Evidence session on reforming public transport after the pandemic

Purpose of the session

The Committee will examine how public transport is changing as a result of the pandemic and the implications Covid-19 raises for the Government’s approach to rail, buses, active travel, air quality, transport decarbonisation, and the future of mobility among others.

Witnesses on the first panel will give members an overview of some of the key changes to public transport we have seen since March. The second panel is focused on how the pandemic has affected public transport in different parts of the country, particularly urban and rural areas.

The purpose of the session is to:

• examine in detail the implications the pandemic has for public transport across England.
• examine how Government and other policymakers should respond to these challenges. In particular, how should the Government’s current or forthcoming strategies on public transport be adapted to reflect the implications of the pandemic.

Witnesses

Wednesday 2 December

At 9.30am

• Stephen Joseph, Visiting Professor, University of Hertfordshire, Smarter Mobility Unit
• Linda McCord, Senior Stakeholder Manager, Transport Focus
• Mark Westwood, Chief Technology Officer, Connected Places Catapult

At 10.40am

• Chris Hinchliff, Policy and Campaigns Officer, CPRE
• Councillor David Renard, Leader of Swindon Council and Chair of the Local Government Association’s Environment, Economy, Housing & Transport Board, Local Government Association
• Laura Shoaf, Vice Chair Urban Transport Group and Managing Director of Transport for West Midlands

Please note that Parliament has stopped all non-essential visitor access to both Houses due to the circumstances around coronavirus. The session will be available to watch online, and a transcript will be published on the website a few days afterwards.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Image: PA