“Devolution driving change” - Optimistic signs for public transport in latest report on transport trends by Urban Transport Group

• Bus patronage grew in many English city regions, with Greater Manchester leading the way
• Cities' economies are growing - and driving regional growth
• Rail patronage increased by 7% in 2024/25 (compared to previous year), to return to pre-pandemic levels
• English devolution re-drawing the map - with more people and economic output to be covered by devolution

The impact of new powers and funding for local areas is beginning to play out in transport trends - with optimistic signs for public transport, according to the third annual Inside track report from the Urban Transport Group. 

The report - Inside track: The state of transport 2026 - explores how the transport landscape has evolved over the past decade, as well as focusing on the most recent year of transport statistics. It charts the progress of devolution and legislative changes that are starting to (and will continue to) impact transport services across the UK. 

Key findings of the report are: 

• Bus - the majority of England's city regions saw bus patronage growth exceed the national average of 1%. Greater Manchester led the way with 11% growth in the last year (2025), coinciding with bus services coming under local control. This is set against a national stabilisation of bus patronage, with bus passenger journeys growing by 40 million (to 3.6 billion journeys) in 2024/25 (compared to the previous year).
   
• Economy - the economies of our largest cities and their surrounding regions continue to grow. In the most recent year (2023), every key city grew at or above the national average, marking a meaningful shift that city economies are playing a stronger role in driving their wider regional economies forward.
   
• Rail - patronage on (heavy) rail continues to grow strongly, increasing by 7% in 2024/25 (compared to the previous year). While this represents a slowdown compared with the 16% rise recorded in 2023/24, the latest increase has brought rail patronage back to pre-pandemic levels, an impressive recovery given that overall trip volumes across all modes remain below their 2019 baseline.
   
• Devolution – the transfer of powers and funding is enabling Mayors and Combined Authorities to take a stronger role in shaping the future of their transport networks and wider economies. By 2028 (following the establishment of 6 new mayoral strategic authorities), 67% of the population and 77% of economic output of England will be covered by devolution (directly elected Mayors).

Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group, said:

“The last decade has witnessed profound changes to our governance landscape, with transport powers and funding increasingly devolved to local leaders. This change is delivering tangible outcomes, reflected - encouragingly - in our transport trends.  

“The impact of recent legislation on bus, and new forthcoming powers on rail and devolution, will go further in bringing local accountability and decision making closer to local people. This will help our public transport networks deliver the services that our devolved regions need if they are to continue to grow.”

Simon Lightwood, Minister for Roads and Buses, said: 

“I'm proud to see how transport devolution is delivering growth and empowering our cities and regions to deliver better, more dependable public transport for all. 

“With nearly £16 billion in investment, we're putting decision-making in the hands of local leaders to help their communities thrive, wherever people live or travel.”

Other findings of the Inside track report include: 

• Light rail systems in Nottingham, the West Midlands, Sheffield, Tyne and Wear, and Manchester continue to see growth, with Manchester becoming the first network to surpass its pre-pandemic patronage figures. However, light rail patronage in England as a whole is still around 10% below pre-pandemic levels. 
   
• Walking trips increased slightly in 2024 (up by 4 trips on the previous year) when the average person in England made 267 trips by walking, but cycling trips remained flat, with the average person making 15 trips a year for the fourth year in a row. 
   
• Trips as a car, van or motorbike driver/passenger continue to be the dominant form of transport, with 549 trips per person in 2024 (this compares to 437 by active or public transport modes). This is a slight decrease of 1 trip per person on the 2023 level.
   

ENDS

Notes to editors

The full report - Inside track: The state of transport 2026 – can be downloaded here.