A fifth of people living in the north of England are not being able to take part in the opportunities and communities around them because of poor mobility and connectivity, according to a report by devolved government agency Transport for the North (TfN). TfN, in partnership with Social Research Associates and Temple, spoke to more than 3,000 members of the public and experts from across the north to understand the impact of the transport system on everyday life. Interviewees spoke of having to take taxis to work – sometimes costing as much as they earned – as a consequence of unreliable public transport services. they have to give themselves a one-hour buffer for daily commutes due to erratic services. and miss important medical appointments when services don’t turn up, sending them to the back of the queue for treatment. One participant in County Durham said: “I have been called several times recently to rescue my 80-year-old mother from a bus stop when the service was canceled with no warning or offer of help.” Another, based in Gateshead, said: “There is only one bus an hour and it didn’t turn up. The children were cold and hungry and we had no idea what was going to happen.” A Northumberland pupil told investigators: “It takes two or three buses to get to school and it takes ages. It also means I can’t stay for after-school activities and it’s also reduced my A-level choice.” Lord Patrick McLoughlin, chairman of TfN, said: “More than one in five people in the north are at risk of exclusion due to limited transport options in their community. That’s millions of people, many of whom are those with disabilities who rely on public transportation to get to work, medical appointments, or just to see friends and family. This issue is holding the region back and must be addressed if we are to reach our full potential. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. “This report shows the level of commitment we need to see if the leveling agenda is going to come to fruition. We need to see significant investment in local public transport across the north of England to ensure that those people who really need a functioning transport system get it.”
