Investing in public transport could give economy £50bn annual boost, says TUC

A bus travels down the North Yorkshire coast from Whitby. The TUC says £18bn more per year should be spent on public transport. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Ministers have been urged to ramp up spending on public transport in England and Wales to tackle the climate emergency, and to unlock a £50bn a year boost to the economy, in a report by the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

The report released by the TUC, a federation representing 48 unions, argues for a radical increase in investment – calling for £18bn more a year to be spent on operating trains, trams and buses to help cut car use by 20%, improve quality of life and boost the UK economy.