Campaign for Better Transport has announced that Lord Peter Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, will deliver the keynote address at Better Transport Conference 2026 in London next week. Lord Hendy will join Campaign for Better Transport Chief Executive Ben Plowden for a fireside chat to discuss the reform agenda shaping the future of travel in the UK.

A long-standing champion of buses and community rail, Lord Hendy will speak to some of the most pressing questions in transport today, including what “transport that connects” means for people who rely on it, and how the government’s agenda reflects a shift in priorities.

Lord Hendy served as Transport Commissioner for London from 2006 to 2015, overseeing the transformation of the capital’s transport network, before becoming Chair of Network Rail from 2015 to 2024. He brings decades of experience at the forefront of transport policy and delivery to this year’s conference, which is free-to-attend and sponsored by AtkinsRéalis.

In addition to Lord Hendy’s fireside chat, a conference session on rail reform will examine what structures and passenger protections need to be in place for Great British Railways to deliver – including the case for a Long-Term Rail Strategy, and fares guardrails. Speakers include experts from Railway Industry Association, SouthEastern, Common Wealth, and CILT(UK).

On buses, a dedicated session will bring together operators, authorities and policymakers to tackle the practical barriers standing between the Bus Services Act and better services on the ground – covering accessibility, service provision, and whether the £3 fare cap is the right affordability lever. Throughout the day, conference attendees will also hear expert perspectives from West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Urban Transport Group on what integrated settlements look like in practice, and where the gaps remain, in devolution and local transport delivery.

Ben Plowden, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: “Having Lord Hendy join us is a real coup for the conference. He brings significant insight across rail, buses and integrated transport, and is a leading voice in the current transport reform agenda. Transport policy and delivery are not purely technical processes – they raise challenging questions about principles and priorities.

“This means the improvements to transport we need can be at risk when political shifts occur, and priorities change. At this year’s Better Transport Conference 2026, we want to ask how we can ensure that transport decisions have the best interests of the whole community at heart.”

There will also be a session examining what communities are asking for when it comes to transport. Here, speakers from sponsor Bauer Media Outdoor UK, Transport for Wales and more will ask how organisations can come together to connect passengers, local authorities and operators.

Neil Chapman, Product Design Director, UK & Europe at Bauer Media Outdoor, said: “Better transport doesn’t start with vehicles or timetables, it starts with the spaces people use every day – stops, stations and streets that feel safe, accessible and worth spending time in.

“Bauer Media Outdoor knows first-hand how well-designed infrastructure can make public transport more attractive, especially for those who don’t currently feel it works for them. I’m looking forward to joining this year’s Better Transport Conference to talk about how designers, operators, authorities and communities can work together to turn good policy into places people actually want to use.”

The Better Transport Conference is free to attend and takes place at London South Bank University during Better Transport Week (15–21 June), which this year focused on how better transport connects people and places.

To book your free ticket, visit: https://linkly.link/2kHM9