Regional Transport Partnerships: 2025 Progress and 2026 Priorities
Scotland’s seven Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs) play a crucial role in strengthening the planning and delivery of regional transport across Scotland.
RTPs provide statutory regional leadership in the development and delivery of transport strategy. Through their Regional Transport Strategies, RTPs align regional investment and delivery with the National Transport Strategy, ensuring that transport contributes directly to its priorities.
Working in partnership with Transport Scotland, local authorities, operators, Regional Economic Partnerships, health boards and community organisations, RTPs play a critical role in turning national policy into place-based delivery across urban, rural and island communities.
RTPs: Reducing Inequalities
Across Scotland, RTPs continued to strengthen accessibility, affordability and inclusion within regional transport systems.
Digital and real-time passenger information systems have been expanded and maintained at scale. HITRANS continues to operate a long-standing shared public transport information service across five local authority areas, managing and producing roadside public transport information for almost 3,000 bus stops alongside 170 real time passenger information (RTPI) displays and data provision to Traveline Scotland. SEStran and Nestrans have continued investment in RTPI infrastructure and multi-operator ticketing, including marketing and digital promotion of the GrassHOPPER smartcard. Tablet provision for demand responsive services in the North East has strengthened operational resilience and passenger access.
Demand responsive transport remains a core element of regional accessibility. SPT’s MyBus service carried 140,000 passengers in 2024/25, supporting access to healthcare, shopping and social activities. HITRANS manages digital demand responsive services across the Highlands and Islands through the MOOVE Flexi and m.connect platforms.
Bus service support remains essential in maintaining connectivity where commercial markets cannot sustain provision. SPT has budgeted £15.3 million in 2025/26 for socially necessary services — a 25% increase since 2022/23 — ensuring continued coverage across urban, rural, evening and weekend networks. Tactran has progressed Stage 2 Bus Development Plan work and strengthened regional Bus Alliances, while SEStran launched its new Regional Bus Strategy to guide coordinated network development.
The Strathclyde Regional Bus Strategy was also approved for delivery by the SPT Partnership Board in September 2025. Work to develop bus franchising proposals has commenced and will continue throughout 2026-27.
Active travel has also been positioned as a tool for tackling inequality. Nestrans completed a Regional Active Travel Network Plan to provide consistent prioritisation across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire. HITRANS introduced an Inclusive Cycling Membership through HI-BIKE, enabling individuals requiring adapted cycles to have exclusive use for extended periods. SPT’s People and Place Community Fund has supported local organisations with grants of £5,000–£50,000 for community-led behaviour change and active travel initiatives.
Health and transport integration has progressed in several regions. Nestrans continues to co-fund a Health & Transport Programme Manager with NHS Grampian and supports the Transport to Healthcare Information Centre. HITRANS has advanced patient travel improvements in the Western Isles, including priority ferry booking and enhancements to air services.
RTPs: Taking Climate Action
RTPs have continued to support modal shift, decarbonisation and innovation across transport systems.
Electric vehicle infrastructure deployment remains a key priority. HITRANS leads the North and North West EV Infrastructure Fund shared service across multiple island and rural authorities including ZetTrans, while SEStran continues to develop its regional EV charging network. Tactran facilitates regional EV and hydrogen engagement groups and contributes to national car kilometre reduction research.
Freight decarbonisation has been advanced in the North East through Nestrans’ completion of a Battery Electric HGV feasibility study and targeted engagement funded through the Zero Emission Heavy Duty Vehicles Skills Challenge Fund, laying the groundwork for shared charging infrastructure and regional fleet transition planning.
Innovation in aviation decarbonisation is being led by HITRANS through the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) and Advanced Logistics BVLOS UAV Mission (ALBUM) projects under the UK Research and Innovation’s Future of Flight Challenge. These programmes have demonstrated hybrid-electric aircraft and autonomous logistics in the Highlands and Islands, positioning the region as a living laboratory for sustainable aviation technologies with active involvement by HITRANS and ZetTrans.
Active travel infrastructure and behavioural programmes remain central to climate action. SWestrans has progressed 20mph speed restriction roll-out and active travel route identification, supported by community engagement initiatives. SPT and other RTPs continue to deliver People and Place programmes encouraging walking, wheeling and cycling.
School transport also plays a role in reducing peak congestion and emissions. SPT ensures 36,000 pupils travel safely to and from school each day through services delivered on behalf of partner councils.
RTPs: Delivering Inclusive Economic Growth
RTPs have continued to support regional economic ambitions through strategic transport planning and business case development.
Mass transit and rapid transit development is progressing in Scotland’s largest city regions. SPT is leading the Clyde Metro Case for Investment for the Glasgow City Region, aiming to deliver a transformational mass transit system by 2027. Nestrans is progressing an Outline Business Case for Aberdeen Rapid Transit, alongside corridor improvement studies on the A90 and A956 corridors.
HITRANS has developed multimodal integration masterplans for Fort William, Inverness and Oban, strengthening interchange between bus, rail and ferry networks. It continues to support air connectivity, including the Wick John O’Groats PSO, and has developed updated freight and logistics strategies for key regional sectors including whisky, aquaculture and timber.
Throughout 2025, SWestrans worked collaboratively with Transport Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway Council to advance design and assessment work exploring the feasibility of a bypass for Springholm and Crocketford. Swestrans also supported Levelling Up Fund transport projects to enhance regional connectivity. Tactran continues to support Tay City Deal transport programmes and contribute to Regional Economic Partnerships and development planning processes.
Strategic bus and rail planning remain integral to economic growth. Several RTPs are progressing Regional Rail Strategies and supporting new station proposals, alongside participation in Highland and Islands and City Region Growth Deals.
Case Study: Nestrans’ Battery Electric Vehicle HGV Feasibility Study
The Feasibility Study is Scotland’s first regional assessment of whether and how electric HGVs could work in practice. It was developed at a time when the wider freight industry’s outlook was shifting away from hydrogen towards battery‑electric vehicles, reflecting the lead of the bus sector. The study now provides a strong foundation for planning cleaner freight across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, and wider supply chain.
Using national and regional datasets, the project built the clearest picture to date of how freight moves around the North East. It found that about 90% of HGV trips stay within the region and average around 33 km, showing that many journeys are well‑suited to early adoption of electric HGVs.
To support practical delivery, the study created a tool that estimates future charging needs at depots, shared sites and key routes, and produced simple example layouts for charging hubs along with guidance for smaller haulage firms preparing their depots for electrification.
The findings are already helping shape investment plans, strengthen the region’s Zero Emission Corridor proposal and inform early discussions among hauliers. Transport Scotland’s involvement highlights its national importance, and the approach can be reused by other regions. With clear evidence and practical guidance, the study provides a strong platform for the North East’s move toward cleaner, more reliable freight transport.
RTPs: Improving Health and Wellbeing
Transport’s contribution to health outcomes remains a cross-cutting priority.
Active travel investment has been delivered at scale, with Nestrans overseeing over £2.2 million of People and Place funding and supporting £1.2 million of active travel infrastructure improvements, including safer access to bus stops and community paths.
HITRANS operates the HI-BIKE public eBike share system and supports community bike share initiatives and Brompton Bike Hire installations. SWestrans has continued delivery of its Active Lives Pathway and inclusive cycling programmes.
Case Study: HI-BIKE
The HI-BIKE eBike share scheme launched in Inverness in October 2021 and expanded to Fort William in 2022. Since launch, both the Inverness and Fort William systems have continued to expand, strengthening their role as a core component of sustainable mobility in the Highlands. In 2025, HITRANS completed groundworks to extend the HI-BIKE network to Elgin, with seven docking stations scheduled to go live in spring 2026. Plans are also progressing to introduce the scheme in Aviemore, delivered in partnership with the Cairngorms National Park Authority, with four docking stations planned.
To support this growth, the full fleet is being renewed, with 178 new eBikes set to be deployed across Inverness, Fort William, Elgin and Aviemore in 2026. This investment will enhance reliability, increase capacity and ensure a high-quality user experience as the network scales.
HI-BIKE continues to perform strongly. In 2025, users collectively rode a total distance equivalent to travelling almost three times around the world, demonstrating the scheme’s sustained popularity and its contribution to reducing car dependency and supporting active travel. With continued expansion and fleet renewal, HI-BIKE is firmly established as a transformative, region-wide mobility solution for the Highlands and Islands.
SPT’s MyBus service continues to provide essential access for passengers unable to use mainstream public transport. Tactran’s Get on the Go campaigns and People and Place delivery promote healthier travel choices across Tayside and Forth Valley.
Across regions, RTPs are embedding Health and Transport Action Plans and strengthening partnership working with NHS Boards to ensure access to care is supported by sustainable and reliable transport options.
RTPs: Looking Ahead to 2026
In 2026, RTPs will continue to build on this progress.
HITRANS will expand HI-BIKE into Elgin and Aviemore, deliver the Slighe an Iochdar active travel route in South Uist, and progress the Skye Active Travel Network. HITRANS and ZetTrans are working with Transport Scotland on the delivery of the Highlands and Islands £2 Bus Fare Cap pilot. HITRANS will also advance the Inverness Station Masterplan and continue sustainable aviation demonstrator projects.
SEStran will progress implementation of its Regional Bus Strategy and the SEStransit Strategic Business Case, alongside continued EV and active travel expansion.
SPT will continue development of the Clyde Metro Case for Investment and progress the Buchanan Bus Station Masterplan, while sustaining investment in socially necessary bus services and school transport.
SWestrans will continue delivery of its People and Place programme, progress the Stranraer–Leswalt active travel route and implement outcomes of its bus network review.
Tactran will continue development of Mobility as a Service initiatives, bus development planning and regional decarbonisation engagement.
Collectively, Scotland’s RTPs will continue to provide regional leadership, partnership coordination and delivery capacity, ensuring that the National Transport Strategy is realised through tangible improvements in accessibility, sustainability, economic resilience and public health across Scotland’s communities.
Roles and Responsibilities
The current governance arrangements for transport in Scotland have remained fairly constant since first established almost twenty years ago, while demand for travel and wider economic and environmental awareness and pressures have changed. In 2019, Jacobs was commissioned by the NTS Review Roles & Responsibilities Working Group to identify a range of options for change to the level at which transport functions are discharged, and set out the benefits of each option for further consideration. This work has not progressed since 2019, however in September 2024 RTPs, COSLA, SOLACE and SCOTS confirmed that the recommendations of the Jacobs report remained extant. RTPs updated their Transport Governance Workstream recommendations in November 2023, and the Fair Fares Review in March 2024 recommended for the ‘Transport Governance Review to be recommenced with specific action on identifying changes to support improved public transport.’
Transport Scotland will recommence the work to review transport governance in the coming months. This will include assessment and analysis of how Transport Scotland, RTPs, Local Authorities and modal operators can work together with enhanced governance structures to better deliver integrated public transport which improves connectivity.
From a regional perspective, RTPs are keen to continue to build on their existing statutory roles to support delivery of national transport ambitions while strengthening regional working across local authorities and other partners. RTPs already provide a strong platform for this through established collaboration at the regional level, including links with Regional Economic Partnerships, and through delivery activity across priority areas such as Transport to Health, Transport to Employment, and the People and Place Programme.
The context for regional delivery differs significantly across the different parts of Scotland recognising different needs and outcomes. There is currently an active debate around regional roles and responsibilities, driven by public sector reform pressures, opportunities to achieve better outcomes for our transport system, and the pending conclusion of a number of City and Region Deals, many of which have a strong transport component. RTPs already provide an effective mechanism for delivering on cross boundary and strategic transport issues, associated with strong governance, recognised geographic areas, and a combination of local and national financial resource.