As the dust settles on a Labour Party Conference used largely to draw the battle lines with Reform ahead of a pivotal election period next year, transport policy found itself quietly sidelined. What was (and what wasn’t) said about rail dominated the transport space, but the question remains – where do we go from here?

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, left Liverpool feeling deflated. In the build up to conference, lofty ambitions to revive Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) were touted in the press and transport was going to be front-and-centre of Labour’s conference offer. However, as the Prime Minister rowed back on the move, Alexander took to the stage to focus on ‘national renewal’ and the threat of Reform.

Rehashing renationalisation

Part of this pitch was focused on the shift towards rail nationalisation, reiterating Labour’s central view that the current system is run in the interest of private profit. Alexander then listed the next rail operators to be nationalised (West Midlands Trains, Govia Thameslink, Chiltern Railways and Great Western Railways). Although none of this was new in terms of policy announcements, it received a rapturous applause around the conference hall, which was exactly the intention – and indeed a theme amongst all Cabinet speeches – to play wholeheartedly towards a weary party faithful.

Once again, a major piece of Northern transport infrastructure has been pushed down the pecking order, reflecting a familiar theme across successive governments – rowing back on long-term infrastructure investment when the going gets tough.

Labour made a promising start to deliver a favourable long-term investment landscape, with the 10-Year Infrastructure and Industrial Strategy signalling intent. However, for business leaders in the North of England, strategies without a concrete commitment to invest are only half the battle.

The impact on the North

While West Yorkshire mass transit is to be applauded, there remains uncertainty over wider schemes desperately needed across the country. NPR was promised over a decade ago, and is estimated to add £7bn GVA to the UK economy per year, largely in the North, yet, we remain far from breaking ground. There is the argument that this adds further fuel to the fire of Andy Burnham in his potential leadership manoeuvring, but what is clear is the ‘chicken and egg’ situation between infrastructure and economic growth is one that continues to plague the North.

Without investment in transport, productivity and connectivity remain stifled. Yet without demonstrable economic uplift, the case for investment is weakened. It’s a cycle that successive governments have failed to break, and Labour’s current posture suggests it may not be the one to do so either.

Transport, particularly rail, is not just a matter of connectivity – it’s a matter of economic justice. The disparity between transport investment in London and the South East versus the North is stark. According to IPPR North, London receives more than twice the transport spending per capita compared to the North. This imbalance has real consequences: it affects job opportunities, access to education, and quality of life.

Where does Labour go from here?

Heidi Alexander’s speech, while passionate, lacked the policy depth needed to reassure business leaders and regional stakeholders. Painting a GB flag on a South Western Railway train does not address some of the most fundamental and structural issues facing the rail network: outdated infrastructure and lack of capacity where it is desperately needed.

While Labour may not want to tie themselves down to an overarching transport strategy, there is a dire need to provide a long-term vision for the sector – one that spans political and economic cycles. The upcoming Integrated National Transport Strategy provides an opportunity for the government to lay its cards on the table and show a bold vision for transport.

If Labour truly wants to be the party of national renewal, it must start by delivering on the infrastructure that connects the nation – physically, economically, and socially.

If you or your business would like to talk about the future of UK transport policy, do get in touch with michael.broughton@grayling.com.