Lib Dem Plan for Transport
While the Labour Government has taken steps toward rail nationalisation, their approach has lacked the urgency and ambition needed to truly transform our networks. They have allowed bus fares to rise by increasing the price cap, failed to reverse the previous Conservative U-turns on electric vehicles, and have been too slow to fix the "pothole plague" blighting our local roads.
By investing in electric vehicles and clean public transport, as well as encouraging walking and cycling, Liberal Democrats will enhance local, regional and national connectivity while boosting the economy, protecting the environment and improving public health.
Our Plan for Moving Britain Forward
We will:
Accelerate the EV Transition: Make it cheaper and easier for drivers to switch to electric vehicles by rapidly rolling out residential and ultra-fast charging points. We will restore the 2030 target for all new cars and small vans to be zero-emission, reversing the damaging delays that have stifled manufacturing.
Slash Travel Costs: In response to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and global instability, slash cost of transport, including a continued freeze to rail fares and a reduction of the bus fare cap to £2.
Fix Our Railways: While Labour focuses on the structure of ownership, we focus on the passenger. We will ensure the new Great British Railways is held to account by a powerful, independent Passenger Standards Authority to ensure nationalisation actually leads to better service, not just a different logo.
Restore Local Bus Routes: Give local authorities the powers and guaranteed long-term funding to franchise services, ensuring that rural communities are no longer left isolated by "bus deserts."
Transform Active Travel: Create new cycling and walking networks with a dedicated nationwide strategy, ensuring that "active travel" is a safe and realistic choice for everyday journeys.
Repair Our Roads: Shift the budget away from vanity "mega-projects" and give more resources to local councils to maintain existing roads, pavements, and cycleways, finally tackling the national pothole crisis.
Lead in Green Flight: Invest in R&D to make the UK a world leader in zero-carbon flight and implement a Frequent Flyer Levy to ensure those who fly the most pay their fair share for the climate impact.
In addition, we will:
Seamless Multi-Modal Travel
National Integrated Ticketing: Work to integrate bus, rail, and light rail ticketing systems across the country so that passengers can use a single "tap-in, tap-out" method for their entire journey.
Universal Daily Fare Caps: Introduce a daily fare cap for those taking several trips per day across different modes of transport, ensuring that no one is penalized for having a complex commute that requires both a bus and a train.
London-Style Convenience: Devolve the necessary powers to local authorities to implement these network-wide ticketing solutions, bringing the ease of the London transport system to every region in England.
Greener, Fairer Driving
Cut VAT on public EV charging to 5% to end the "driveway gap" where those without off-street parking pay more to go green.
Upgrade the National Grid to support a massive increase in local charging capacity.
Protect motorists from rip-offs, including tackling unfair insurance premiums and ensuring petrol price transparency.
Better Bus Services
Support rural bus services by encouraging innovative alternatives like on-demand "dial-a-bus" services where traditional routes aren't viable.
Integrate funding into a single "Green Transport Fund" for local authorities to simplify the process of buying zero-emission buses and expanding routes.
Devolve greater decision-making powers and resources to local authorities in England to design public transport infrastructure around community needs, including powers to introduce network-wide ticketing as in London.
A Modern Rail Network
Electrify as standard: Establish a ten-year rolling plan for rail electrification, ensuring all new lines are electric from day one.
Deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail: Fully commit to high-speed connections across the North, including a review of the cancelled HS2 northern leg to find a viable path forward for the North-Midlands link.
Improve Accessibility: Legislate a statutory duty on accessibility, ensuring the Access for All programme finally makes every station usable for disabled passengers.
Freight Growth: Set a mandatory target to move freight from road to rail, supported by a new national freight strategy.
Support for Young People
Extend half-fares on all public transport to everyone aged 18.
Introduce a ‘Young Person’s Buscard’, giving 19- to 25-year-olds a third off bus and tram fares, mirroring the success of the Railcard.
Climate-Conscious Aviation
Reform flight taxation to focus on frequent flyers while protecting the annual family holiday.
Tax Private Jets: Introduce a new "super tax" on private jet travel and remove VAT exemptions for business and first-class tickets.
Ban short-haul domestic flights where a direct rail journey of under 2.5 hours is available, unless the aircraft is zero-emission.
Moratorium on expansion: Oppose the expansion of Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, or Luton until a national framework for emissions is legally binding.
Read full plan here: www.libdems.org.uk/manifesto
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