“Using CitySwift’s Performance Optimisation platform, we've gained unprecedented insights into the Welsh bus network. This has enabled us to make informed decisions, make plans to improve service reliability, and effectively prepare for the upcoming franchising transition. CitySwift's expertise and innovative solutions have been invaluable in our mission to develop a responsive and sustainable bus network for the people of Wales.”
East Riding of Yorkshire Council is the Local Transport Authority for one of the largest and most rural unitary areas in England. The council oversees a network of 98 registered bus services operated by 11 different providers. While most services run commercially, East Riding of Yorkshire plays a key role in coordinating public transport across a dispersed population and ensuring the network meets local access and mobility needs.
In February 2025, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Hull City Council worked together to form the new Mayoral Combined Authority of Hull and East Yorkshire. The Combined Authority is technically now the Local Transport Authority for the MCA area, although transport powers are held concurrently with the two Councils until April 2026. At present delivery of BSIP and other transport schemes remains with the two constituent authorities.
Like many public authorities in the UK, East Riding of Yorkshire Council needs to meet the Department for Transport’s (DfT) growing expectations for BSIP strategy, delivery, and reporting — with a small team consisting of just two senior officers in the Council’s Transportation Services unit undertaking the bulk of the work .
Colin Walker, Head of Transportation Services, and Chris Mottershaw, Transport Commissioning Manager, are responsible for managing relationships with operators, responding to stakeholder requests, and coordinating transport funding across a wide rural network.
For the council’s first BSIP funding submission, the team worked with external consultants to prepare the required documentation. While this approach delivered a large volume of technical analysis, much of it needed reworking to fit the specific format and level of detail required for the final public-facing documents. The process demanded significant input from council staff, adding time and complexity to an already resource-intensive task.
With the DfT’s updated 2024 guidance requiring more granular and transparent data, the team needed a smarter and more scalable approach. The council made a decision to fully embed CitySwift’s business intelligence suite into their planning and reporting processes.
CitySwift plays a vital role in providing a transparent foundation for bus performance and BSIP reporting, funding bids, and day-to-day decision-making. For a small team managing a complex rural network, this level of clarity has been transformative as CitySwift supports them to quickly access accurate network performance insights based on real-world, up-to-date data.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council can now work faster and more efficiently, resulting in a more agile approach to ongoing BSIP goal delivery. Instead of relying on consultants or compiling data manually, East Riding used CitySwift to generate the specific insights needed to meet the three key BSIP priorities set out in their 2024 submission:
CitySwift will continue to play a vital role in East Riding’s BSIP delivery plan for 2025/26 and the team sees strong potential for further uses, specifically in network development and rural service viability planning.
From tracking service performance to responding to stakeholder requests and validating investment priorities, CitySwift supports the council to deliver BSIP goals, monitor progress, and make informed decisions with limited internal resources. By streamlining access to reliable data and enabling evidence-based actions, East Riding’s team are empowered to move beyond reactive reporting and into proactive delivery.
