Developing sustainable regional and sub-regional transport networks

Developing sustainable transport networks will be a key priority for ensuring connectivity between towns, cities and regions.

Paris regional express service. Photo by Urban Exposure

To encourage sustainable public transport use, improved regional and sub-regional connectivity by energy efficient modes are required. This could mean an improved passenger and freight rail network. For example, linkages can be made into the High Speed Rail network, facilitating the use of rail instead of short haul air. Policies can cover various technologies, including heavy rail, light rapid transit and bus based systems. Actual technologies used will depend on geographical and topographical context, transport and urban planning objectives and economic viability.

Sub-regionally, tram-train networks are becoming especially effective at integrating suburban and remote communities with larger urban centres – examples are found in Karlsruhe and Kassel. When the same vehicles are used on heavy rail infrastructure and urban tram systems, removing the need for interchanges.

Photo by Cosmin Saveanu

Regional express services

The Paris RER (Réseau Express Régional) network offers an excellent example of regional level services.

The RER serves the Île de France (greater Paris) region, including five express commuter train lines that travel within Paris and beyond, complimenting the Metro, which is generally slower as it serves a much greater density of stations and stops just outside the city limits.

Thameslink and Crossrail in London are conceived to offer a similar regional express service in South East England.

Good examples of area-wide services also extend to rural areas, often with a social inclusion dimension. Public transport services that respond to passenger demand are popular, such as the Interconnect (Lincolnshire) and Cango (Hampshire). There is much potential for this type of demand responsive public transport service between urban centres and within suburban areas.

Cycling and walking networks are likely to play an increasingly important role in travel choices at sub-regional and city scales. By providing predominantly car-free routes across cities and between settlements, people will be able to make positive choices to change the way they travel to work and spend their leisure time. The role of the wider public realm network is central to supporting lower carbon models of movement.

Networks are most likely to be established by linking together existing recreational routes and pathways to form interconnected infrastructure. Cycling routes should connect to transport facilities and convenient, safe cycle storage facilities should be provided. Projects are best led jointly as part of both green infrastructure and transport initiatives.

Photo by Stephen McLaren

Sustrans

The Sustrans National Cycle Network covers over 12,000 miles of routes and links. Over 350 million walking and cycling trips are made on the Network annually (2007). The routes are free to use and open to all. The first Sustrans route was the Bristol and Bath Railway Path, a 17-mile traffic-free trail along a disused railway.

Connect2 is Sustrans' National Lottery funded walking and cycling project which aims to add 79 more walking and cycling routes to the UK in the next 5 years.

Priority: encourage public transport, walking and cycling
Tags: transport, regions and subregions