CBI – 'Time to Change Gear?'

This report by the CBI assesses the current state of the UK transport network and draws on a range of published evidence in order to rate different modes of transport according to their reliability and capacity.

The road network comes off worst, rated 'poor' and judged to be worsening both in terms of reliability and capacity. More improvement has been made on the railways, with train travel rated 'satisfactory' for its reliability, judged as improving and 'satisfactory' for capacity.

Capacity at UK airports is rated 'poor' by the report and getting worse. Their reliability is assessed as 'satisfactory.' The report contains a five point plan which, the CBI suggests, would make a real difference to the UK's transport network if implemented by the government.

Briefly, it advocates: keeping the transport budget at the level outlined in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review; promoting and inviting private investment in transport; establishing how alternative pricing structures can be used to help congestion and encourage investment; ending the ongoing rounds of consultation and delivering a long-term transport plan; and, removing barriers to the delivery of transport projects by implementing the Planning Act and acting on national policy statements.