Government explores Smart Data schemes to improve transport services and integration
The government is examining whether Smart Data – meaning a framework that enables data holders to share data securely and in a standardised way – could help tackle long-standing barriers to data sharing across the transport sector, with the aim of improving journey planning, ticketing, freight operations and network management.
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New research commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and set out in Exploring Smart Data Opportunities in the Transport Sector, found that transport data is often fragmented between organisations, transport modes and systems, limiting opportunities to deliver more integrated services and operational efficiencies.
The study, carried out by Innovate UK Business Connect, drew on workshops involving 112 representatives from across the transport sector. Participants identified 12 potential Smart Data use cases covering areas including journey planning, ticketing, electric vehicle charging, freight logistics and infrastructure management.
A Smart Data approach has already been adopted in sectors such as banking and forms part of the government's wider Smart Data Strategy, published in March, which sets out plans to expand secure, consent-based data sharing across multiple sectors of the economy under powers created by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
According to the report, current barriers to data sharing in transport are both technical and organisational. Stakeholders highlighted inconsistent data standards, incompatible systems, differing commercial incentives, concerns over liability and restrictions on how information can be shared. Legacy technology and procurement practices were also identified as obstacles to greater interoperability.
The research suggests that Smart Data schemes could help address some of these challenges by establishing common standards, clearer governance arrangements and more consistent rules for sharing information.
The potential benefits extend beyond passenger-facing services. Workshop participants identified opportunities to improve freight and logistics operations, support better management of transport infrastructure and enable closer coordination between transport networks and the energy system, particularly as electric vehicle adoption increases.
The publication forms part of a broader government effort to create a more integrated transport system. Earlier this year, the DfT's Better Connected strategy committed to increasing the use of open data and digital technologies to simplify journeys and improve coordination across transport networks.
The government said the research is exploratory and does not represent specific policy proposals. The next phase will involve assessing the feasibility of selected use cases, examining data availability and governance models, and considering how any future Smart Data schemes could complement existing transport data initiatives.