Regional Transport Partnerships

Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) play a crucial role in strengthening the planning and delivery of regional transport across Scotland.

Each RTP is responsible for producing  a regional transport strategy. These are supported by delivery plans where RTPs set out when and how projects and proposals will be delivered.

Some RTPs are also responsible for the delivery of transport services. In particular Strathclyde Partnership for Transport owns and operates the Glasgow subway and major bus stations across the west of Scotland.

The seven RTPs are:

What is a Regional Transport Partnership?

Regional transport partnerships (RTPs) were established on 1 December 2005 to strengthen the planning and delivery of regional transport so that it better serves the needs of people and businesses.

RTPs bring together local authorities and other key regional stakeholders to take a strategic approach to transport in each region of Scotland.

RTPs are independent bodies corporate defined in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005. That legislation bases them on the local government model but they are not local authorities and they are not NDPBs. RTPs are like joint boards, bringing councils together to perform local government functions collectively and strategically over a larger area.

All local authorities in Scotland are members of regional transport partnerships. Councillors make up around two-thirds of the membership. There can be up to a maximum of 5 councillor members from each constituent council but no more than 20 councillor members in total. RTPs can also appoint Advisers/Observers. Around a third of members of RTPs are non-councillor members who fulfil a role similar to that of Non-Executive Directors.

Transport Scotland works closelywith RTPs and local authorities to ensure that transport policy in Scotland is properly co-ordinated. This is crucial to the delivery and success of the National Transport Strategy and our vision for sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system, helping deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses and visitors.

Working Group Report

The Scottish Government, Regional Transport Partnerships and COSLA produced a joint Working Group Report in August 2015.  

Related legislation

Legislation relevant to Regional Transport Partnerships:


Scottish Government publications

RTP contacts

Contact info for Regional Transport Partnerships
RTP Chief Officer and Address Telephone Constituent Council(s)
Shetland Michael Craigie,
c/o Shetland Islands Council
6 North Ness Business Park
Lerwick
Shetland
ZE1 0LZ		 01595 744868 Shetland Islands
Highlands and Islands Ranald Robertson

HITRANS
Inverness Townhouse
1 High Street
Inverness
IV1 1JJ

 01667 460464 Argyll & Bute*
Eilean Siar**
Highland
Moray
Orkney Islands
North-East Paul Finch,
NESTRANS,
27-29 King Street,
Aberdeen,
AB24 5AA.		 01224 070095 Aberdeen City
Aberdeenshire
Tayside and Central Mark Speed,
TACTRAN,
Bordeaux House,
31 Kinnoull Street,
Perth,
PH1 5EN.		 01738 475 771 Angus
Dundee City
Perth and Kinross
Stirling
South-East Brian Butler,
SESTRAN
3D Bridge
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ		 0131 524 5150 Borders
Clackmannanshire
East Lothian
Edinburgh City
Falkirk
Fife
Midlothian
West Lothian
Strathclyde Bruce Kiloh
SPT,
131 St Vincent Street
Glasgow
G2 5JF		 0141 333 3100 Argyll & Bute*
East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East Renfrewshire
Glasgow City
Inverclyde
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Renfrewshire
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
West Dunbartonshire
South-West Simon Bradbury
Swestrans,
Militia House,
English Street
Dumfries and Galloway Council,
Dumfries,
DG1 2HR		 01387 260 136 Dumfries and Galloway

* Argyll and Bute is divided between Highlands and Islands (all except Helensburgh and Lomond) and Strathclyde (Helensburgh and Lomond only)

** Western Isles