Scotland needs a vibrant, joined-up, reliable transport system to fuel economic success and nurture thriving, stable communities. However transport provision and future development now face threats from post-COVID adjustment, new work patterns, outcomes of war-driven economic uncertainty, global inflation and the likely spending consequences of high public debt. So what really lies ahead for transport and where and how should we plan and invest for resilience, reliability and growth in our transport systems and services? How does Scottish transport deliver on demand, affordability and net zero when faced with both a climate of global uncertainty and global uncertainty on climate?

This conference will take place online.

Scotland’s railways have a critical role to play in supporting the wider economy, our communities and Scotland’s push for Net Zero. However, the impact of the past two years presented a fundamental challenge to the scope, viability and purpose of rail as passenger numbers plummeted and travel patterns altered. What therefore needs to happen next to ensure rail in Scotland’s long-term sustainability?

This conference will take place online.

The Scottish Government wants to partner with Scottish councils and others to deliver 20 minute neighbourhoods in Scotland. Its intent to do so is included in the 2020-21 Programme for Government and many places in Scotland do seem to have the building blocks needed to become 20 minute neighbourhoods. However the same is also true of many other communities globally – and yet few have so far succeeded. So what does it take to move from just proposing 20 minute neighbourhoods to really delivering them on the ground in Scotland?

This conference will take place online.

The 6th Annual Scottish Transport Conference examines how Scottish transport can meet four core challenges:

Online

Transport is critical to wider economic recovery, sustains community well-being and is a core economic activity in its own right. Making sure that our transport systems, companies and services remain viable and can support the development of a Coronavirus-compliant ‘new normal’ is essential. Facing huge reductions in passengers, dramatic loss of revenues and fragile passenger confidence, how does passenger transport survive coronavirus? Where is action needed to ensure that transport is in a fit state to support wider economic recovery?

Online