Bath and North East Somerset Council has welcomed a landmark £752 million government investment in the West of England’s transport network, calling it a “turning point” for regional mobility.
Labour West of England Metro Mayor Helen Godwin revealed that this substantial funding is set to pave the way for a modern mass transit system in the area. While the new system could feature trams, light rail, or guided buses, the focus will also include significant upgrades to existing bus services, increased train frequencies on suburban lines, and targeted road improvements.
Deputy Leader of Liberal Democrat-run Bath and North East Somerset Council, Sarah Warren, expressed enthusiasm about the transformative potential of the investment. “This funding heralds a new era for sustainable transport in our region,” she said. “It’s an enormous opportunity to deliver a cleaner, greener, and better-connected future for our communities. From advancing mass transit options to electrifying our entire bus fleet, this will help reduce congestion, meet our net zero emissions goals, and encourage more people to use public transport, walk, or cycle.”
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Though there is longstanding local support for bringing trams back to Bath, Mayor Godwin emphasized a flexible, “mode agnostic” approach to the mass transit system. “There’s a lot of affection for trams—they hold a special place in local history,” she noted. “If the infrastructure and budget support trams in specific parts of the network, that’s fantastic. But if guided buses or light rail are the better fit, that works just as well.”
Even if trams are introduced, the new mass transit system is unlikely to replicate the historical tramway networks of Bath or nearby Bristol. Buses will remain the backbone of public transport, with mass transit investments targeting congestion hotspots such as the A4 corridor between Bath and Bristol and establishing a dedicated connection to Bristol Airport.
Realistically, construction and implementation could be years away. Previous mass transit proposals like the “Bristol Underground” were budgeted in the billions. From the current funding package, only around £200 million is earmarked for mass transit development.
“This funding doesn’t mean we’ll have a fully operational mass transit network in five years,” Godwin acknowledged. “But it sets us firmly on a fixed path toward delivery, which is an essential milestone. We have lagged behind, and while the combined authority has been around for nine years, this marks a fresh and decisive direction for us.”
In addition to the mass transit plans, £150 million is allocated to boost the frequency of suburban rail services, aiming for up to four trains per hour across the network.
The £752 million investment is part of a wider £15.6 billion national transport funding announcement covering six English regions. The West of England Combined Authority, encompassing Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, and South Gloucestershire, leads this initiative, with North Somerset expected to join both the combined authority and the emerging mass transit network.