Building a transport system that works for people

Good transport is about much more than simply getting from A to B. It is about connecting people to jobs, education, healthcare, family and opportunity. Whether you are commuting to work, travelling to college or visiting loved ones, reliable transport can make a huge difference to everyday life.

That is why I welcome the latest step in Labour’s plan to reform our railways.

At the end of May, Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express services returned to public ownership, joining other operators that have already been brought under public control. It is another important step towards creating Great British Railways and delivering a railway system that puts passengers before private profit.

For too long, passengers have felt let down by a fragmented rail network where accountability has often been unclear and too many decisions have been driven by commercial interests rather than the needs of the travelling public.

Labour is taking a different approach.

The goal is simple: better services, greater accountability and passengers put first. A railway that works for the people who rely on it every day rather than one where profits leave the system while passengers are left facing delays, cancellations and confusion.

Of course, many people in High Peak will rightly point out that we do not have direct Southern or Thameslink services running through our constituency. But the principle behind these reforms matters wherever you live. Public transport should serve communities, not shareholders.

That same principle is guiding the work we are doing here in High Peak.

One of the projects I am most excited about is the Mini-Switzerland initiative that I have been developing alongside the East Midlands Mayor, Claire Ward. The project is about improving transport connections across High Peak and the wider region, making it easier for residents and visitors to travel between our towns, villages and tourist destinations.

High Peak is blessed with some of the most beautiful countryside in the country, but too often poor transport links make it harder for people to access opportunities, support local businesses and enjoy everything our area has to offer.

By improving connectivity, we can boost tourism, strengthen our local economy and make life easier for residents who rely on public transport every day.

That is why I am delighted that the government’s brought in free bus travel for 5–15-year-olds during the summer holidays. I regularly hear from parents about the cost of keeping children entertained during the six-week break. Free bus travel will help families save money while giving young people greater independence and access to activities, sports, friends and opportunities throughout the summer.

Taken together, these measures reflect a broader vision: a transport system that works for people.

Whether it is bringing rail services into public ownership, improving local transport through projects like Mini-Switzerland or helping families with the cost of travel during the summer holidays, the aim is the same – better connections, greater opportunity and public services focused on the people who use them.

There is still more to do, but after years of underinvestment and fragmentation, we are finally moving in the right direction. A modern economy needs modern transport, and that is exactly what Labour is working to deliver.