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PROJECTS
Mike Batheram, Market Director – Local Transport, and Alejandro Moreno, Market Director – Rail & Transit, both at AtkinsRéalis, co-write about the urgency that the industry shouldn’t be waiting for the formation of Great British Railways to establish new partnerships
Shaping the railway’s future through local partnerships
Final footbridge link installed at Darlington station as £140m transformation progresses. Image: TVCA
I
Alejandro Moreno. Image: AtkinsRéalis
t’s Monday morning in a major city region. A newly elected mayor sets out an ambitious plan for thousands of new homes, a growing employment district and a revitalised town centre, all anchored by an integrated local transport network. The vision is for strong economic growth, supported by sustainable transport. However, as delivery begins, familiar barriers surface. Station upgrades sit in a different funding stream from local regeneration. Rail service patterns are determined nationally, disconnected from local connections. Ticketing remains fragmented, making journeys less efficient for passengers. Meanwhile, local transport plans move at a different pace to rail investment cycles.
June 2026
Mike Batheram. Image: AtkinsRéalis