Inside the DfT’s New Transport Data Action Plan

The DfT’s new Transport Data Action Plan sets out an ambitious vision for improving how transport data is shared, managed and used across the UK. Published alongside the Government’s Better Connected strategy, it recognises that better data is fundamental to creating a more integrated, efficient and accessible transport system. 

Ben Kelly, Data Strategy Lead at the DfT, recently joined Mobilityways to explore the thinking behind the Action Plan, why improving the way organisations use and share data has become a strategic priority, and what it means for the future of transport. 

Why Better Data Matters

Transport is one of the most data-rich sectors, supporting everything from journey planning and infrastructure management to policy development and investment decisions. As transport networks become increasingly connected, the need for accurate, accessible and interoperable data has never been greater. 

At the heart of Ben’s presentation was the role that data plays in creating a more integrated transport system.

"We see data as one of the critical drivers of an improving and more integrated transport system."

Ben Kelly

Data Strategy Lead, Department for Transport

He explained that transport is one of the most measurable policy areas, providing valuable insight into how people travel and where improvements can be made. Better data helps passengers plan journeys more confidently, particularly when travelling across multiple modes of transport or during periods of disruption. It also enables transport providers, local authorities and policymakers to make better-informed decisions based on reliable evidence. 

For organisations working to reduce commuter emissions, high-quality data is equally important. Understanding existing travel patterns provides the foundation for identifying realistic alternatives to driving alone, supporting behaviour change and measuring progress over time. 

Turning Strategy into Action

While the Action Plan sets out a long-term vision, it also provides a practical roadmap for improving how transport data is managed across the sector. 

Its eleven actions are grouped into five key themes: sharing, discoverability and access; data standards and quality; skills, culture and leadership; user needs and communication; and governance, protection and ethics. Together, they aim to improve the quality, availability and use of transport data while creating the conditions for greater collaboration and innovation. 

Ben highlighted the close relationship between the Action Plan and the Government’s wider ambition to deliver a more integrated transport network. 

"A lot of the new capabilities that strategy wants to enable, such as integrated ticketing, rely on shared interoperable high-quality data flowing across organisations, with greater access for users. So data really underpins that wider strategy that we're contributing to in the department."

Ben Kelly

Data Strategy Lead, Department for Transport

Work is already underway on several initiatives, including promoting APIs as the preferred method for sharing transport data, improving data standards and exploring the creation of a Transport Data Marketplace.

What this means for organisations 

Although the Action Plan has been developed at a national level, its impact reaches far beyond central government. 

Improving access to trusted, consistent transport data will help organisations make more informed decisions, develop more effective mobility strategies and create new opportunities for innovation. Better data sharing and clearer standards should also make collaboration across the sector easier, helping organisations unlock greater value from the information they already hold. 

Ben explained that one of the biggest benefits will be creating an environment where organisations have better access to the data they need. 

We hope that the main impact for you will be that you have access to an improved data ecosystem within transport and are able to innovate and benefit from that.

Ben Kelly

Data Strategy Lead, Department for Transport

For employers, these developments are particularly relevant as organisations place greater emphasis on understanding commuting patterns, reducing Scope 3 emissions and encouraging more sustainable travel choices. Better data enables organisations to identify opportunities for change, measure the impact of initiatives and make evidence-based decisions with greater confidence. 

Ben also emphasised that technology alone will not deliver these outcomes. The Action Plan places equal importance on developing skills, encouraging a positive data culture and ensuring that organisations continue to work collaboratively across the transport sector. 

Looking ahead 

The Transport Data Action Plan has now moved from publication into delivery, with work already underway on several of its priority actions. This includes improving data standards, progressing work on accessibility data, encouraging greater data sharing and supporting organisations with clearer guidance on what good looks like. 

As the programme develops, the Department for Transport is keen to continue working with organisations across the sector to ensure the Action Plan delivers practical benefits. 

As Ben explained, the document is intended to drive meaningful change rather than simply set out ambitions. 

"We want to really use this document as a catalyst for change."

Ben Kelly

Data Strategy Lead, Department for Transport

The Transport Data Action Plan sets a clear direction for how transport data will evolve over the coming years. As delivery progresses, better collaboration, stronger standards and evidence-led decision making will help create a more connected and integrated transport system.

For Mobilityways, that message strongly aligns with our own mission. Better transport decisions start with better data. By understanding how people travel, organisations are better equipped to reduce commuter emissions, encourage sustainable travel choices and make zero carbon commuting a reality. 

Questions Asked and Answered