Delivering London-style transport in big cities will connect 1.2 million more people to their city centres

• Metro mayors to gain powers to deliver European- and London-style public transport for six big cities including nearly a quarter of England's population
• Increase in urban transport connectivity would raise national economic output by an estimated £17.4 bn
• Centre for Cities: Government should consider deepening devolution to large cities, including granting control of local rail network and tax-raising powers

From next year, metro mayors will gain extra powers to take control of their local bus services; manage urban road networks; and better integrate timetables and fares systems of their local bus, tram and metro services.

Delivering more integrated transport networks in six big cities will give 1.2 million more people an easier 30 minute journey to access the jobs and education opportunities in their major city centres, Centre for Cities estimates in a report published today (4 November).

Full network integration – including integrated ticketing, better aligned timetables, and faster and more frequent buses – would bring European- and London-style public transport to England's next six largest cities, with a combined population of 13.2 million (23 per cent of England's total population).

Delivering integrated transport would have several benefits, including:

• Increasing by 40 per cent the number of people who could access the city centres in the six big cities would boost national economic output by an estimated £17.4 billion per year.
• Integration of existing tram and bus services and reducing congestion on key bus routes in Birmingham means an additional 265,000 people could access the city centre within 30 minutes – the largest increase of all six cities.
• Better use of West Yorkshire's existing public transport networks – including more frequent services on key bus routes – would provide 212,000 more people with an easy connection to Leeds city centre within 30 minutes – a 54 per cent increase.

City centre connectivity by public transport now and with better integration

Source: Centre for Cities' calculations using Bus Open Data Service, Network Rail, ONS, r5r, and Open Street Map contributors.

The report recommends:

1. Metro mayors prioritise the interventions that will have the biggest initial accessibility impacts.
2. Government and metro mayors work together to increase the number of potential passengers by building more high-rise and mid-rise housing around transport stops.
3. Metro mayors make car use less attractive for journeys to the city centre to encourage a shift from cars to public transport.
4. Government supports metro mayors' requests for further transport powers, such as control of local rail networks and the ability to charge a French-style payroll tax to top-up funding for local transport infrastructure.

Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, said:

“There are huge economic advantages to be achieved by making better use of big cities' large existing public transport networks.

“Flagship Government legislation will soon give metro mayors powers over their local transport networks, giving them the opportunity to deliver what is taken for granted in many cities across Europe and London – an integrated transport system that allows people to move around their cities easily and effectively.

“Government should continue to deepen the powers that metro mayors have. Many European metro mayors have power to raise local taxes to support transport services, and the Government should explore how this could work in practice in England.”

Liverpool City Region's Mayor, Steve Rotheram said:

“Having a reliable, affordable, and accessible public transport system is key to building a fairer, more prosperous Liverpool City Region – one where people can get to work, education, or leisure easily and affordably. Centre for Cities' findings are really encouraging and show the difference it makes when local leaders have the power to shape a transport network that actually works for the people who use it every day.”

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, said:

“I made bringing buses back into public control a priority on my first day in office because I know that we need to provide an affordable, integrated transport network that works for local people. Doing so will transform public transport in the North East and help us connect more people to more opportunities. 

“This important report from Centre for Cities shows just how big a difference that will make for local people and the public transport they rely on.”

South Yorkshire's Mayor, Oliver Coppard said:

“We welcome Centre for Cities' research on how better transport connections can help build fairer, more productive cities. Right now, only around 1 in 4 people in South Yorkshire can reach Sheffield city centre within an easy 30 minute journey by public transport. But with better integration, including joined-up ticketing and more frequent and faster buses, nearly half a million people could take this journey easily – 50 per cent more than today.

“This isn't just about numbers, it's about helping people get to jobs, education and opportunities, no matter where they live or what they earn. We're investing in long-term improvements, including bus franchising and bringing the tram back into public ownership. This new research supports our plans to build a better-connected South Yorkshire, and we'll use its insights to shape what comes next.”

ENDS

Notes

1. Centre for Cities is the leading independent think tank dedicated to improving the economies of the UK's largest cities and towns. It is a charity that works with local authorities, business and Whitehall to develop and implement policy that supports the performance of urban economies. It does this through impartial research and knowledge exchange. For more information, visit https://www.centreforcities.org/about/
2. For links to the report: ‘Integrated transport: The size of the prize for mayors' will be published on Centre for Cities' website at 00.01am GMT on 4 November 2025 at the following URL: https://www.centreforcities.org/publication/integrated-transport-the-size-of-the-prize-for-mayors
3. Data tool: Centre for Cities will also present its findings via an interactive data tool.
   URL: https://www.centreforcities.org/data/integrated-transport-data-tool/
4. Methodology – Centre for Cities measures a city's current public transport connectivity on non-integrated networks as the population who can reach their city region's principal city centre in the morning peak by a ‘reasonable journey' – one mode of transport, on a ‘turn-up-and-go' service for up to 30 minutes. Integrated transport expands the scope of ‘reasonable journeys', with additional connectivity modelled by permitting journeys across multiple transport modes, increasing frequencies on twice-hourly bus routes, and 15 per cent reduction in bus journey times. Uses live bus location and timetable data from Bus Open Data Service and Network Rail, realistic routing software, and ONS small-area population estimates.
5. Flagship Government legislation devolving transport powers to the Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities is expected to be passed by Parliament by early 2026. The Bus Services Act 2025 received royal assent on 27 October and streamlines the bus franchising process for local authorities including metro mayors. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill puts mayors at the head of their local transport systems, grants them the right to request further devolution and gives them greater flexibility over spending. The Railways Bill grants mayors a statutory role in governing, managing and planning the local rail network.
6. The Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities are (in order of size, and excluding Greater London): West Midlands, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, the North East, Liverpool City Region, and South Yorkshire.