Our directorates

Transport Scotland is split into the following Directorates, each with their own responsibilities to help deliver the National Transport Strategy:

Bus, Concessionary and Active Travel

This Directorate is responsible for the Scottish Government's policy relating to bus and active travel, including:

Enabling local authorities, operators and delivery partners to improve sustainable, accessible local transport options and get the travelling public back on buses

Promoting walking, cycling and wheeling through national infrastructure and regional behaviour change delivery programmes

Policy development and implementation of sustainable and active travel policy for Scotland.

Operating the National Concessionary Travel Bus Scheme which provides free bus travel to older, disabled and young people

Delivery and administration of concessionary schemes on Bus, Rail and Ferries

Administration of Network Support Grant to bus operators

Bus Policy including National Concessionary Travel Schemes, Network Support Grant, Regulatory Policy, Community Transport, asylum seekers, anti-social behaviour, climate change and decarbonisation for bus, bus policy and strategy

Delivering improvements to bus services through the infrastructure that supports them

Environment, Climate and Sustainability 

This Directorate works across Government, and with our partners and stakeholders, to protect the environment, tackle climate change and promote sustainability in the Scottish transport system. This Directorate is responsible for:

Leading on the delivery of the Scottish Government's road transport Climate Change targets, and supporting the delivery of Low Emission Zones in Scottish cities

Working with partners to improve the resilience of Scotland’s transport sector and help it adapt to the effects of climate change

Driving the transition to zero emission vehicles for consumers and fleets through legislation, regulation, research, advice, engagement and support

Delivering Scotland’s Vision for public electric vehicle (EV) charging, working with local authorities and the private sector to leverage private investment to continue to grow public EV charging in Scotland at pace and scale

Exploring long-term grid implications of electrification of transport

Collaborating with partners on economic and workforce strategy within the Transport Just Transition Plan

Support environmental protection, sustainability, landscape and biodiversity through the development and maintenance of the Scottish trunk road network

Engaging with the haulage sector on the efficient and sustainable movement of road freight

Ferries and Ports

This Directorate supports Scotland’s transport links for our island and remote communities and is responsible for legislation, policy and guidance relating to Scotland's ferries and ports, including:

Management and future development of Clyde and Hebrides (CHFS) and Northern Isles (NIFS) ferry contracts

Vessel and infrastructure replacement

Islands Connectivity Plan

Operational policy development, including fares, timetabling, accessibility

Strategic policy development and impacts across wider Ministerial portfolios (Islands, Energy, Food & Drink, Environment, Climate Change etc.)

Broad range of active stakeholders for island communities, SMEs/industries (food/drink, tourism, etc.), local authorities, essential services

Local Authority Ferries administration of Scottish Government funding, task forces and engagement

Maritime policy including ports, harbours and shipping

Harbour orders under the 1964 Harbour Act

Finance and Corporate Services

This Directorate is responsible for supporting the operation and governance of Transport Scotland, including:

Providing staff across the organisation with dedicated HR and Learning and Development, ICT, workplace & facilities management and health and safety services

Helping the organisation to run smoothly through advice, support and challenge on information governance, business planning and risk management, as well as coordinating corporate correspondence

Aiding Transport Scotland messaging both internally through corporate communications

Providing technical and management accounting support to policy areas to drive best practice, compliance and value for money

Overseeing the financial accounting and reporting function of the organisation, as well as providing an accounts payable service

Providing a strategic advice and coordination function to the Cabinet Secretary on Portfolio Finance

Ensuring the smooth running of the organisation’s Health and Safety and Audit and Risk Committees

Providing assurance that the public bodies we sponsor are well governed and effectively delivering Scottish Minister priorities

Infrastructure Projects

This Directorate is responsible for design, development, procurement and construction of major trunk road improvement projects across Scotland. Other responsibilities include:

Planning, development and construction of major transportation projects across Scotland

Delivering large-scale infrastructure projects such as road upgrades, bypasses and bridge construction

Co-ordinating with various stakeholders, including government agencies, local authorities, private contractors and design consultants, to ensure project alignment and successful implementation

Conducting feasibility studies, risk assessments and environmental impact assessments to inform project decision making

Monitoring project progress, budget adherence, and quality standards to ensure timely completion and satisfactory outcomes

Leading and advising on procurement and contract management matters for Transport Scotland

Maintaining our status as a Centre of Excellence for the delivery of major projects.

Rail

This Directorate focuses on Rail Delivery and Rail Reform.

Rail Delivery

Responsible for Scotland's rail policy and delivery, this area focuses on:

Developing rail policy and strategic planning, including aligning it with wider social and economic policy
Delivering major projects alongside industry partners
Promoting and investing in the development of sustainable rail freight
Managing economic regulation of the railways, and monitoring and advising on the affordability of the rail programme
Setting service standards for Scotland’s railway and holding our rail delivery partners to account for delivering those services.

Rail Reform

The Westminster parliament is considering a Bill to reform the railway industry across Great Britain. This brings opportunities and risks to Scotland. In order to realise the maximum opportunities of reforms, this area is responsible for:

Leading legislative work (working with UK Government colleagues to passage of the Bill and a Scottish Parliament Legislative Motion to ensure Scotland’s interests are met)
Analysing structural options set-out in the Bill to determine the way forward for Scotland’s Railway.

Roads Delivery and Operations 

This Directorate is responsible for the safe, efficient, and sustainable operation and maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Roads, including:

Asset management and technical standards

procurement, contracts and commercial management

Roads policy

Road safety casualty reduction

Intelligent Transport Systems

Transport resilience, winter service, incident response and planning for major events

Roads and structures design standards.

Strategy, Performance and Analysis

This Directorate is responsible for strategic direction, supported by evidence and analysis, including: 

Oversight of the delivery of the National Transport Strategy and the transport sector's contribution to the Government's priorities

Supporting the organisation with analytical research, statistics, transport appraisal, economics, modelling and evaluation

Advice and support on transport infrastructure investment, including application of Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance and business case development

Portfolio management for Transport at Cabinet, including performance reporting and coordination

Leading Transport Scotland’s communication externally through digital, media communications and stakeholder engagement

Strategic relationships with Regional Transport Partnerships, COSLA, Scots, SOLACE, in addition to UK and other devolved administrations, EU alignment and relevant legislation.

Transport Integration and Connectivity

This Directorate has been established to drive integration and connectivity across Scotland’s transport system, aligning with national priorities and the National Transport Strategy (NTS2). Its vision is to deliver a seamless, accessible, and sustainable public transport network that supports economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental goals. This Directorate is responsible for:

The development of the Integrated Public Transport Strategy, business case and delivery plan to deliver the leadership and organisational change required to transform the public transport system

Deliver interventions to support the transport integration vision and add value to major strategic programmes, e.g. Clyde Metro, Aberdeen Rapid Transit, A96 and Sustainable Travel to Stations

Recommence the review of transport governance, to identify changes to support improved and integrated public transport strategy across regions

Lead the monitoring, benchmarking, lessons learned and insights from UK and wider international best practice integrated public transport exemplars to inform Integrated Public Transport Strategy

Working with operators, regional transport partners and delivery stakeholders to ensure all journeys on Scotland's bus, rail, ferry, subway and tram networks can be ticketed or paid for using smart technologies, and all public transport journey information is available in an open, digital format

Work with policy and delivery colleagues on the Accessible Travel Programme Delivery Board (ATPDB) to deliver activity under the Accessible Travel Framework which is due to end in 2026 and develop the framework successor. Deliver on the ambitions set out in our Aviation Statement including developing international connectivity, driving sectoral decarbonisation and supporting domestic connectivity.