High-quality public transport is essential to building sustainable communities and
the local and national economy. Britain needs better transport infrastructure, a
modern railway system run for the benefit of its customers, and less congestion
and pollution on the roads. We also need to ensure that local communities,
particularly rural communities, remain connected with local rail and bus services,
and that stations serve the needs of their local community. To build a transport
system fit for the 21st century, we will:
● Ensure that new rail franchises include a stronger focus on customers,
including a programme of investment in new stations, lines and modern trains.
● We will allow public sector bodies and mutual groups involving staff and
passengers to bid for franchises. We will continue the Access for All
programme, improving disabled access to public transport as a key priority.
● As a result of severe failings that rise to the level of breach of contract,
establish government-run companies to take over the running of Southern
Rail and Govia Thameslink, with a long-term plan to find more effective and
sustainable ways of managing these franchises involving greater powers for
local government.
● Pursue the electrification of the rail network, improve stations, reopen smaller stations, restore twin-track lines to major routes and proceed with HS2, HS3
and Crossrail 2, including development of a high-speed network stretching
to Scotland.
● Invest capital in major transport improvements and infrastructure. We will:
- Shift more freight from road to rail.
- Deliver the Transport for the North strategy to promote growth, innovation
and prosperity across northern England.
- Develop more modern, resilient links to and within the south-west
peninsula to help develop and diversify the regional economy.
- Complete East West Rail, connecting Oxford and Cambridge and catalysing
major new housing development.
- Ensure Londons transport infrastructure is improved to withstand the
pressure of population and economic growth.
- Support the takeover of metro services in London by London Overground.
- Encourage the swift take-up of electric and driverless vehicles.
● Develop a strategic airports policy for the whole of the UK, taking full account
of the impacts on climate change and local pollution. We remain opposed to
any expansion of Heathrow, Stansted or Gatwick and any new airport in the
Thames Estuary and will focus instead on improving existing regional airports
such as Birmingham and Manchester. We will ensure no net increase in
runways across the UK.
To protect and extend local public transport, we will:
● Introduce a rail ombudsman to enforce passenger rights and improve the
provision of compensation, with the power to sanction rail companies as
appropriate.
● Introduce a new Young Persons Bus Discount Card, for young people aged
1621, giving a two-thirds discount on bus travel allowing young people to
access education, apprenticeships and work.
● Halt the decline in bus services and carry out a review of bus funding and bus
policies. We will give principal local authorities the power to run, commission
and regulate the bus network in their area.
● Provide local authorities and communities with the powers to improve
transport and ticketing with the ability to introduce network-wide and smart
ticketing systems.
● Design towns and cities as safe and attractive walking spaces and implement the recommendations of the Get Britain Cycling report.
