How we're making it happen
Image credit: Adam Gasson
Made everyday journeys more affordable by freezing multi-operator day bus ticket fares and extending the £1 child fare cap until Spring 2029. Over £410,000 of free travel has been provided for carers and £45,000 for Youth Guarantee participants. Our Kids Go Free scheme has also inspired a £100m national investment.
Funded 18 transport projects worth £272m through our City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement programme supporting improvements to public transport, walking and cycling routes that will strengthen connections to homes, jobs and education across the region.
Set out a long-term plan for a better-connected West of England through the publication of the Transport Vision in February 2026. By investing in buses, rail, mass transit, active travel and improved streets along with public spaces, we are creating a more integrated transport network that will unlock investment, support jobs, boost productivity and drive sustainable economic growth.
Invested in a greener, more reliable bus network. Secured £26.6m through the government's Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas programme to deliver Bristol's first electrified bus depot at Hengrove and supporting further depot improvements in Bath, Lawrence Hill and Weston-super-Mare. 165 electric buses have been added to the regional fleet. Brand new bus routes along with improvements to rural bus services and WESTlink are connecting communities better.
More than 3m sustainable journeys were made on e-bikes and e-scooters in the last year. User fines for incorrect parking have driven positive behaviour, with irresponsible parking now accounting for just 0.7% of rides, down from 2.4%. The roll out of a new 4,000-strong fleet in April 2026 made us the first region in the UK to introduce the next generation of lighter, more user-friendly vehicles.
Earned industry recognition for transport innovation and delivery, with Ashley Down railway station winning the Institute of Civil Engineers South West's ‘Over £10 Million New Build’ award and Bristol Temple Meads’ eastern entrance receiving the ‘People's Choice’ award.
Our flagship travel hub at UWE Bristol was also named Mobility Hub of the Year at the 2025 CiTTi Awards, highlighting the West of England's leadership in sustainable transport.
Focus on: Our rail programme
The past year has seen significant progress in transforming the region’s rail network. Hundreds of millions of pounds of investment in new infrastructure will see 100,000 more people set to gain access to train services and help reduce congestion our roads.
A further five new railway stations are currently in planning or already under construction across the region. The next of these, Bristol Brabazon, is planned to open in late 2026, bringing rail services to one of the country’s emerging new towns at the new Brabazon neighbourhood and the 20,000 capacity Aviva Arena.
At Charfield, construction is underway on a new station that will connect more than 14,500 local residents to the rail network when it opens in spring 2027.
After more than 60 years, work is underway to reinstate the Portishead Line, with two new stations at Portishead and Pill. Once running, the line will give more than 50,000 residents easier access to Bristol city centre and generate an estimated £43m in economic growth for the region each year.
A crucial step forward has also been made on a new station at Henbury, with planning approval being secured in October 2025.
A new £23m eastern entrance to Bristol Temple Meads station opened in September 2026, connecting to the University of Bristol’s new Enterprise Campus. By 2030, 2.5m people a year will use this entrance, improving access to the station for those living and working across east Bristol.
Improving rail is about more than building new stations. Ongoing efforts are being made to make the region's transport network more accessible, inclusive and easier to use for everyone. Work to achieve step-free access to Lawrence Hill station has started with a new lift, making it easier for everyone to use a train from 2027.
