This year’s Better Transport Week (15th-21st June), led by Campaign for Better Transport, brings together transport operators, local authorities, industry bodies and campaigners from across the sector. The week focuses on how journeys are delivered across the network rather than within individual modes, bringing rail, bus, tram and active travel into the same conversation. In 2025, more than 40 events took place across England and Wales, involving over 200 organisations. Activity included technical sessions, policy discussions, depot and station visits, alongside community events in cities including Leeds, Cardiff, Manchester, Bristol and Newcastle.
For those starting out in rail, careers are often shaped around specialisms such as infrastructure, operations, signalling or rolling stock. Better Transport Week places those roles within a wider context, showing how rail connects with local transport, planning and wider journey outcomes. The week brings early-career professionals into contact with operators, planners and local authorities working on connected parts of the transport system, helping to show how decisions made in one area affect performance elsewhere.
For YRP members, Better Transport Week offers an opportunity to step outside day-to-day disciplines and see how rail fits within a wider, integrated transport network. As the industry continues to move towards greater coordination between modes, understanding how different parts of the system connect will become increasingly important for those building careers in rail.