PTEs aim to deliver single, integrated public transport networks accessible to all.
The six PTEs provide, plan, procure and promote public transport in six of England's largest conurbations: Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, West Midlands and West Yorkshire.
Strathclyde PTE became Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) in April 2006.
Between them, the PTEs and SPT serve approximately 13 million people and have a combined budget of more than £1 billion a year.
The PTEs are funded by a combination of local council tax and grants from national government. They are responsible to Integrated Transport Authorities (ITAs), made up of representatives of local councils in the areas they serve.
PTEs:
- are responsible for city region Local Transport Plans;
- produce the strategies for the development of local public transport networks;
- manage and plan local rail services (in partnership with the DfT);
- plan and fund socially necessary bus routes;
- work in partnership with private operators to improve bus services - for example through bus priority schemes;
- run concessionary travel schemes - including those for older, disabled and young people;
- invest in local public transport networks - including new rail and bus stations;
- develop and promote new public transport schemes - like light rail and guided bus networks;
- provide impartial and comprehensive public transport information services - including by phone and internet;
- manage and maintain bus interchanges, bus stops and shelters.
In some cases PTEs are the operators of public transport, such as the Tyne & Wear Metro and some ferry services. The Glasgow Subway is operated by SPT. Most public transport in PTE areas is, however, operated by private companies.
Since their creation in 1968, the PTEs have been providing solutions to the transport problems faced by some of Britain’s largest conurbations:
- PTEs have brought the tram back to Britain's cities;
- half of all bus trips outside London are made in the PTE areas;
- 175 million passengers a year use PTE and SPT rail networks - that's one in seven of all rail journeys in Great Britain;
- PTE run local concessionary fares schemes, which are a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people on low incomes;
- PTE investment in local rail networks has helped make some of those systems amongst the most successful, reliable and busiest in the country.
You can find out more about the history of the PTEs at our History and Archive hub.
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