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World Public Transport Day is an opportunity to reflect on something that can be easy to overlook – transport is not just infrastructure, it is opportunity. It connects people to jobs, education, healthcare, and each other. In the East, getting this right has never mattered more, and as one of the UK’s fastest-growing economic regions, our future depends on a network that genuinely works for everyone.

The challenge we face

The East covers a vast and varied geography – from key urban areas across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, to a large number of people living in rural and coastal communities. More than a million people live in areas where public transport options are limited, with many communities finding themselves in “transport deserts”, where using a car is not a lifestyle choice but a necessity.

For young people in rural areas, this can mean spending up to £1,000 a year simply getting to training or education. These are not just inconveniences – they are barriers to opportunity that limit people’s lives and constrain the economic potential of our region.

The opportunity ahead

Good public transport – especially bus services – is a lifeline for many rural communities. Long-term investment is already beginning to enhance provision across the East, unlocking growth, reducing isolation and supporting local economies.

Stronger rail links between our urban centres will also be transformative. More frequent connections can boost productivity and business connectivity in ways that benefit the whole region. And with transport accounting for 42% of our regional carbon emissions, improving public transport is central to our net zero goals.

What Transport East is doing

Transport East brings together local authorities, transport operators, businesses and government to create a single, strong voice for our region’s transport. Our transport strategy sets out the case for an integrated public transport system for the East to 2050 – and we are working with partners by convening, advocating and providing data and tools to make this a reality.

We are championing better coordination between modes of transport, so that fares, connections and information make travelling by bus or rail a seamless experience. This includes leading on rural mobility through our Rural Mobility Centre of Excellence, producing evidence on the challenges rural communities face, advocating for improvements, and showcasing underused solutions such as demand-responsive transport and community transport.

We are also bringing together partners in the rail industry through our convening role, including the Thameside Taskforce in south Essex, and the East West Rail Eastern Section Board. The Board is working to extend the benefits of the East West Rail scheme to communities living, working and visiting Norfolk, Suffolk and north Essex.

Alongside this, we work with partners to make the case for key rail upgrades at Ely and Haughley junctions.

Crucially, we provide our partners with a single point of data and evidence to build the business cases for investment – covering social, economic and environmental impact. Our agent-based modelling tool BERTIE is a leading example of this, and it’s recent inclusion as a case study in the DfT’s Better Connected strategy emphasises it’s value.

A network that connects and powers the East

That work does not stop here. On World Public Transport Day, we call on our partners to keep building towards a public transport network that is truly integrated, accessible and ready for the future. Public transport underpins equality, sustainability and economic growth, and will play a vital role in making the region thrive.