Transport Network provides a reference guide to what parties committed to in transport and infrastructure.
In the blue corner
Theresa May
- The Conservative manifesto pledges to create a number of sovereign wealth funds, known as Future Britain funds, to invest in infrastructure and the wider economy. Revenues from shale gas extraction might be put into such funds and the party pledges to legislate to change planning law for shale applications, while setting up a Shale Environmental Regulator.
- Continued development of the strategic road network, ‘providing extra lanes on our motorways and improving key routes whilst also paying attention to parts of the country left behind because of poor transport connections’.
- ‘We will continue to invest in roads to fix pinch points and open up opportunities for new housing and local growth.’
- A programme of ‘strategic national investments’, including HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and the expansion of Heathrow Airport.
- A review of rail ticketing and a commitment to work with industry to agree minimum service levels during periods of industrial dispute – 'and if we cannot find a voluntary agreement, we will legislate to make this mandatory’.
In the red corner
Jeremy Corbyn
- Labour pledges to create a National Transformation Fund to invest £250bn over 10 years in ‘upgrading’ the economy, and to build at least 100,000 homes a year for ‘genuinely affordable rent or sale’ by the end of the Parliament.
- Take HS2 to Leeds and Manchester ‘and then into Scotland’, build Crossrail 2 and guarantee that any airport expansion meets requirements on noise, air quality and climate change and supports growth across the country.
- Plans to ‘refocus’ the roads building and maintenance programmes, ‘connecting our communities, feeding public transport hubs and realising untapped economic potential’.
- Deliver universal superfast broadband by 2022, free public wi-fi in city centres and on public transport. All urban areas, as well as major roads and railways, will have uninterrupted 5G coverage.
- Extend powers to re-regulate bus services, support new municipal bus companies and introduce regulations to designate and protect routes of critical community value.
- Establish a publicly owned railway system built on Network Rail, capped fares, free wi-fi, 'safe staffing levels' and an end to the expansion of driver only operations.
In the yellow corner
Tim Farron
- The Liberal Democrat manifesto includes a £100bn infrastructure pledge towards road, rail, HS2, Crossrail 2 and rail electrification, building 300,000 homes a year by 2022 and installing hyperfast, fibre-optic broadband
- £5bn of initial capital for a new British Housing and Infrastructure Development Bank, using public money to attract private investment for these priorities
- a Green Transport Act and a plan to reduce air pollution, including a diesel scrappage scheme, a ban on the sale of diesel cars and small vans by 2025 and ultra-low-emission zones in 10 more towns and cities.
- allow public bodies and mutual groups involving staff and passengers to bid for franchises and create a rail ombudsman.
- opposition to airport expansion in south east England will ensure no net increase in runways across the UK.
Register now for full access
Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.
Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors.
Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.
Already a registered? Login
