Archived

Where have bus services been a success (either in the UK or internationally) and why were they successful? How is it related to history, socio-economic and demographic factors, alternative travel modes and financial and other incentives?

Background

Government is committed to ‘levelling up’, so that every corner of the country can benefit and share in future prosperity. Transport connectivity is an essential input into the efficient functioning of markets, reducing the costs of doing business and supporting linkages between key sectors of the economy. More efficient and faster delivery of major projects are fundamental to job creation and so a key lever for economic growth and our recovery from Covid-19. We are therefore enhancing the national strategic transport network, shifting the focus of DfT investment towards major projects that link the towns, cities and left behind places outside of London and the South East.

Key areas of focus are:
• More productive cities and towns
• Support local growth and regeneration
• Support jobs and skills
• Improve networks between major economic centres, and with international gateways
• Strengthening the Union

Delivery of major programmes such as HS2, the Integrated Rail Plan, TransPennine Route Upgrade, the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail and the Roads Investment Strategy are fundamental to job creation and a key lever for economic growth and our recovery from Covid-19. Further commitments are outlined in the UK R&D Place Strategy which is being published this year as part of the UK R&D Roadmap. The research and evidence needs set out below are critical to supporting DfT deliver these major programmes and key areas of focus to grow and level up the economy.

Next steps

Get in touch with BridgetoResearch@dft.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

Areas of research interest 2021

Related UKRI funded projects


  • Demand-based Urban Bus Integrated with Rail And Health (DUBIRAH)

    A citizen rarely finds bus, rail and/or health service provisions seamlessly aligned: scheduled bus services do not provide sufficiently direct door-to-door journeys, e.g. between railway stations and final destinations,...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses the success of bus services and their integration with rail and health services.

  • A Big Data Digital Twin of Mass Transit in Liverpool City Region for Smart, Equitable Mobility

    Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's (LCRCA) bus network is at a crucial stage in its evolution. As the Combined Authority prepares for a full network review and a pioneering franchising model, the "Big Data D...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on enhancing the bus network in Liverpool City Region and promoting sustainability and equity.

  • Automated Bus Routing (ABR)

    The need for a transport system which uses on-demand routing arises principally from the shortcomings of the current options available for local journeys. The average Briton makes 821 trips of below 10 miles annually (Na...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project proposes an Automated Bus Routing system to address the shortcomings of current transport options.

  • Public Transport Integrated On-Line Booking & Scheduling

    Transport on Demand re-invents the way of delivering public service transport for rural and suburban areas. Based on small buses following a route that is generated solely from the passenger’s calls this IT system will c...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

  • University of Surrey and Surrey County Council

    To increase patronage of bus services in the country of Surrey, by establishing new ways of identifying customer needs, behaviours and user-experience; making bus services more appealing to potential customers....

    Funded by: Innovate UK

  • Real-time data-driven insights to drive sustainable travel & bus network resilience post-Covid-19

    Buses running to schedule is a perennial problem faced by transport authorities. Major cities including Cambridge have struggled to gain insights into the root cause of bus delays, in order to better manage and operate w...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

  • DRT for DRT: Developing Relevant Tools for Demand Responsive Transport

    The rise in private car use in the UK has major implications relating to how transport more generally is provided. One problem is that conventional public transport (i.e. bus, light rail and heavy rail) is steadily becom...

    Funded by: EPSRC

  • TransitExplorer: a bus network analysis tool

    Improving public transport networks in developing countries relies upon a detailed understanding of what already exists. This can be captured in timetable data formats, the most common being the General Transit Feed Spec...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

  • Co-operate: Networked Bus Priority

    Public description Co-Operate is a flexible Bus Priority System that is delivered directly through the navigation software of individual vehicles and is designed to enable Local Authorities and transit operators to bette...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

  • iRoute: routing by public transport for commercial organisations

    The market for fleet management software is worth about $8bn a year (source: Berg Insight 2013); Vehicle Routing and Scheduling is an inherent part of such software, but is just for routing vehicles - it is for road use ...

    Funded by: Innovate UK