In LTT magazine, LTT939, available for subscribers to access.
We have details of the Government’s new Mass Transit Taskforce, promised to facilitate the improvement of urban public transport systems, and potentially linked to changes to the Transport and Works Act mechanisms for approval of new guided transport systems to provide more local control by Mayors. We also have news of the departure of a key DfT official responsible for active travel. Other stories cover the continuing difficulties surrounding the completion of HS2, the legislation to establish Great British Railways, indications of behaviour change prompted by the energy market upheaval, and the Government’s further postponement of the next fuel duty rise.
We look further at the political situation in the wake of the outcomes of the highly significant English local elections, and Scottish and Welsh national ones, with new transport leadership appointments, and reflections by Michael Dnes on other consequences, locally and nationally, and a conversation with a local political leader stepping down from front line transport activity about his sometimes stressful experiences.
Ahead of this year’s Modelling World event, Tom van Vuren considers the implications of AI and Big Data digital development for transport planning and modelling, and some of the concerns he has about ensuring proper human understanding and control of their application in decision-making contexts, which he feels are not receiving enough professional attention.
Our regular expert commentator contribution in this issue comes from David Metz, who has undertaken a forensic examination of the processes and outcomes from the ‘smart motorway’ initiative, finding questionable analysis and limited benefits to have been achieved, again highlighting flaws in appraisal theory and practice.
In his Editorial Opinion, Peter Stonham reflects on the planning and decision-making issues related to both the mass transit review and highly problematic HS2 saga of delays and cost escalation. He suggests that supposed complex appraisal and approval processes overlook real issues of leadership and responsibility for projects in the public interest.
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The next issue will appear on 10 June 2026.
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A 30-year journey
Local Transport Today has been providing a unique service of news, analysis and comment about everything relating to transport at urban, conurbation, rural and regional levels in Britain for over 30 years.
Founded as a magazine in 1989, it quickly became required reading for planners and transport managers in local authorities, transport service providers, consultants and specialist suppliers and all those researching and studying the challenges of providing mobility and accessibility for people and businesses all around the UK.
Over the years, conferences and seminars, online information resources and other networking and knowledge exchange activities - including an annual Local Transport Summit - have been added to the mix.
During the Covid-19 lockdown this year, LTT introduced a regular fortnightly series of online conversations which became must-attend discussions for those tackling the impacts of the pandemic on local transport.
The most recent innovative step has been the switch to digital publication including the LTT digital platform, providing an enhanced reader experience for you in accessing LTT content. This brings together the opportunity to read the complete copy of the magazine digitally - and print it out if required - with the facility to explore its contents as individual items. This platform is designed to suit both desktop and handheld devices. There are also direct links to all featured websites and email addresses mentioned in the magazine.
…and desktop viewing facility too
Plus you can print it too!
For those who still want to read the magazine as a paper product, we have designed it in an A4 print-friendly format, ready for you to print at home or in the office. You can print a whole issue or select and print certain pages.
Subscription benefit
The LTT digital platform includes a paywall — though for existing subscribers this will not affect access. All it requires is to simply log in with an email that is registered with LTT and click on ‘Forgotten?' to receive a new password to access your account.
For anyone who is not a subscriber, there is a facility to quickly purchase access for either an individual issue or a monthly or annual subscription to LTT. And you will see that we have brought in attractive new lower prices, as we have promised, to reflect the switch to digital delivery. It is now just £75 to subscribe to LTT for a year as an individual or £7.50 per month.
This full exceptional collection of material is not available anywhere else and continues the well-established LTT mission to be the only authoritative source for UK local transport professionals and practitioners!
Here’s what we cover for you
The UK Local Transport Eco-system at a Glance(!)
Transport issues and challenges are now a complex overlapping web of different localities, activities, modes, professional disciplines, technologies and financial and governance models. The LTT team uniquely understand this matrix and how all the different elements fit together.
