As regional disparities and funding challenges persist, England enters a pivotal phase with the development of its first comprehensive national transport strategy in over two decades, aiming to enhance connectivity, reduce fragmentation, and support sustainable growth.
An accessible, reliable, and low-carbon transport network is widely recognised as essential for the UK to meet its long-term strategic objectives, including achieving net zero emissions, adapting to climate change, fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals, and levelling up the economy. Despite these clear goals, transport investment decisions in England often appear disconnected from such overarching aims, undermining their effectiveness.
England, the UK’s largest nation, notably lacks a national transport strategy, unlike Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Moreover, the UK as a whole does not yet possess a unified vision for how its transport infrastructure should serve the needs of users. Instead, transport planning in England is fragmented across a complex array of strategies and responsibilities divided by mode, themes, and regions. This siloed approach fails to reflect the integrated, multi-modal travel patterns of individuals and businesses, resulting in policies and investments that risk incoherence and may contradict the UK’s broader strategic imperatives.
Decades of comparatively uneven investment and overly centralised decision-making have left England’s transport network under strain, producing stark disparities in service provision—particularly between London, the South East, and many other regions. The challenges have been compounded by the ongoing impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted travel demand and priorities. Although public transport use has begun to recover, it has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Additional pressures such as funding cuts, workforce shortages, and industrial action threaten to make public transport less attractive at a time when increased usage is crucial for sustainable development.
Financial uncertainty further complicates investment efforts. The government plans to freeze capital budgets in cash terms from 2025/26, effectively reducing their real value due to inflation. This increases the importance of maximising each pound’s impact, which in turn requires clarity and certainty about future transport projects. Such certainty is vital for the industry supply chain to build capacity and deliver efficiently, for subnational governments to coordinate linked schemes that unlock wider benefits, and for businesses to confidently invest in regional economies. Yet, this certainty remains elusive. For example, the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP), a potentially transformative initiative for the North and Midlands, has suffered from prolonged ambiguity over its scope and timeline, delaying benefits.
The IRP represents a significant government commitment, with a £96 billion investment aimed at revolutionising rail services in the North and Midlands. Key components include three new high-speed lines—such as Northern Powerhouse Rail connecting Leeds and Manchester in 33 minutes and the HS2 East line from Nottingham to Birmingham in 26 minutes—alongside electrification and upgrades to existing lines. These improvements are designed to deliver faster, more frequent, and more reliable journeys, easing connectivity and capacity issues in historically underserved regions.
In response to the fragmented planning environment, a growing consensus is emerging around the need for a national transport strategy for England. The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), along with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure, has advocated for such a framework to reduce uncertainty and improve decision-making. Industry experts invited to discuss this idea broadly supported a new strategy but raised important questions about its scope, development process, and mechanisms to ensure it is effective.
Other countries—including New Zealand, Norway, and the Netherlands—serve as examples with their established national transport strategies, offering insights into best practices and governance models that England might consider. Meanwhile, existing mechanisms such as Network Rail’s Control Periods and the Department for Transport’s Road Investment Strategies could be aligned more closely with overarching frameworks like the National Infrastructure Strategy to foster more coherent, multimodal planning without starting entirely from scratch.
At the broader UK level, the Union Connectivity Review, led by Sir Peter Hendy two years ago, recommended a new strategic transport network covering the entire United Kingdom. Although these recommendations have not yet received a government response, they underscore the need for a joined-up approach to transport infrastructure that transcends regional fragmentation.
In parallel, the UK government has taken steps to address these issues. The Department for Transport is currently developing an Integrated National Transport Strategy for England—the first comprehensive national strategy in over two decades. This evolving strategy aims to set a long-term vision and direction for transport design, construction, and operation, centred around users and with an emphasis on empowering local leaders to deliver solutions tailored to their communities. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has articulated a “people-first” approach, striving to break down fragmentation, boost connectivity, and support economic growth by designing transport systems that genuinely meet public needs.
The imperative for change in how transport is planned and delivered in England is clear. Policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the public are encouraged to contribute their views on whether a national transport strategy is the right approach and how it can best maximise value for money, strengthen decision-making, and deliver improved outcomes.
📌 Reference Map:
- Paragraphs 1-3 – [1], [7]
- Paragraph 4 – [1], [2], [6]
- Paragraphs 5-7 – [1], [7], [3], [4], [5]
- Paragraph 8 – [1], [7]
- Paragraph 9 – [1], [4], [5]
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative discusses the need for a national transport strategy in England, referencing the Integrated National Transport Strategy announced on 28 November 2024. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/integrated-national-transport-strategy-for-england?utm_source=openai)) The earliest known publication date of similar content is 30 March 2023, when the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) published an article titled ‘Does England need a national transport strategy?’ The report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. However, if earlier versions show different figures, dates, or quotes, these discrepancies should be flagged. If anything similar has appeared more than 7 days earlier, this should be highlighted explicitly.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, such as her vision for a ‘people-first approach’ to transport. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-unveils-her-vision-for-integrated-transport-across-england?utm_source=openai)) These quotes are consistent with the press release dated 28 November 2024. No earlier usage of these exact quotes was found, indicating potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), a reputable organisation. The report references official government publications, including the Integrated National Transport Strategy announced by the Department for Transport on 28 November 2024. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/integrated-national-transport-strategy-for-england?utm_source=openai)) This strengthens the reliability of the information presented.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative discusses the need for a national transport strategy in England, referencing the Integrated National Transport Strategy announced on 28 November 2024. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/integrated-national-transport-strategy-for-england?utm_source=openai)) The claims are plausible and align with the government’s recent initiatives in transport planning. The language and tone are consistent with official communications, and the report includes specific factual anchors, such as dates and references to government publications.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is based on a recent press release from the Department for Transport, dated 28 November 2024, discussing the Integrated National Transport Strategy. The quotes are consistent with the press release, and the source is reputable. The claims are plausible and supported by specific factual anchors. No significant issues were identified, and the content appears to be original and timely.
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