The UK Government has announced further integration for transport services in England, featuring expanded tap-and-go travel, stronger service coordination, and a partnership with Google Maps to provide live coverage of buses.
From the Department for Transport press release:
• More contactless, tap-and-go travel, a step closer as Government gives local leaders tools to join up buses, trams and trains.
• Millions of passengers across England will benefit from simpler, more affordable and more joined-up journeys under a new national transport strategy launched today.
• Other measures include a new Google Maps partnership to track rural buses, ‘Mini-Switzerland’ Peak District trials and a Parking Platform to end car app chaos.
Tap-and-go travel across buses, trains, and trams will benefit more cities and towns across England after the Government announced more local powers for contactless travel today (Thursday, 2nd April).
Local leaders are being given the tools to replicate joined-up systems already in place in areas like Liverpool, London and Nottingham, where passengers travel seamlessly across the city on different transport while tapping their bank card as payment – without juggling multiple tickets or apps.
It is one of more than 40 fully funded commitments in the new Better Connected national transport strategy, designed to make everyday journeys simpler, easier to pay for and more reliable from door to door.
Huge steps have already been taken to make people's everyday journeys more affordable, including the rail fare freeze, the bus fare cap, and freezing fuel duty. Giving people genuine choice over how they travel and making these options more affordable is at the core of this strategy. By providing local leaders with more flexibility, control and long-term funding certainty, they can design more joined-up networks that deliver better value for money, helping to keep fares down and support the cost of living.
The strategy also announces a breakthrough new partnership with Google, allowing passengers across England to track their bus in real time through Google Maps. The service will be especially useful for passengers in rural areas where bus services are less frequent.
It’s not just for England; Bus Times provides coverage for the entire UK and Ireland. https://t.co/fSwjOrc4Xe pic.twitter.com/PLcAHFmA4c
— CLondoner92 (@CLondoner92) April 1, 2026
Drivers will also benefit from the expansion of the National Parking Platform, allowing them to use any parking app across participating car parks, ending the frustrating experience of having to download a different app each time.
Better Connected also announces a ‘Mini Switzerland’ pilot in the Peak District’s Hope Valley, backed by £6 million of Government funding. Taking its name from best practice in European rural areas, the trial will test more frequent, reliable rural bus services timed to connect with arriving trains to support local communities and tourism.
While local leaders will continue to decide whether to invest in contactless, tap-and-go travel, the Government has made it easier than ever by providing back-end technical support and long-term funding to bring it to their towns and cities.
Gold standard examples like Nottingham and Derby’s Ride app, part-funded by Government, show what is possible when local leaders are backed to improve local transport. The app allows passengers to plan and pay for journeys on buses and trams, as well as shared transport services, including car clubs, e-scooters and e-bikes – all in one place.
To help local areas go further, the Government is also launching £40 million in new funding for local authorities to trial digital technologies to improve transport, reduce congestion and ease disruption.
Alongside these new features, the Government is also publishing new Local Transport Plan guidance giving local leaders clear blueprints for building joined-up transport, making the most of their funding and boosting local growth.
Better Connected comes alongside major action on transport across the country, from the creation of Great British Railways, record investment to fix local roads, to faster rollout of EV chargepoints and support for major infrastructure projects that will improve connections and drive growth. Together, this sets the direction for a more joined-up transport network that works better for passengers, drivers and communities across England.
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Personal Commentary and Suggestions
🏴📔🚍🚆🚈🚇 The UK Government’s new transport strategy will expand tap-and-go travel, improve real-time bus tracking via Google Maps and simplify parking payments. Backed by funding and new powers, it aims to deliver cheaper, better connected journeys across England nationwide for passengers.
— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) April 2, 2026 at 10:12 AM
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This is some of the best news I have seen from the UK Government regarding public transport in England. As transport responsibilities for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are devolved, they have their own strategies in place. There are many ideas in this plan that will make public transport more attractive and accessible.
The use of contactless payment cards has evolved rapidly on local buses. While it began with smartcards, the transition to contactless has significantly improved boarding times at bus stops.
While transport services in Northern Ireland already utilise contactless payment cards, progress in the Republic of Ireland is still ongoing as part of the Next Generation Ticketing programme.
The UK Department for Transport data shows contactless payments are on 95.8% of British buses, up from 38% in 2017. London leads at 99.3%, but Wales and Scotland have seen the fastest growth, both now exceeding 94%. The shift aims to improve boarding and journey reliability.
— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) December 22, 2025 at 1:09 PM
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Reflecting on 2022, when Transport for London (TfL) proposed to withdraw the Travelcard Agreement and the paper Travelcard (which has thankfully been retained), I suggested that TfL and the Government should include services for areas outside of London. This would make travel simpler and more affordable without the need for multiple tickets. I also advocate for the retention of the Travelcard scheme as an alternative to Pay-As-You-Go, and have published an article supporting the continued use of paper tickets for those who are digitally excluded or awaiting replacement cards.
One element missing from this strategy is the wider implementation of dual-door buses. These are standard in London, and it is vital for high-frequency routes throughout the UK to adopt them. Combined with tap-and-go payments, dual doors significantly improve boarding and alighting times.
I have also suggested that triple doors should be used for the busiest high-frequency services and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes. It is also time for a new common bus specification for London and elsewhere—particularly in franchised areas—to improve accessibility. This should include dual or triple doors and the provision of two wheelchair spaces as standard.
Most importantly, there should be more cross-boundary bus services, especially for areas surrounding Greater London, by re-establishing the London Passenger Transport Area.
As technology evolves fast, in the future, we could see full self-driving buses on the road, but likely with a driver retained for safety and accessibility reasons, which is also part of TfL’s Bus Safety Standards. This is also why I recently posted an article on whether driverless Tube trains would actually avert strikes.
Overall, the "Better Connected" strategy is a significant step towards a truly integrated and user-friendly transport network. By combining modern payment technologies, real-time data, and empowered local leadership, these reforms have the potential to make public transport a much more attractive and reliable choice for everyone. While there are still opportunities to further improve efficiency through vehicle design and inclusive ticketing, the direction of travel is a positive one for passengers across the country.
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.
Further reading
Public transport is now more essential in this current geopolitical situation
The Mayor of London unveils 2026 TfL fares package, with certain fares and Travelcards frozen
UK Budget 2025: Rail Fares Frozen and £3 Bus Cap Retained, While Ireland Separately Announces €24.3bn Transport Plan
Suggestion: I Believe It’s Time for a New Regional Transport Body for the South East of England?