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Last updated:7th November 2006 Quick links:
Useful websites:Department for Transport - statistics Department of Transprt - local transport plans South West Regional Assembly, 2004 European Environment Agency - Transport growth: an environmental dilemma |
TransportWhat's new on this page...
Key factThe average person in the South West travelled 7,919 miles in 2003/2004, more miles than any other region and significantly higher than the English average BackgroundThe South West peninsula extends over 350 km from the south-western tip of Cornwall to the northern border of Gloucestershire. It’s size and rural nature can create accessibility problems. Even though the distance is slightly further, it takes almost an hour less to travel by car from the north of the region to Scotland than it does to travel from the north of the region to the tip of Cornwall. Accessibility tends to decline with the motorway network ending at Exeter and slow rail links past the city with track speeds below 75 mph (South West Regional Assembly, 2004). All information in the following section is from the Department for Transport, unless otherwise stated. South West perspectiveThe volume of transport is increasing in the South West, due to a number of factors including population increase, growth of tourist numbers, increases in economic activity, and rising car ownership. There were over 3.14 million vehicles licensed in the South West during 2004, 11% of the English total. The total number of vehicles increased by almost 10% between 2001 and 2004. During 2003/2004, South West residents made more journeys per person than in any other region, accounting for 12% of the national total or 1,056 trips. More people travelled by private car than in any other region, with the South West accounting for 13% (709 trips) of the national total. However, the South West had the second highest number of trips made by foot with 12% (268 trips).
People in the South West have some of the least accessible bus services in England, with only 82% living within a 13 minute walk of an hourly service compared to the English average of 90%. This may partly explain why just 6% of trips were made by public transport, the lowest recorded in any region. The average person in the South West travelled 7,919 miles in 2003/2004,
more miles than any other region and significantly higher than the English
average of 6,787. Almost 86% (6,785) of this was made by car, whilst just
2% was made on foot and under 9% by public transport. Between 1994 and 2004, the volume of traffic on major roads in the South West increased by almost 23%, the joint 2nd highest increase of the English regions with the South East and above the English average of 20%. Increase in traffic on major roads by region 1994 - 2004
Source: Dept for Transport (2005) Between 1995/1996 and 2004/2005 rail patronage grew by 42% in the South West, higher than the national average of 38%. During 2004/2005, 59% of national rail journeys started within the South West ended within the region, 19% were destined for London and 11% to the South East. Regional rail patronage growth index in the South West & England 1994/95 - 2004/05
Source: Dept for Transport (2005) There is a growing demand for air travel within the region. Although the 112,600 takeoffs and landings in the region accounted for just 7% of the English total, the number of passengers at airports in the region increased by 25% between 2003 and 2004. This was significantly higher than the English average of 8%. Between 1994 and 2004, air travel increased by 81% in the region, which is again significantly higher than the national average of 52%. Bristol airport is the busiest in the region, with 4.6 million passengers in 2004, 71% of the regional total, followed by Exeter and Bournemouth airports. Increase in air transport movements (landings and take-offs) in the South West 1994 - 2004
Source: Dept for Transport (2005) A more local perspectiveTransport plays a key role in supporting regional and local prosperity, economic growth and enhancing quality of life. The Transport Act 2000 requires local transport authorities (county councils and unitary authorities) to produce and maintain a Local Transport Plan (LTP). This is a 5-year strategy for the development of local, integrated transport, supported by a programme of transport improvements. The LTP also forms a bid to Government for funding of the improvements. Each LTP contains a series of targets monitoring the impact of the strategy, progress towards which is monitored in annual reports. National perspectiveThe volume of traffic increased by 81% between 1980 and 2004, from 277 to 502 billion vehicle kilometres. However, the majority of this growth occurred between 1980 and 1990, with 21% of this growth occurring since 1990. The average person in England travelled 6,787 miles in 2003/2004, 81% of which was made by car. Just 3% of these miles were made on foot and 13% by public transport. Car traffic has increased by 85% since 1980, from 215 to 398 billion vehicle kilometres. A total of 992 trips per person were made during 2003/2004. Around 65% of these journeys were made by car, 25% on foot, 6% by local bus, 3% by other public transport and 3% by other private modes. People in the North East made the least trips by private car and the highest number of journeys by foot. People in London were the most likely to travel by public transport. The volume of traffic on major roads in England increased by 20% between 1994 and 2004. The East Midlands had the highest rate of increase with 25%, closely followed by the South West and South East, both with 23%. With just 0.3%, London had the lowest increase in England. Between 1994/1995 an 2004/2005, rail patronage grew by 38% in England. This growth was highest in Yorkshire & the Humber with 63% and the East Midlands with 60% and at 29% it was lowest in the North East. Over 1.7 million landings and takeoffs took place in English airports during 2004, an increase of 52% since 1994. With an increase of 223%. the East had by far the largest increase in air transport movements between 1994 and 2004. All regions experienced an increase of at least 22%, the lowest being in London. Examining the long-term links between transport & the UK's economic productivity, growth & stabilityThe Eddington Transport Study is a joint HM Treasury and Department for Transport project examining the long-term links between transport and the UK's economic productivity, growth and stability, within the context of the Government's broader commitment to sustainable development and the environment. The Study was announced in Budget 2005 and will report around the time of the 2006 Pre-Budget Report. The Secretary of State for Transport (Douglas Alexander): Sir Rod Eddington is currently conducting a transport study looking at the long-term impact of transport decisions on the UK's productivity, stability and growth, within the context of government's commitment to sustainable development. European & worldwide perspective (where available)Polluting emissions from transport continue to impact on health and undermine progress towards Kyoto targets, according to a new report by the European Environment Agency (2006). Transport growth - an environmental dilemma shows that more goods and passengers are being transported farther and more frequently across Europe. While greenhouse gas emissions from other sectors decreased, those from transport in European countries increased by more than 22% between 1990 and 2003. Air passenger transport grew at the fastest rate (96 % between 1990 - 2002), while the share of road and rail remained constant. Relative decoupling of growth in freight transport volumes from economic growth has only been achieved in the EU-10 group of new Member States, where transport volumes grew less than the economy as a whole. Relative decoupling of passenger transport volumes has been achieved in the last six years for which data is available for the EEA countries as a whole, but not for all member countries every year. The report foresees that many European cities will continue to fail air quality limits. Ozone incidents - when pollution interacts with sunlight to cause a high level of Ozone (O3) in the lower atmosphere - are frequent now, and air quality limits set for ozone in 2010 are widely exceeded already. The impacts on health are severe: estimates suggest that as many as 370, 000 people die prematurely every year in Europe due to air pollution. Key Facts:Passenger transport
Freight transport
Air transport
Road transport currently accounts for 79% of all passenger transport and 44% of freight in Europe. Car numbers have trebled in the last 30 years and are rising by 3 million a year. Every day 10 hectares of land are covered over by new road infrastructure in order to accommodate increasing demand and reduce congestion, equating to 1,200 km of new road every year. Between 1970 and 1998, the proportion of passenger travel by rail fell from 10% to 6% and freight from 21% to 8%. As a result, 600 km of rail track is closed every year. Air traffic has increased by over 7% since 1980 and is set to double
every 10 to 14 years (European
Commission, 2001). |
