User Insight into Pan-Northern Travel Reports

What is it?
A three‑phase research programme that builds a detailed picture of how people and businesses travel across the North. It combines data analysis, surveys and interviews to understand behaviour and needs across all modes.

How is it useful?
It helps combined authorities and partners design transport that reflects how people actually travel. Use it to shape policies, improve services and strengthen business cases with robust, user‑focused evidence.

Key findings

• Travel behaviour varies by income, age and location across the North
• Car use is dominant, but rail demand has grown strongly over time
• Many people face constraints on travel, affecting access and opportunity
• Transport access influences jobs, wellbeing and social outcomes
• Businesses highlight reliability, cost and connectivity as key issues
• Future demand is shaped by hybrid working and growth in freight

Previous phases

• User Insight into Pan-Northern Travel Report | Phase 1 | July 2018
• User Insight into Pan-Northern Travel Report | Phase 2 | May 2019