for your journey or pay an additional fare
• were required to pay a penalty fare, which included the cost of a new ticket
• faced prosecution by the train operator
• faced another action by the train operator
You should be aged 16 years or over to take part.
Closing date: 17 January 2025
Link to consultation
Buses connecting communities
UK Parliament Transport Committee
Call for Evidence
Inquiry
In many parts of the country, bus services and passenger numbers are in decline. The Transport Committee will examine the role of buses in connecting rural communities with nearby towns and suburban areas.
The inquiry will evaluate the effectiveness of recent Government policy in tackling the decline in bus services. It will explore the social and economic consequences of poor connectivity and consider whether innovations in alternative service models could provide solutions. The Committee will also scrutinise how the Government’s proposed bus reforms address the particular challenges faced by rural areas and local authorities outside of major cities.
Terms of Reference
a. How the Government’s proposed reforms of powers over buses in England, and recently-announced funding, should take into account the particular challenges of rural areas and local authorities outside major cities, and how authorities in these areas can make best use of those powers and funding.
b. The effectiveness of recent Government policy in tackling declines in bus services.
c. How effectively bus services function as part of integrated multi-modal networks that improve mobility for people who live in areas with declining services.
d. The social and economic impacts of poor connectivity on access to education, healthcare, employment, and social inclusion in communities, as well as on the economy of towns and villages.
e. The effectiveness of current funding models and governance structures in enabling local transport authorities and commercial operators to improve, sustain and keep bus services outside major metropolitan areas affordable, and the potential effectiveness of alternatives.
f. Evaluating the potential of alternative service models, including Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) and community transport, and other innovations or technologies which could support or replace buses serving less populated communities, and what steps the Government should take to support them.
g. How successful Enhanced Partnerships (EPs) have been so far in improving bus services outside major urban areas, whether franchising is likely to provide a better framework for these areas, and whether there are alternative models worth exploring.
h. How well policy, funding and oversight of bus services allow services that straddle rural and non-rural areas, and local government boundaries, to be managed.
You can submit evidence until Friday 17 January 2025.
Link to consultation
The Mayor’s Budget for 2025-26
What does the Budget pay for?
The Mayor’s Budget sets out the Mayor of London’s financial plan to deliver his priorities.
The Budget funds the Greater London Authority (GLA), the London Assembly and the GLA Group. The GLA Group includes:
• Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (oversees the work of the London Metropolitan police)
• Transport for London
• London Fire Commissioner
• London Legacy Development Corporation (leads on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park)
• Old Oak & Royal Park Development Corporation (leads on the regeneration of the Old Oak Opportunity area)
Council tax
The Budget also determines how much Londoners will pay for the Mayor’s part of the council tax collected by local authorities. The Mayor’s part of the council tax (called a ‘precept’) helps pay for services provided by City Hall and the GLA Group.
The Government has not yet announced the provisional police, fire and local government settlements for London. This means that the Mayor’s proposals on council tax will not be set out until January 2025.
The survey will close on Friday 03 January 2025.
Link to consultation
Transport for London has two ongoing consultations: one regarding proposed changes at the junction of Great Eastern Street and Curtain Road in Shoreditch, with a deadline of 10 February 2025, and another with an extended deadline for proposed changes to bus routes 30 and 205, now running until 10 January 2025.
Why It Is Important to Take Part in These Consultations
Participation in these consultations is crucial as it provides an opportunity for individuals to contribute to the development of key transport policies and strategies that will impact transport services across the UK. Your insights and experiences help ensure that transport solutions are not only practical but also inclusive, addressing the needs of diverse communities. By engaging in these consultations, you can play an active role in shaping policies that aim to improve accessibility, affordability, and the overall quality of transport services. Your feedback could influence decisions on national transport strategies, fare policies, bus services, and much more.
It is essential that a wide range of voices are heard to ensure that transport policies are effective, equitable, and responsive to the needs of all communities.
We encourage you not to leave it too late, as missing the deadlines could mean missing out on the opportunity to have your say.
You are also welcome to use the information provided here, including suggestions from my previous articles and posts on social media, to support your contributions to these consultations.
I would like to extend an invite for you to follow me on X (formerly Twitter) for transport-related updates. You can find me by searching for @CLondoner92 or by clicking on the direct link to my X page here. I am also present on BlueSky and Mastodon. I look forward to connecting with you on these platforms. Thank you for your support.
