NAO: An Overview of the Department for Transport

The Department for Transport (DfT) works with its agencies and other bodies to support the transport network that helps people and goods get to where they need to go. DfT plans and invests in transport infrastructure to keep the UK on the move.

In 2024-25, DfT's overall (net) spend was £41.3 billion. Several agencies and arm's-length bodies offset their expenditure with operating revenues, which (along with other income received by DfT and its bodies) totalled £7.3 billion in income for DfT.

DfT's largest area of spend was on the rail sector (£27.6 billion), most of which was on rail infrastructure management and enhancements delivered through Network Rail (£17.9 billion) and High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd (£6.8 billion). A further £2.5 billion was spent on subsidies.