Growing public transport patronage and/or mode shift, and customer satisfaction ratings.
Improved public health through increased active travel infrastructure and networks, the use of decarbonised fleets (e.g. electric buses and authority-owned service vehicles ), road fatality statistics.
The approaches being utilised to attract people back to local transport and ensure accessible and affordable travel is available for all.
Examples of innovation and joined-up thinking regarding land-use, planning, housing, economic development etc.
Previous Winners:
2023: Transport for West Midlands
2019: West Midlands Combined Authority – Transport for West Midlands
2018: Transport for Greater Manchester
2017: Transport for West Midlands
2016: Centro (West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority)
Aberdeenshire Council
Aberdeenshire is advancing its ambitious 2018 Integrated Travel Town (ITT) masterplan with the delivery of five additional ITT towns in 2024. These towns have experienced an increase in walking to school, with an average rise of 11% observed across nine specific schools that demonstrated a modal shift. The implementation of ‘Strategic Active Travel Routes’ has facilitated the design and early delivery of key routes connecting major towns to Aberdeen, including Ellon, Inverurie, and Portlethen.
Cycling to school has also seen notable improvements in all Aberdeenshire ITTs. For the 13 specific schools that exhibited a modal shift, there was an overall average increase of 12% in cycling activity. Furthermore, a reduction in car use for school travel has been recorded in Ellon, Inverurie, Portlethen, and Fraserburgh ITT, encompassing six schools, with an average reduction of almost 20%.
Aberdeenshire is collaborating with RTP partners NESTRANS to establish its future active travel ambitions and to identify key corridor routes where small-scale interventions can enhance rural route access. The authority is also capitalising on the uptake of electric bikes, having initiated what may be Scotland's first unmanned rural E-Bike hire scheme, with a second expansion project set to launch in summer 2025. Currently, 40 bikes are available for hire, with an additional 24 expected in 2024.
Additionally, 22 communities now have access to customised community maps, complemented by 19 treasure trails, with six more planned for launch in 2024. The Bothy project, run in partnership with Cycling UK, has engaged nearly 2,000 participants and facilitated over 200 cycle-related events in the past two years.
Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS)
HITRANS, officially recognised as the statutory Regional Transport Partnership (RTP) for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, has recently assumed responsibility for the operation of HI-Bike, establishing itself as the only public authority in the UK to manage an on-street e-bike hire system in-house. The initiative currently offers 108 e-bikes across Inverness and Fort William. Since HITRANS took over the scheme, monthly pass purchases have nearly doubled, maintaining low costs to ensure equitable access, with users paying £1.55 per week for an annual pass that provides unlimited rides and 24-hour service. Since its launch in October 2021, HI-Bike journeys have totalled 250,000 kilometres. In addition, HITRANS has introduced an e-cargo bike hire scheme for businesses.
In the realm of Mobility as a Service (MaaS), HITRANS has launched the Go-Hi app, the largest platform of its kind in the UK. This app facilitates users in planning, booking, and paying for mobility options across numerous transport providers, marking the first integration of ferry travel alongside bus, micro-mobility, air, rail, car club, and hotel bookings. In collaboration with Motability, the app has provided mobility credits and tested user incentivisation with Betterpoints.
HITRANS has also rolled out the Moove Flexi service, a regional digital demand-responsive transport solution enabling real-time booking that links with existing fixed bus services. The authority introduced e-mobility hubs in 2023 and trialled Scotland's first autonomous bus service during 2022/23. Additionally, HITRANS is leading the development and coordination of electric vehicle infrastructure projects across four local authority areas. As part of its aviation initiatives, HITRANS is the Lead Partner in the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment, the UK’s inaugural low carbon aviation test centre, supported by a consortium of 15 members and a budget of approximately £15 million from the UKRI Future Flight Challenge. Currently, HITRANS is drafting a new Regional Transport Strategy, outlining a 20-year vision for transport improvements throughout the region.
Transport for Greater Manchester
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is developing the Bee Network, a comprehensive and affordable transport system aimed at integrating various modes of transport. A key milestone in this initiative was the transition of the city region's buses to local public control in September 2023, utilising the Bus Services Act 2017. This marked the first instance of such a transition in the UK. Franchised services commenced in Bolton, Wigan, and parts of Bury, Salford, and Manchester, with further expansions to Oldham, Rochdale, and additional areas. By January 2025, all buses within Greater Manchester will operate under this franchising model.
The shift to franchised services has yielded improvements in reliability and punctuality; from 1st January to 30th April 2024, 73% of Bee Network buses operated on time, compared to 67% of commercial services during the same timeframe the previous year. The introduction of AnyBus, which offers joint bus and tram tickets at 20% lower fares, has further enhanced accessibility, maintaining single fares at £2. The network has seen the addition of 96 new electric buses and the electrification of two bus depots. By March 2024, the 50 electric buses introduced in September 2023 had collectively travelled 925,000 miles, resulting in a reduction of 1,000 tonnes of CO2e.
User engagement has increased, with an average weekday patronage of 131,095 from 5 to 18 November, rising to 141,253 between 21 April and 4 May 2024. TfGM has launched a new customer contact centre, website, and app, which has been downloaded 315,000 times, facilitating over 1.6 million journeys. Since its implementation, over 13,000 users have provided feedback through the app, enabling TfGM to make informed improvements.
In rail and light rail developments, TfGM opened the Stockport Interchange and successfully restored Metrolink patronage to pre-COVID levels, with 3.8 million passengers travelling on trams between April 2024 and February 2024 - surpassing figures from 2019. A 2023 survey indicated overall passenger satisfaction with Metrolink at 91%. Fare evasion has decreased significantly, falling from 16% in July 2023 to 10% in January 2024, attributed to the introduction of Travelsafe Enforcement Officers.
Since 2020, TfGM has delivered over 109km of new walking and cycling routes, including upgraded junctions and crossings. The Starling Bank Bikes hire scheme has provided approximately 200,000 residents with access to bicycles, boasting more than 76,000 active users who have completed over 650,000 rides, covering 1.6 million kilometres. This sponsorship represents the largest commercial partnership secured in TfGM's history.
Transport for West Midlands
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) operates the largest bus network in the UK, comprising approximately 2,000 vehicles and facilitating around 211 million passenger journeys annually. From April 2023 to March 2024, over 230 million bus journeys were recorded, alongside more than 200,000 passenger journeys on the Ring and Ride demand travel service, an increase from 160,000 the previous year. The bus network currently operates at 88% of pre-COVID levels, the highest rate of any region in the UK.
TfWM has streamlined its bus ticketing system, simplifying the purchasing and usage process for residents, resulting in nearly 55 million journeys during July, August, and September 2023—5 million more than in the same period in 2022. Local Travel Points have been introduced, enhancing access to greener travel options. As part of its Bus Service Improvement Partnership, TfWM has implemented a £19 million "try-before-you-buy" ticket initiative aimed at introducing disadvantaged community members, including refugees and neurodivergent individuals, to bus travel. Additionally, 'Let’s Chat' Hubs have been established in bus stations, serving as community drop-in centres that connect individuals experiencing loneliness with support services.
In rail and light rail developments, TfWM opened the new University Railway Station in January 2024, significantly increasing capacity from 500,000 to 7.2 million passenger journeys per year, providing vital connections to the University of Birmingham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The ongoing £24 million transformation of Dudley Interchange supports the broader regeneration of Dudley town centre. Rail patronage remains stable post-COVID, with over 55 million journeys recorded in 2023/2024. Tram journeys rose to 8.2 million in 2023/2024, compared to 5.35 million in 2022/2023.
In road transport, TfWM launched a drone network in May 2023 to monitor and manage traffic congestion across the region. A refreshed Regional Road Safety Strategy has been initiated, aimed at achieving Vision Zero, a long-term goal to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on the roads. The Operation Triton initiative, in partnership with West Midlands Police, has increased enforcement operations across the region. Consequently, road fatalities decreased from 57 in 2022 to 51 in 2023, reflecting a 10.5% year-on-year improvement. Specific average speed enforcement locations have seen a reduction of 12 mph in average vehicle speeds, thereby reducing risks for all road users.
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
In October 2023, the new station at Headbolt Lane commenced operations, welcoming passengers to both Merseyrail and Northern rail services. This interchange connects to the local bus network and features a secure cycle parking facility with capacity for 100 cycles, alongside dedicated cycle lanes providing access from the highway. The station is notable for being served by the first fully electric battery-powered trains in passenger service on the UK rail network, placing the Liverpool City Region (LCR) at the forefront of this emerging technology.
Social value initiatives linked to the station project included the Career Carousel event held at nearby All Saints Catholic High School, which resulted in an increase in students opting for engineering courses, rising from 36 in 2021 to 49 in 2022. Notably, the number of young women pursuing engineering rose from two to six within the same period.
In a significant development for local transport, the LCR became the second region in the UK to re-regulate its bus network following a public consultation where approximately 70% of respondents supported franchising. As part of the bus network transformation, the first fully accessible zero-emission hydrogen buses were introduced, supplemented by over £9 million in ZEBRA funding for 58 fully electric double-decker buses.
Additionally, the first new Mersey Ferry in over 60 years was commissioned in December 2024, to be constructed at the historic Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead. This initiative is part of the 20-year Mersey Ferries strategy, which includes significant upgrades at Seacombe and Woodside Ferry Terminals.
In September 2023, the region's first CYCLOPS facility opened, part of the St Helens Southern Gateway project, aimed at promoting sustainable travel and enhancing safety for cyclists and road users. Approximately 600 publicly available charge points exist across the region, a figure set to increase significantly due to a £10 million LEVI funding boost. Data from the first 40km phase of the Active Travel network indicates a 13% rise in cycling on key routes. Furthermore, a new LED lighting system installed at the Queensway Tunnel is expected to reduce the carbon footprint by 220 tonnes annually and decrease electricity costs, contributing to the Mayor’s broader vision of establishing a London-style transport system across the LCR.
