Spending on public transport in the United Kingdom reached £3.46 billion in 2019/20, the highest figure in almost a decade. From March 2020 onwards, with government restrictions on movement to varying degrees of severity, the usage of public transport and journeys nosedived. Rail journeys for example dropped by more than 400 million, the lowest number since the Victorian Era.

The disruption to transport has been colossal and this has posed acute financial challenges with total passenger revenue raised in the UK being £184m in 2020-21 Q1 in comparison to the £2.7bn raised in 2019-20 Q1. Long term changes are also becoming apparent, the rise of remote working, the coining of the phrase ‘the new commuter’ as well as an increase in walking and cycling, the futureproofing of our transport infrastructure is critical.

This timely event will examine the UK’s transport system at this portentous stage and will look at how it can adapt and evolve as the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic gains pace. The catalysation of digital innovation and the utilisation of data and how this can improve efficiency in transport, together with how it can help to significantly reduce emissions in line with net-zero targets will also be explored.

These key themes and issues facing the future of UK transport will be addressed through a combination of high-level keynote presentations and practical case study examples. This will provide a comprehensive overview of the current transport system, how it will navigate issues in the near term, adapt to challenges in the long term and become smarter, greener and better for all.