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Landor LINKS LIVE: View Coming Events
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Who should attend?

This unique event will bring together local authorities, operators, consultancy and service providers to share best practice across the rural bus sector. We welcome professionals from a range of sectors involved in the following areas:

  • Overcoming the particular challenges faced by rural areas and local authorities outside of major cities

  • Embedding bus services in new development

  • Evaluating the extent and effectiveness of policy and governance in supporting rural bus services

  • Framing the urban / rural debate – rural transport can have many benefits for urban populations

  • The social and economic consequences of poor connectivity

  • How can innovation and alternative service models provide solutions?

  • Low carbon rural tourism, leisure and the visitor economy

  • New directions in rural transport, including mobility hubs and e-bikes

  • Demand Responsive Transport

  • Total Transport (community, health and education) solutions

  • New approaches to evaluation and economic models in the rural context​

  • Skills, training and resource in rural authorities

  • Behaviour change / modal shift in a rural context

  • Improving digital connectivity to support innovative services

  • Transport technology platforms, tools and services

  • Taxis, coaches, car share and supporting services

  • Creating safe, reliable, and inclusive integrated networks

  • Fares and ticketing

  • Tackling the climate emergency

  • Reducing car dependency and promoting rural active travel

  • Supporting the regeneration of rural towns and places

  • Working examples from Europe – best and emerging practice

  • New approaches to allocating limited road space

  • Rural 20-minute cities

  • Bus shelters and roadside infrastructure

  • Information and communications

Delegate rates

Private Sector

ÂŁ339 + VAT

Public Sector

ÂŁ275 + VAT

Programme

Please note the programme is currently under development

09.00

Registration
Tea and coffee served in the exhibition area in the Concourse Room

10.00

LONG ROOM

Opening plenary

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Welcome from Cllr Karen Shore, Deputy Leader, Cheshire West and Chester Council and member of the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority

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Leon Daniels, Chair of the Bus Centre of Excellence (BCoE) Advisory Board

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Stephen Fidler, Director – Local Passenger Transport & Inclusion, Department for Transport

Rose McArthur, Director - Transport, Highways, Infrastructure and Climate Change at Cheshire West and Chester Council

11.00

Morning break
Tea and coffee served in the exhibition area

11.30

LONG ROOM

Integrated services, connected communities​

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​Chair: Alistair Kirkbride, Director, Low Carbon Destinations

 

Connecting Rural Communities: Dorset’s Core Routes & Community Transport

Izaaz Munshi, Transport Planner, Dorset Council

 

Rural Connectivity: DRT, Local Links and Lessons Learnt

Pam Turton, West of England Combined Authority

 

Tiger on Demand: Improving Rural Connectivity in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough through Demand Responsive Transport

Andrew Highfield, Assistant Director, Public Transport Services, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and Rachel Goodwin, Public Transport Customer Development Manager, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority

 

Including cabs in the rural transport mix

Paul Bakker, Director, Traintaxi Limited

 

EXECUTIVE BOX 8

Local planning and rural buses​

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This session will explore key issues for Local Transport Authorities, operators, planning authorities and the wider developer/consultant community.

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Through case studies and reviews of recent planning decisions, the session will explore:

 

  • Impacts of Standard Method to assess housing needs on rural planning authorities

  • What is the level of bus service that presents a 'genuine choice of modes' in a small market town or village context? 

  • What should planning authorities and the Planning Inspectorate be planning for?

  • Remote new communities - can they ever be truly sustainable?

  • Corridor-focused development strategies - and pooling of contributions from multiple sites

  • Frequency vs hours of operation to secure a relevant choice - what should be the focus for service improvements ?

  • Developer contributions: how far can we expect developers to address service deficits when viability is challenged? 

 

Session led by Nick Small, Head of Built Environment and Infrastructure, Go Ahead Group​

 

Speakers:

 

Phil Turner, Associate Director, Steer 

​

Neil Davies, Bus Planning Specialist, AtkinsRealis 

TURF ROOM

The evidence base for rural buses​

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Chair: Antoneta Horbury, Director of Policy and Technical Affairs, Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT)

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Rural Mobility Fund phase 1 evaluation

Outcomes and insights from the final report

The final report summarises lessons learnt, operation and performance of the demand responsive transport pilots in rural and suburban areas to date.

​Kiron Chatterjee, Professor of

Travel Behaviour, University of the West of England, Bristol 

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The social value of DRT and rural fixed schedule buses​
Daniel Johnson, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Transport Studies (ITS), University of Leeds​​

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Why haven’t concessionary passengers returned? Insights from Essex’s post Covid ENCTS deep dive

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40 minute workshop led by James Hopkins, Lead for Digital, Customer and Innovation, Essex County Council, Maddy Thompson, Associate Director of Research and Strategy, Rocket Science, and Tim Edwards, Associate Director at Integrated Transport Planning Haskoning

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In Essex, ENCTS use in 2024 was around 30% below pre pandemic levels, despite more residents having an ENCTS pass. Recent scrutiny from the Public Accounts Committee highlighted that there is a lack of clear, data led understanding of why elderly and disabled passengers have not returned to bus travel. Essex County Council commissioned research to understand why older and disabled residents are travelling less, and what would meaningfully increase their bus use.

13.00

Lunch break
Refreshments served in the exhibition area in the Concourse Room

14.00

LONG ROOM

Serving the rural economy​

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Chair: Caroline Whitney, England Director, Community Transport Association

 

A better way to provide rural services? - The Switzerland in the Peak District approach

Nigel Hutton and Thomas Ableman, Joint Leads, Mini Switzerland/Switzerland in the Peak District

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North Wales Bus Infrastructure Enhancement Study: A marginal gains approach to bus priority in a rural context

Daniel McCool, Associate - Transport Planning, Arup & Vic Turner, Senior Project Manager, Transport for Wales

 

Identifying gaps in public bus service connectivity in rural Norfolk

Tom McKenna, Business Development Manager, Alchera Technologies

 

Low carbon rural tourism, leisure and the visitor economy - Days Out By Bus

Geoff Wade, Community Engagement Lead (Bus Network), North East Combined Authority

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Improving rural bus services in the Brackley area

Edwin Swaris, Sustainable
Travel Manager, West Northamptonshire Council and Robin Pointon, Managing Director and Founder, GO Travel Solutions 

EXECUTIVE BOX 8

People-first services​

​

​Chair: Robert Davis, Head of Active & Sustainable Travel, Trueform

 

The role of bus in delivering Social Value in rural communities

Martin Meacham, Principal Consultant Bus, SYSTRA

 

From Service to Lifeline: Embedding the Passenger Voice in Rural Bus Networks

Lydia Horbury, CEO Bus Users UK

 

When the Bus Disappears: Measuring the Real Impact of Rural Bus Service Cuts

Daniel Saunders, Chief Product Officer, Basemap

 

Connected Communites: The Bus Service Standard

Silviya Barrett, Director of Policy and Research, Campaign for Better Transport

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What do the public want and need from a rural bus network

Clare Waldron, Associate Director, ITP Haskoning

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​

 

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TURF ROOM

Bus Franchising Pilots​

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In 2025 the government announced it would run Bus Franchising Pilots in five regions: with the aim of exploring how local authorities can take control of bus networks in rural areas.

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Chair: Steve Hunter, Associate Director and bus regulatory reform advisory practice lead, Steer

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Panellists Include:

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Miriam Binsztok, Transport Coordination Service Manager, Cornwall Council and Peter Hardy, Technical Director, ITP Haskoning

 

Alice Missler, Passenger Transport Manager,

Hertfordshire County Council & Mike Holmes, Director – Passenger Transit, WSP​​

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Matthew Elliott, Bus Reform Officer, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

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Graeme Innes, Senior Manager - Infrastructure Planning and Transport, Cumberland Council 

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Kristy Littler, Transport Manager, Cheshire West and Chester Council

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15.30

Tea and coffee served in the exhibition area

16.00

LONG ROOM

Closing plenary​: Devolution and changes in local government

 

As local government is re-organised and new Combined Authorities take over responsibility for transport plans, strategies, investment and bus operations throughout their regions, what will be the priorities for rural bus services and how will they be delivered?

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Panel led by: Leon Daniels, Chair of the Bus Centre of Excellence (BCoE) Advisory Board with speakers from Combined Authorities across the UK

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Panellists include:

  • Councillor Karen Shore, Deputy Leader, Cheshire West and Chester Council and member of the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority​

  • Councillor Hans Mundry, Leader, Warrington Borough Council and member of the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority​

  • Councillor Mark Goldsmith, Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport, Cheshire East Council​​​

  • Richard Wellings, Principal Public Transport Officer, East Midlands Combined County Authority

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17.15

LONG ROOM

Closing address​


Ruth Cadbury, Chair, Transport Select Committee​​​

17.30 

Networking reception, sponsored by Trueform

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18.15

Event close

Speakers
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Stephen Fidler

Director - Local Passenger Transport & Inclusion

Department for Transport

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Rose McArthur

Director - Transport, Highways, Infrastructure and Climate Change

Cheshire West and
Chester Council

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Daniel McCool

Associate - Transport Planning

Arup

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Adam Marsden

Principal Consultant Bus

SYSTRA

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Izaaz Munshi

Transport Planner

Dorset Council

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Daniel Saunders

Chief Product Officer

Basemap

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Steve Hunter

Associate Director

Steer​

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Kiron Chatterjee

Professor of Travel Behaviour University of the West of England, Bristol â€‹

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Rachel Goodwin

Public Transport Customer Development Manager, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority​

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Tim Edwards

Associate

ITP Haskoning​

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Nigel Hutton

Joint Lead

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Mini Switzerland in the
Peak District

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Mike Holmes

Director, Passenger Transport

WSP

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Caroline Whitney

Director, England

Community Transport Association​

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Councillor Hans Mundry

Leader​

Warrington Borough Council

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Neil Davies

Bus Planning Specialist

AtkinsRealis

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Cllr Karen Shore

Deputy Leader

Cheshire West and Chester Council

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Thomas Ableman

Joint Lead, Mini Switzerland

Switzerland in the
Peak District

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Silviya Barrett

Director of Policy and Research

Campaign for Better Transport

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Pam Turton

Director of Bus Operations

West of England Combined Authority

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Martin Meacham

Principal Consultant Bus

SYSTRA

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Alice Missler

Passenger Transport Manager

Hertfordshire County Council​

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Matthew Elliott

Bus Reform Officer

York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

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Daniel Johnson

Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds​​

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Geoff Wade

Community Engagement Lead (Bus Network) 

North East Combined Authority​

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James Hopkins

Lead for Digital, Customer and Innovation

Essex County Council​​​​

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Antoneta Horbury

Director of Policy and
Technical Affairs

Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation

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Richard Wellings

Principal Public Transport Officer
East Midlands Combined County Authority
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Ruth Cadbury

Chair

​Transport Select Committee

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Councillor Mark Goldsmith

Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport
Cheshire East Council

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Leon Daniels

Chair

Bus Centre of Excellence (BCoE) Advisory Board

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Nick Small

Head of Built Environment and Infrastructure

Go Ahead Group

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Lydia Horbury

CEO

Bus Users UK​

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Vic Turner

Senior Project Manager

Transport for Wales

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Clare Waldron

Associate Director

ITP Haskoning

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Tom McKenna

Business Development Manager

Alchera Technologies

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Phil Turner

Associate

Steer

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Paul Bakker

Director

Traintaxi 

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Peter Hardy

Technical Director
ITP Haskoning​

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Maddy Thompson

Head of Research

Rocket Science

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Miriam Binsztok

Transport Coordination Service Manager
Cornwall Council

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Alistair Kirkbride

Director
Low Carbon Destinations
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Robert Davis

Head of Active & Sustainable Travel​

Trueform​

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Kristy Littler

Transport Manager
Cheshire West and Chester Council

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Hosted by:

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Tuesday 9 June 2026
Chester Racecourse

In Partnership with:

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Supported by:

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Supporting rural and
low-density bus services

Sponsored by:

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