Sent via email – 07/03/25
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to share my comments on the Draft Transport Strategy developed by
Transport for the South East (TfSE). I would like to commend the TfSE for this important
body of work, which sets an ambitious vision for the region’s future, which I believe will
positively impact my constituents in Reading Central as well as those living across the
South East region.
I am pleased to see that the strategy’s core missions to enhance the region’s strategic
connectivity, resilience, and integration, as well as to advance decarbonisation and
sustainable growth, will complement and build on both national and local policies on
transport. The Draft Transport Strategy recognises that the government’s plans on rail
reform, sustainable economic growth, and transforming local transport will complement
the strategy’s objectives.
The plan recognises that, in order to promote sustainable modes of transport, the region
must develop its transport network to ensure that it is fast, affordable, connected and
resilient. I commend the objective to ensure key towns, cities, and international
gateways are as accessible by public transport as they are by car by making long-distance
journeys on public transport more appealing by optimising fares, ticketing, and
timetabling.
I recognise the vital role that a reliable and resilient rail network will play in achieving
this aim. In our area, there are several planned transport infrastructure projects that
will improve our rail network. The East West Rail project will give better access to jobs
and education opportunities and bring billions of pounds worth of growth to the Oxford
Cambridge region, and the Western Rail Link to Heathrow will significantly improve
connectivity to Britain’s busiest airport providing economic benefits to the region. I am
also pleased that track renewal work, such as on the line between Reading and
Basingstoke, will improve the reliability of rail services for my constituents. I am glad to
see from the Draft Strategy that there are plans for similar rail improvement programmes
across the region.
The economic benefits and growth that rail improvements can bring is evident in my
constituency. The expansion to Reading Station that was completed in 2014 and the
introduction of the Elizabeth Line, which terminates in Reading, has seen significant
development and economic investment in the area around the station. This rapid
regeneration has created additional housing and commercial space, and I hope that the
improvements to connectivity of the rail network will see further economic benefits to
our area and the region as a whole.
I also recognise the importance of Reading Station’s role as a key interchange in the
region’s rail network. Recent reports from the Office of Rail and Road indicate
that Reading Station is the ninth busiest in the country outside of London; about 13.5
million passengers used the station between April 2023 and March 2024. These figures
represent an 8.8% increase on the previous year and the three smaller stations in Reading – Reading West, Tilehurst and Green Park – also saw an increase in usage. I am pleased
that more residents are choosing to make their journeys by rail, and I hope that these
numbers will increase following the further improvements that TfSE intends to make to
the region’s rail network.
The Draft Strategy states that TfSE aims to improve bus services by working with local
authorities and bus operators to make bus services more affordable, reliable, and
customer-focused to encourage a shift from car use to public transport. I fully support
these aims and, on this point, I would like to mention that Reading already has a bus
service under public ownership, which has led to a better service for customers and to us
having one of the most environmentally-friendly fleets of buses in the country. Newly
published figures show that bus usage in Reading has grown by 11.4% to 19.5m passenger
journeys in the last year, meaning we have the third highest number of bus journeys per
head of population in England outside of London. Reading Buses and the Council recently
secured £4.7m of Government funding to invest in 24 new zero-emission electric double
deck buses, which will begin operating on some of the town’s busiest routes in June
2025. This will help reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and protect the health
and wellbeing of Reading’s residents. I hope that this level of service can be replicated
in other towns and cities across the region.
I agree that new transport developments in the region should leave the environment
better off than before by enhancing biodiversity, using sustainable design, and
integrating green solutions into infrastructure projects. I was pleased to see that
Reading’s Green Park was highlighted as one of the projects in the region that has
demonstrated best practices in urban and transport planning by combining medium
density business and residential growth with a new rail station.
I strongly support TfSE’s goal to decarbonise the region’s transport network and to lead
the South East towards a net zero transport future by 2050. Investment in our public
transport plays a vital role in tackling climate change and improving air quality in our
towns and cities. TfSE’s stated goals echo the ambitions set Reading Borough Council’s
‘Reading Transport Strategy 2040’, which aims to create a clean and green Reading,
supporting healthy lifestyles, enabling sustainable and inclusive growth, connecting
people and places, and embracing smart solutions. The ambition has been set
for Reading to achieve a net zero carbon status by 2030, and measures to improve our
town’s active travel infrastructure and public transport will play a vital role in this. I
hope that the work being done in Reading to achieve these goals will contribute towards
TfSE’s wider efforts to decarbonise the region.
I am also pleased to note the emphasis that TfSE places on the enhancement of walking
and cycling infrastructure to make it safer and easier for people to choose active travel
modes for short trips.
Whilst it is important to reduce reliance on cars and other vehicles, I recognise that
some journeys will still need to be made this way, and I therefore welcome the strategy’s
ambition to decongest our road networks and to roll out EV charging infrastructure across
the region.
The strategy also rightly recognises that the Government’s proposals regarding planning
and devolution could help to speed up important transport infrastructure development. I
am encouraged to note that TfSE stands ready to support its constituent authorities in
navigating these changes and capitalising on new opportunities as they emerge. In my
area, I hope that this could lead to progress on important issues such as the long-debated
‘third bridge’, which would prevent a large number of HGVs and vehicles not destined for
Reading from passing through the town centre and other residential areas. I support a
third bridge for the town as long as it doesn’t damage the environment and it has suitable
roads to link to north of the Thames to avoid congestion. I am pleased that TfSE’s Draft
Transport Strategy supports measures to ensure the right vehicles are directed to the
right roads, minimising impact on roadside communities.
I would like to register my support for the Draft Transport Strategy; I believe that the
ambitions of this plan, if realised, will help the Country accelerate the transition to net
zero, bring economic growth and investment to our region, and will make both long
distance and hyper-local travel by rail, bus, bicycle or foot more appealing and
achievable for my constituents and the population of the whole South East.
Your sincerely,
Matt Rodda MP