Transport is vital social infrastructure, providing access to work and education opportunities, key services, community life, leisure, and recreation. And while digital service access is significantly expanding, our ability to fulfil our needs and aspirations remains linked to our ability to travel and access transport resources. Because of this, the inequalities in our transport system contribute to poverty and economic deprivation, inequalities in health and wellbeing, and social isolation. Transport for the North is taking a leading role in research and data innovation to understand this urgent social challenge, and working with our partners to deliver real change for areas and communities affected.
The transport and social exclusion in the North in 2023/24 report demonstrates the fundamental impact of transport issues on life chances and social participation.
This includes the causes of transport-related social exclusion, the populations and areas that are most affected, and what this means for transport policy, strategy, and investment in the North of England in 2024.
Read the 2023/24 report
“Our research shows that those on low incomes, and informal carers are particularly likely to face severe financial hardship, poor mental health, and isolation because of the lack of suitable transport options in their neighbourhoods.”
Connecting Communities sets the regional vision for a more effective, equal and inclusive transport system in the North, and how we will work with our partners to deliver this.
This includes the ambition to eliminate the gap in transport-related social exclusion between the North and the rest of England, across our diverse area types – meaning that by 2050 one million fewer people in the North will face a high risk of social exclusion because of transport issues than is the case today.
This evidence-based ambition is backed by a regional policy framework, defining the key steps required across public transport, active travel, our roads and policy and planning processes.
Read the strategyTfN consulted on the Connecting Communities Strategy in November and December 2022, and used this process to revise and expand the strategy. A summary of the consultation process and outcomes is available to download here.
If you require any further information on the process please email [email protected].
Consultation summary
Our vision is for a transport system that meets the needs of the diverse places and populations of the North – reducing inequalities and enhancing social inclusion.
Underlying this vision are eight principles, that draw together key elements of the evidence base published in our Transport-Related Social Exclusion in the North of England report.
The strategyOur 2019 Strategic Transport Plan committed to “improving inclusivity, health, and access to opportunities for all”, and to achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Linked to this, in 2021/22 we conducted research to determine how issues with the transport system in the North cause and exacerbate social exclusion, and to identify the population groups and area types most affected.
The Connecting Communities Strategy builds on this evidence base by defining our role on inclusive transport, the broader policy agenda necessary for significant progress on this issue.
Read our STP
“I truly believe that transport has the ability to transform people and places. It’s not just about getting from point A to B – it’s about connections: allowing communities to be sustainable and to grow; giving young people the chance to make the most of opportunities on offer; enabling older people to remain engaged and active, with a reduced risk of social isolation and loneliness.”
Our research indicates that 3.3 million people in the North live in areas where there is a significant risk of transport-related social exclusion.
These are areas in which there is the combination of poor access to key destinations by public transport and active travel, and high vulnerability to social exclusion based on local economic conditions, the demographics of the population, and multiple forms of deprivation.
This risk of TRSE is higher in the North than the rest of England, with 21.3% of the population of the North living in areas with a high risk of social exclusion specifically because of transport issues, compared with 16% of the population of the rest of England.
Our TRSE report
Our TRSE data tool provides a rigorous means of estimating the risk of social exclusion resulting from transport issues across local areas of England. This is based on analysis of the following factors:
Accessibility: The level of access to jobs, education, healthcare, and basic services by car and public transport, and the accessibility gap between car and public transport.
Vulnerability: The extent to which the population is vulnerable to social exclusion, based on the combination of socioeconomic and demographic indicators.
Use the data toolCost-of-living research shows that those with disabilities, caring responsibilities, those in low paid work amongst other groups are most at risk from increased prices. Incidentally, these sections of society have been found to be at risk from transport-related social exclusion too.
Read our Insight
Millions of people in England struggle to access essential services, jobs, and community amenities due to poor transport links. This isolation, known as community severance, affects 12.8 million people nationwide. The North West is particularly impacted, with 1.8 million residents living in areas divided by major roads or railways—24.8% of the region’s population.
While crucial for connecting people and businesses, roads and railways can also create barriers to everyday life. Community severance occurs when transport infrastructure hinders people from walking, cycling, or wheeling to essential destinations. This isolation can lead to reduced opportunities, poorer health, and social exclusion.
Our community severance report
Our interactive severance visualiser tool highlights areas where people may experience, amongst other impacts, social exclusion and isolation. This is due to the major road network, strategic road network, and rail network. This is referred to as community severance
The tool focuses on access to essential services and nearby communities within a 10-minute walk. This free resource is designed to help local authorities make informed transport decisions.
Use the severance tool
The Transport and social exclusion in the North in 2023/24 report demonstrates the fundamental impact of transport issues on life chances and social participation. This includ
The Connecting Communities strategy sets out Transport for the North's response to the urgent social challenge of transport-related social exclusion. This includes defining ho
Transport for the North has undertaken research to understand how issues with the transport system in the North leads some people to be socially excluded.
The first time the North has come together to outline the robust case for transformational transport investment across all of the North, to rebalance the UK economy
Obtaining an insight into the impacts the increased cost-of-living has had on Northern people is key in our mission to help our local authority partners and stakeholders enhan
CLOSE POPUP [X]