Confederation of Passenger Transport

📢 New research published today by CPT tells a powerful story about the value of a healthy coach sector for the GB economy as a whole and for local economies. The coach sector delivers vital economic benefits to towns, cities and tourist destinations across Britain: - Coach passengers spend £8.3 billion a year in Britain’s tourist hotspots - Just one additional coach every day can deliver £1 million of economic value annually to a destination - The coach industry in Britain supports 81,000 jobs, generating £6.4 billion of economic value through employment - Coaches provide 450 million journeys a year in Britain – equivalent to 40% of all journeys taken by rail To read our media release, download the report, and find social media assets you can also use to help promote this revealing research, visit the project landing page on CPT's website: https://lnkd.in/eXhGR3MW #CoachBenefits #AccessAllAreas

While women remain underrepresented across the bus and coach sectors, that’s steadily changing - thanks to inspiring professionals like Annemarie King, a dedicated Readybus driver. From operating local buses in Watford to taking coaches across the UK and Europe, Annemarie brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role. She and her crew partner recently received a Service Award for the second year running! Her advice to women thinking about joining the industry? “The sector offers so much—whether you want to be on the road, in operations, or move into management. There are opportunities for progression at every level.” Here’s to more women joining and thriving in the industry!

Five years ago, the UK entered its first COVID-19 lockdown, bringing uncertainty, fear, and isolation. But through it all, one thing remained constant: the dedication of bus drivers and transport staff who kept our communities connected. While the world stood still, they kept moving - ensuring NHS workers reached hospitals, key workers got to their jobs, and vulnerable communities weren’t left behind. In his latest blog, our CEO, Graham Vidler, reflects on their resilience and thanks them for their service.

CPT has responded to South Yorkshire Combined Authority’s announcement of its intention to franchise the bus network:

The upcoming Integrated National Transport Strategy (INTS) has the potential to be ground breaking for the way we approach public transport in England. But we must ensure bus and coach are at the heart of any strategy. CPT President, Paul Lynch, has used his most recent column in @RouteOne to highlight how we think the INTS should make better use of buses and coaches. Read his column in full here: https://lnkd.in/ex_YyQ7B

We were delighted to be invited to join industry leaders at the inaugural UK Bus Manufacturing Panel last week, tackling the challenges of the transition zero-emission. Hosted by Minister Simon Lightwood, the panel aims to ensure the UK remains a leader in bus manufacturing, streamlining orders and accelerating the shift to greener fleets. Read the full write-up on our website: https://lnkd.in/dQTUSwSU

Great to see our Operations Director, Keith McNally, speaking at the Transport Committee last week on the challenges of streetworks. We all feel the impact of roadworks on our daily travel - whether for work, education, or leisure - but for the bus and coach sector, delays are compounded, affecting punctuality and reliability. We’re committed to working with all organisations involved in streetworks to find smarter solutions that minimise disruption, keep services running smoothly, and help passengers get where they need to be, on time. Watch one of Keith’s key interventions here:

With the publication of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill today it's important to remember the vital role planning plays in public transport decisions. Public transport, including buses and coaches, must be at the centre of future town planning, with priority given to speeding up travel and reducing congestion on roads. Ensuring buses and coaches have a place at the heart of our planning system also has the potential to bring huge benefits to local communities. ✅ Every £1 of investment in buses has the potential to bring in £4.55 of benefits ✅ Buses and coaches contribute only 3% of transport emissions, compared to 60% from cars ✅ Over 2.2 million commuters rely on buses to get to work ✅ Just one additional coach every day can deliver £1 million of economic value annually to a destination We look forward to continuing to engage with the government about ensuring buses and coaches remain at the forefront of planning decisions. https://lnkd.in/eQuHNk_r.

The upcoming Spending Review is a pivotal moment for the bus sector. In her recent article for Passenger Transport, Alison Edwards, Director of Policy & External Relations at CPT, makes a compelling case for long-term investment in buses. The numbers speak for themselves: buses account for two thirds of public transport journeys, serve 11 million people daily, and support 158,000 jobs. Every £1 invested returns £4.55 in benefits, connecting people to jobs, tackling loneliness, boosting high streets, and cutting congestion. The Confederation of Passenger Transport has called for a bold funding package that will transform the bus network and deliver immediate and visible benefits: ➡️ £205m/year could grow the network by 5%, adding 36m miles of service. ➡️ £200m/year invested in bus priority measures would unlock £1bn in economic benefits. ➡️ £200m/year for zero-emission buses could unlock £500m of private investment. This isn’t a wish list - it’s a smart, high-return investment in growth, sustainability, and community vitality. We’ll continue to make the case for buses at every opportunity and encourage the entire industry to join us. Investing in buses means investing in Britain’s future. https://lnkd.in/eQtyTwgZ

Ahead of International Women's Day tomorrow, we want to celebrate and thank the incredible women who keep our buses and coaches moving across the country! From bus drivers and engineers to operations teams and customer service staff, your dedication, skill, and hard work keep passengers connected every day. #IWD2025 #ThankYou #WomenInTransport