Transport: innovations to address complex challenges

POST

Overview

Innovations could be applied in the UK to address complex transport challenges. For example, digital twinning technologies can be used to holistically assess the impacts of changes to passenger and freight movements across all sectors to maximise the benefits to society.[1][2][3] Innovations in the sector could also create new challenges.

Due to the low number of contributions to the horizon scan on this subject, and given overlap with other articles in this category, POST has not drafted an article for this topic. Instead, the main opportunities and challenges identified by contributors are briefly summarised below:

Infrastructure changes to enable better integration of smaller scale sustainable transport. For example, building micro-mobility systems such as e-scooters and e-bikes into the transport network.[4][5]
Integrated information systems to enable multiple companies within a supply chain to share real-time logistics data. This could reduce cost, cut delivery times and improve resource efficiency.[6][7] These could be public logistics information systems providing freely available real-time logistics operations information within a region or country.[8][9]
Developing new transport business models to more cost-effectively address sustainability and mobility issues. For example, demand responsive transport models that combine regular bus routes with taxi-like services.[10]
More investment in emerging modes of transport,[11] and greater application of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent Transport Systems, to increase sustainability.[12] For example, traffic management and forecasting using AI and mobile apps.[13][14][15]
The risk that new technologies may not solve or may exacerbate sustainability challenges.[16] For example, cars have become significantly larger over the past decade, with over 50% of UK new car sales[17] now classed as sports utility vehicles. Larger vehicles require bigger batteries and more materials, energy and carbon in their production, and greater maintenance of the infrastructure and land-take to accommodate them.[18][19]
Challenges to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, such as limited charging infrastructure, at the speed and scale required to avoid poor customer experience or inequalities.[20][21][22]
Whether innovations in aviation, such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, will contribute to a reduction in emissions.[23][24][25][26]
Issues related to the role of rail.[27][28] For example, the extent to which high-speed rail could serve as an alternative to short-distance air travel, and how conventional and freight rail can best complement other transport modes to provide efficiencies.[29][30] How new trends in rail demand, such as increasing leisure travel as opposed to business travel, can be accommodated.[31]

References

[1] Transit. (2023). Twinning for Decarbonising Transport – TransiT – is a UK research hub dedicated to digital twinning for transport decarbonisation.

[2] DfT. (2024). Integrated network management digital twin: economic benefits analysis

[3] Connected places catapult

[4] Olabi, A. et al. (2023). Micromobility: Progress, benefits, challenges, policy and regulations, energy sources and storage, and its role in achieving sustainable development goals. International Journal of Thermofluids, Volume 17, 100292

[5] McKinsey & Company. (2023). Infrastructure technologies: Challenges and solutions for smart mobility in urban areas

[6] Heinbach, C. et al. (2022). Designing a shared freight service intelligence platform for transport stakeholders using mobile telematics. Information Systems and e-Business, Volume 20, pages 847–888

[7] International Transport Forum. (2018). Information Sharing for Efficient Maritime Logistics

[8] Hu, Z. et al. (2014). A decision support system for public logistics information service management and optimization. Decision Support Systems, Volume 59, Pages 219-229

[9] Wu, Y. et al. (2024). The information value of logistics platforms in a freight matching market. European Journal of Operational Research, Volume 312, Issue 1, Pages 227-239

[10] Potter, S. et al. (2022). Demand-responsive transport returns to Milton Keynes—lessons for a bus industry in crisis?

[11] Gadd, P. (2024). Transport Vision 2050: the value of transport and alignment. UKRI

[12] Cao, Y. et al. (2024). Advanced transport systems: the future is sustainable and technology-enabled. Scientific Reports volume 14, Article number: 9429

[13] Almukhalfi, H. et al. (2024). Traffic management approaches using machine learning and deep learning techniques: A survey. Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, Volume 133, Part B, 108147

[14] Bilotta, s. et al. (2022). Short-Term Prediction of City Traffic Flow via Convolutional Deep Learning.

[15] Carmen, G. et al. (2025). Revolutionizing Urban Mobility: A Systematic Review of AI, IoT, and Predictive Analytics in Adaptive Traffic Control Systems for Road Networks. Electronics, Vol. 14, Iss. 4,

[16] Markard, J. et al. (2023). Unsustainabilities: A study on SUVs and Space Tourism and a research agenda for transition studies.

[17] T&E. (2024). Ever-wider: why large SUVs don’t fit, and what to do about it.

[18] Gómez Vilchez, J. et al. (2023). The new electric SUV market under battery supply constraints: Might they increase CO2 emissions? Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 383, 135294

[19] European Court of Auditors. (2024). Reducing carbon dioxide emissions from passenger cars. Finally picking up pace, but challenges on the road ahead. Special Report

[20] NAO. (2024). Public chargepoints for electric vehicles. Report – Value for money

[21] Innovation News Network. (2024). Challenges facing EV charging infrastructure

[22] Adamashvili, N. et al. (2024). Towards Sustainable Decarbonization: Addressing Challenges in Electric Vehicle Adoption and Infrastructure Development. Energies, 17(21), 5443

[23] Jpseph, A. (2023). eVTOL’s overpromise on green [Aviation Transport]. Engineering & Technology Volume 18, Issue 3

[24] Vashi, S. et al. (2024). Refined Analysis of CO2 Emissions in Urban Air Mobility Networks. AIAA 2024-3727, Session: Advanced Air Mobility Operations and Sustainability Considerations

[25] Khavarian K., et al. (2024). Life-cycle analysis of electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles. Transportation Planning and Technology, Volume 47

[26] Hoffman, R. et al. (2024). Evaluating the Eco-Efficiency of Urban Air Mobility: Understanding Environmental and Social Impacts for Informed Passenger Choices. INCOSE International Symposium, Volume 34, Issue 1

[27] House of Commons Library. (2024). The future of rail

[28] DfT. (2025). A railway fit for Britain’s future

[29] IEA. (2019). The Future of Rail

[30] ARUP. (2019). Future of Rail 2050

[31] RIA. (2025). Future of Rail: Demand

Photo by: Anouk van Ravenhorst, via Unsplash