Building momentum: reflecting on a year of progress and looking ahead
Back in April, we published our 2024/25 Annual Report alongside our 2025/26 Business Plan, marking a year of delivery for the region and setting out our ambitions to help communities across the East thrive through better transport.
Delivering for the East and the UK
Last year was a defining one for Transport East, shaped by both national political change and growing regional momentum to improve travel and transport for all communities. The election of a new government brought five clear transport priorities: rail reform, better buses, infrastructure transformation, social mobility, and greener, more integrated networks. These priorities closely align with our vision for a thriving region supported by safe, efficient, and net-zero transport systems.
To support these priorities, we have:
- Expanded our evidence base – We launched the region’s first large-scale Travel Behaviour Survey, capturing insights from over 4,000 people to understand travel patterns, barriers, and opportunities for change. We also undertook work in looking at young people’s access to education and short-term opportunities to enhance the region’s rail.
- Informed policy development – We also shared insight with national and local government on connecting rural communities through our Rural Mobility Centre of Excellence, exploring the role of Enhanced Bus Partnerships, and addressing transport related social exclusion.
- Delivered the Transport Regional Insights Platform (TRIP) – A one-stop shop providing our partners with data and tools to support smarter, more locally informed transport decisions. This includes both regional and national datasets.
- Built advocacy – We deepened engagement with Parliamentarians, Councillors, businesses, and other key stakeholders, and hosted our annual Transport East Summit to raise the region’s profile and advance its transport priorities.
Transport East has become one of the East’s most prominent transport voices, advocating for a more joined-up and outcome focused approach to transport and infrastructure. Working at a strategic level with partners on rail, road, bus active travel and lower-carbon transport, Transport East has helped lay the foundations for a more connected and inclusive region.
A forward-focused Business Plan
Our 2025/26 Business Plan sets out a clear and ambitious agenda for the year as the region prepares for devolution and local government reform.
Local authority partners are developing proposals for Mayoral Authorities to be in place by May 2026, and we fully support the benefits this could deliver, including clearer investment priorities and better alignment between transport and other government areas including economy, housing, education and health. Transport East is working closely with partners to ensure that any new structures strengthen regional coordination and support our long-term vision for a thriving East.
In the year ahead, the Business Plan focuses on four key priorities:
- Achieving operational excellence and being a devolution partner to our authorities
- Providing enhanced capacity and capability for the region in data, analysis, tools and insight
- Integrating transport at a regional-level and supporting the East to influence the emerging Integrated National Transport Strategy
- Building our ‘Single Voice’ for transport in the East – collaborating across the region to amplify the East’s voice with decision makers.
As the Department for Transport increasingly looks to Sub-national Transport Bodies for regional coordination, we will continue to act as a trusted partner – delivering strategic value, championing local needs, and helping the East unlock its full potential.