ROUTES Project – Improving Travel in Rural North East
Funded by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority
What is the ROUTES Programme?
ROUTES (Rural Optimised User-centred Transport Eco Sytem) is a new project designed to improve transport in rural areas of the North East. It focuses on connecting people to jobs, healthcare, education, and their communities through more flexible and accessible travel options.
The Challenge
People living in rural areas often struggle with transport. Services can be limited, unreliable, or disappearing altogether. This makes it harder to get to work, attend appointments, or stay connected to others, leading to increased isolation.
The Solution
ROUTES is taking a combined ground-up and top-down approach, beginning by understanding what local people truly need. It is focusing on areas including West Gateshead, South Northumberland, and North County Durham. Top-down by analysing the available data to a granular level to identify suitable gaps in existing services and ground-up by working with local communities who have already determined their needs and have a willingness to help provide a community-led solution.
Once gaps in transport provision have been identified from this people-first perspective, the programme will work with partners and residents to co-develop solutions that address local transport challenges. This may include fixed routes that connect with the wider public transport network, as well as demand-responsive services that allow residents to request transport tailored to their specific needs.
It is anticipated that the project will establish transport services in areas where gaps are identified, designed to complement and work alongside existing public transport. This will include a mix of:
- Shared cars (car club vehicles)
- Minibuses
- Accessible vehicles
- Community group hire, enabling access to minibuses and shared vehicles for activities such as luncheon clubs or youth programmes
These services will integrate smoothly with public transport and patient transport provision. The system plans to use real-time tracking and simple booking tools to make journeys easier, with services shaped by local demand.
What’s Different?
ROUTES puts local communities and residents at the centre, making sure services are designed around their needs. It will:
- Bring different types of transport together into one easy system
- Use data to improve services over time
- Make vehicles available for community or personal use when not in service
The aim is to create a model that can be rolled out to other areas in the future.
Delivery Partners
- Weardale Community Transport Ltd
- Edge Innovation Ltd
- Connected Places Catapult Ltd
- Rural Design Centre Ltd
- Eco Car Club Ltd
Impact – What Success Looks Like
ROUTES aims to:
- Make it easier to access jobs, healthcare, and education
- Reduce isolation and support stronger communities
- Boost local economies
- Cut emissions through shared transport
- More reliable, demand-led travel options
- Greater confidence in rural transport
Why Now?
Transport services in rural areas are shrinking, and the cost of owning a car is rising. Many people are finding it harder to travel when and where they need to, especially on a discretionary basis. At the same time, there is strong support across the region for better, greener transport solutions, making this the right time to act.
Get Involved
We’re looking for partners and community members to help shape and support ROUTES. If you’d like to share your views or get involved, please participate in the survey using the link below
