Unlocking the future of UK transport: Why digital partners are key to delivering the sector's ambitions

The UK’s passenger transport sector is on the brink of major transformation. In a landmark announcement, the government pledged £15.6 billion in new funding to revitalise and modernise transport infrastructure across the UK, spanning the Midlands, the North, and the West Country.  

From faster rail links to expanded bus services and smarter roads, the ambition is clear: build a more connected, efficient, and greener transport network that supports economic growth and social mobility. Following the announcement, Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: "Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands – opening up access to jobs, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change."  

But investment alone doesn’t guarantee success. As business leaders know, the challenge lies in delivering impact at scale. On time, on budget, and with public trust intact. That’s where technology can become a critical enabler, not just a supporting function. 

At OneAdvanced, we’re already helping organisations across the UK’s passenger transport ecosystem rise to this challenge. Our integrated solutions cover people & workforce management, financial control, spend management, and governance, and they are empowering operators to modernise their operations, meet regulatory demands, and drive smarter investment decisions. 

Turning billions into better services: What the funding means 

The government’s transport investment plan marks a significant shift, not just in pounds spent, but in expectations. With a clear focus on regional development, the funding aims to rebalance economic opportunity across the country, as outlined by the Transport Secretary, by improving access to jobs, education, and public services. 

But behind the headlines is a more complex picture. Transport organisations face: 

• Tight delivery windows for major infrastructure and service upgrades 

• Increased public and regulatory scrutiny over how funds are spent, especially as the Procurement Act 2023 bill also came into force earlier this year 

• A growing need to align operations with Net Zero goals and evolving policy mandates 

• Skills shortages and aging infrastructure that challenge day-to-day reliability 

To meet these demands, passenger transport decision-makers need more than project funding alone. They need trusted digital partners who understand their pressures and can deliver flexible, future-ready solutions. 

Strategic and sustainable growth 

Transport is one of the country’s most vital and visible public services, and one of the most complex to manage. From rail and bus operators to transport authorities and contract partners, the sector must balance customer expectations, workforce challenges, operational risk, and regulatory compliance—all while remaining financially sustainable 
 
At OneAdvanced, we have prioritised supporting the passenger transport industry as it undergoes major transformation. Our platform is supporting organisations, like C2C Trenitalia, one of the first train operating companies to navigate the transition from private to public sector, by enhancing budgetary oversight, improving supplier contract management and governance whilst building resilience into service delivery. Our work in this space isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about enabling long-term value through systems that evolve with your organisation, customers, and surrounding community/environment. 

Solving sector challenges with proven digital solutions 

1. Workforce Management

Transport as a whole is grappling with increased staff turnover, complex shift requirements, and the need for rapid onboarding. Legacy systems simply can’t keep up. 

Our workforce management solutions help transport providers to: 

• Plan, roster, and allocate staff efficiently 

• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and certifications 

• Reduce absence and improve engagement through intuitive digital tools 

The result? More reliable services, happier teams, and fewer operational disruptions. 

2. Finance & Spend Management

With public funding under scrutiny, transparency is non-negotiable. Leaders must not only manage their budgets, but also demonstrate clear, auditable value for every pound spent. 

Our finance systems provide: 

• Real-time visibility into expenditures, revenue, and forecasting 

• Integrated budget control and scenario planning 

• Simplified audit and compliance workflows 

For passenger transport organisations these tools are proving essential in navigating financial accountability during periods of change. 

3. Governance & Risk

From climate resilience to contractual risk, passenger transport providers must deal with an expanding array of governance challenges. Manual systems and siloed data often create blind spots that slow down response times and increase exposure. 

We can support your governance and risk management processes through: 

• Built-in policy adherence across decentralised operations 

• Automated risk tracking and escalation 

• End-to-end contract lifecycle management 

This helps build confidence with stakeholders, whether it’s within your internal board, industry regulators, or the public. 

Harnessing AI to modernise our transport networks 

The UK Government’s ‘Transport Artificial Intelligence Action Plan’ sets out a bold vision for using AI to transform the passenger transport sector. The plan aims to embed responsible, trustworthy AI across all modes of transport, delivering journeys that are safer, greener, and more efficient. From enabling autonomous vehicles to optimising real-time traffic management and improving accessibility for all users, AI is set to become a cornerstone of the nation’s transport strategy. 
 
Key initiatives include pilots for self-driving technologies across road, rail, air, and maritime, the deployment of predictive maintenance and smart signalling systems, and ensuring inclusive AI design that meets the needs of disabled and vulnerable passengers. These ambitions are supported by the broader AI Opportunities Action Plan, which outlines significant national investment in sovereign compute infrastructure, regional innovation zones, and public–private collaborations aimed at unlocking AI’s full potential. 

Delivering this vision, however, relies on the right digital partnerships. Ones that combine technical capability with deep sector understanding. This is where OneAdvanced is uniquely positioned to support transformation. With a secure, UK-sovereign AI platform, we enable transport operators to harness AI responsibly and effectively. Our technology includes retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) for real-time analysis of operational data, sector-specific AI agents for automating tasks like fleet scheduling and incident triage, and robust governance frameworks to ensure transparency, accountability and regulatory compliance. 

As government policy accelerates toward smarter mobility, we are already helping organisations across the transport sector to modernise confidently through intelligent, adaptive, and ethical AI solutions that help build a future-ready transport network. 

Driving transformation 

As we move into this new era of public investment, one thing is clear: digital transformation is no longer optional. It’s a strategic imperative. The government’s funding announcement signals a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the transport industry, but delivery will depend on more than money. It will depend on trusted partners who understand your business, your constraints, and your ambitions. 

Forward-thinking organisations will use this moment not just to expand services, but to redesign them around data, agility, and strategic value. That means integrated, AI-enabled systems that bring together workforce, finance, governance, risk, and procurement to enable better decision-making, faster delivery, and stronger frameworks. 

Whether you're preparing for rail reform, expanding bus services, or upgrading urban mobility platforms, we’re here to help you go further, faster, and with less risk. 

To learn more, please visit Software for Passenger Transport