Newly appointed Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, has unveiled her 5 key strategic priorities for the sector as she promis
es to deliver the biggest overhaul to transport in a generation.
Her 5 priorities include:
- Improving performance on the railways and driving forward rail reform
- Improving bus services and growing usage across the country
- Transforming infrastructure to work for the whole country, promoting social mobility and tackling regional inequality
- Delivering greener transport
- Better integrating transport networks
In her first address to parliament on Monday July 8, Haigh set out these plans to reform the industry and hopes to put transport at the heart of mission-driven government.
The Transport Secretary’s first official visit this week will be focused on plans to deliver better buses in every corner of the country.
Haigh will be engaging with Mayors and devolved leaders who will be key delivery partners in her strategic plans.
Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, said: “It will take all our effort but the new motto of our department – our purpose – is simple: move fast and fix things.
“Our department is so clearly central to achieving the missions for government that the Prime Minister has committed us to.
“Growth, net zero, opportunity, women and girls’ safety, health – none of these can be realised without transport as a key enabler.”
Haigh said DfT would ‘think about infrastructure and services together at every turn’.
In her address to staff, she also said the department would ‘focus relentlessly’ on improving performance on the railways and introduce ‘much-needed rail reform’.
The DfT said newly appointed Rail Minister, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE will also bring decades of experience to help realise the Government’s ambition of transforming infrastructure and improving public transport to deliver for passengers.
In a social media post Louise said: “Absolutely delighted Lord Hendy is joining my team. “He brings a wealth of industry experience to this role.
“Looking forward to working with him to deliver the biggest overhaul to public transport in a generation!”
In addition, the Prime Minister has announced the appointment of new ministers at the Department, including Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood MP, Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood MP, and Aviation, Maritime, and Security Minister Mike Kane MP.