In LTT magazine, LTT937, available for subscribers to access.
This issue comes just ahead of the Scottish and Welsh national and English local elections, and also as Parliament is about to be prorogued after the Government’s first session. Political matters are, therefore, on the agenda, perhaps more so than is usual. We look at the party manifestos, the transport issues which are forming part of the campaigns, and some interesting policy and project proposals. Our contributing commentator, transport public affairs expert Michael Dnes, meanwhile examines the landscape of governance which is being shaped and how transport has come to the fore in various guises.
One particular issue, new to political controversy, is the planned arrival of automated driverless Robotaxis in London, which is our lead story. This looks like becoming a high-profile standoff between the London Mayor and the Transport Secretary, with the former sceptical about this new technology and its implications, and the latter very keen to see the UK leading the way on its adoption. We have the latest news on the trial operations, and results of some interesting public opinion polling on the subject, and forecasts of potential transport behavioural changes that might be triggered if Robotaxis hit the streets. Other controversial matters in the news include the future leadership of the publicly owned rail sector, as we report on the departure of another high-profile Government appointee.
Elsewhere in our news pages, we look at a progress report on meeting transport's climate change targets, new international discussion about vision-led transport planning, some interesting forthcoming changes to the DfT’s Transport Appraisal Guidance, new developments in road policy and funding, and the best choices to be made to achieve decarbonisation in the bus sector.
Our expert commentator contribution in this issue comes from John Siraut who looks in detail at attitudes and prospective responses to the London automated taxi plans, and how they might impact upon the use of other services and the framework for local transport provision in the capital.
In his Editorial Opinion, Peter Stonham considers the need for new approaches to appraisal to reflect future uncertainty and how decision-making should embrace challenging issues beyond traditional economic and social cost-benefit values.
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The next issue will appear on 13 May 2026.
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A 30-year journey
Local Transport Today has been providing a unique service of news, analysis and comment about everything relating to transport at urban, conurbation, rural and regional levels in Britain for over 30 years.
Founded as a magazine in 1989, it quickly became required reading for planners and transport managers in local authorities, transport service providers, consultants and specialist suppliers and all those researching and studying the challenges of providing mobility and accessibility for people and businesses all around the UK.
Over the years, conferences and seminars, online information resources and other networking and knowledge exchange activities - including an annual Local Transport Summit - have been added to the mix.
During the Covid-19 lockdown this year, LTT introduced a regular fortnightly series of online conversations which became must-attend discussions for those tackling the impacts of the pandemic on local transport.
The most recent innovative step has been the switch to digital publication including the LTT digital platform, providing an enhanced reader experience for you in accessing LTT content. This brings together the opportunity to read the complete copy of the magazine digitally - and print it out if required - with the facility to explore its contents as individual items. This platform is designed to suit both desktop and handheld devices. There are also direct links to all featured websites and email addresses mentioned in the magazine.
…and desktop viewing facility too
Plus you can print it too!
For those who still want to read the magazine as a paper product, we have designed it in an A4 print-friendly format, ready for you to print at home or in the office. You can print a whole issue or select and print certain pages.
Subscription benefit
The LTT digital platform includes a paywall — though for existing subscribers this will not affect access. All it requires is to simply log in with an email that is registered with LTT and click on ‘Forgotten?' to receive a new password to access your account.
For anyone who is not a subscriber, there is a facility to quickly purchase access for either an individual issue or a monthly or annual subscription to LTT. And you will see that we have brought in attractive new lower prices, as we have promised, to reflect the switch to digital delivery. It is now just £75 to subscribe to LTT for a year as an individual or £7.50 per month.
This full exceptional collection of material is not available anywhere else and continues the well-established LTT mission to be the only authoritative source for UK local transport professionals and practitioners!
Here’s what we cover for you
The UK Local Transport Eco-system at a Glance(!)
Transport issues and challenges are now a complex overlapping web of different localities, activities, modes, professional disciplines, technologies and financial and governance models. The LTT team uniquely understand this matrix and how all the different elements fit together.
