Public transport in English cities is showing a remarkable recovery.
A report by the Urban Transport Group, published on 11 March 2025, found that passenger numbers on buses, trains and light rail systems are almost back to pre-pandemic levels. The organisation is calling for further devolution, particularly in the rail sector, to sustain this growth and future-proof the network.
The pandemic has had a huge impact on public transport. Passenger numbers plummeted during lockdowns, and many people continued to work from home or use their cars more often afterwards. Nevertheless, the report shows a steady increase in passenger numbers, suggesting that confidence in public transport is returning. Improved timetables, a renewed office culture and increasing environmental awareness seem to be playing a role in this growth.
call for devolution
The report highlights a key issue: without structural change, recovery remains fragile. The current organisation of the railways in England is often criticised for fragmenting responsibility. Since privatisation in the 1990s, several train companies have operated, each with their own timetables and prices. This leads to inconsistency between regions and makes it difficult to respond quickly to local needs.
The Urban Transport Group is therefore calling for devolution: the transfer of responsibility for public transport from central government to local authorities. This would give cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds more control over their railways, allowing them to better tailor their timetables to local passengers. It would also allow them to invest more specifically in infrastructure, such as upgrading stations or replacing ageing trains.
Urban areas such as London, Manchester and Birmingham in particular are seeing their transport systems recover. In London, Transport for London (TfL) has been working for years with an integrated model, in which different modes of transport connect smoothly with each other. The Urban Transport Group argues that a similar approach in other cities could benefit both the service and the efficiency of public transport.
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester, has been a vocal advocate of this approach. “If we are serious about improving public transport, we need to get rid of central control and allow cities to decide for themselves how their transport networks are run,” he said in an earlier interview.
Local control of the rail network could offer several benefits, such as better-coordinated timetables that meet the specific needs of commuters and local travellers, rather than following a generic national schedule. It would also improve integration with other modes of transport, allowing for smooth transfers between trains, buses and trams, similar to the system in London where the Oyster card gives access to all transport options.
Local authorities can also adopt more flexible pricing strategies, for example by offering cheaper tickets during off-peak hours or discounts for students and senior citizens. In addition, cities will have more freedom to target investments in their infrastructure, such as upgrading stations or deploying more sustainable trains, without having to rely on national priorities. A concrete example of this is the Bee Network in Manchester, where buses have already been brought under public control and this system is eventually to be extended to trains, giving passengers access to a fully integrated network with a single ticket.
challenges in implementation
While devolution can offer many benefits, there are also some obstacles. Funding is a major challenge, as local governments typically have smaller budgets than central government. Without additional financial support from Westminster, it would be difficult to make major investments.
There is also the issue of coordination. If each region uses its own system, there is a risk of a lack of coherence, for example due to different tariffs or poorly coordinated connections. Managing a rail network also requires expertise that is not available everywhere.
However, the urgency seems high. If public transport is not improved now, there is a risk that passengers will drop out again and opt for the car more often, leading to more traffic jams and higher CO₂ emissions. According to the report, now is the time to take action and seize the momentum of the recovery.
