Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve regional public transport connectivity.

The ‘Better Connected’ strategy sets out this government’s long-term vision for making transport work well for more people across England, recognising that passengers want simple, reliable and joined-up journeys and recognising the role of local leaders in delivering transport networks that meet the neds of their communities.

The department is also giving greater flexibility to local areas by providing £21bn of consolidated local transport funding over the spending review period to all local transport authorities, so they can make the strategic decisions that best impact their local areas. Government continues to provide significant investment for major transport projects to improve regional connectivity, including £11bn to upgrade the route between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York, laying the foundations for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

We are improving public transport connectivity by implementing the Bus Services Act 2025 which gives local leaders greater powers to determine how bus services are planned and delivered in their areas, alongside funding to support them and bus operators to improve bus services, helping local areas deliver more frequent, reliable and better integrated public transport networks.

On rail, the Railways Bill underpins the move towards a more locally focused railway, creating the statutory basis for structured partnerships with mayors to enable collaboration on local rail and wider transport priorities. This will mean that mayors are able to clearly outline the passenger service needs for their area and improve integration with other modes.

We have also published new Local Transport Plan guidance which requires local transport authorities to consider integrated ticketing and wider network connectivity when planning local services.