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Centre of Excellence Transport Strategy
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Regional Travel Survey 2025

Transport for the South East (TfSE) has undertaken a Regional Travel Survey (RTS) to develop a detailed understanding of how people travel across the South East.

The RTS was commissioned to provide a robust, region-specific evidence base to inform local transport planning and investment. While the National Travel Survey offers a national perspective, it does not capture the full diversity of travel behaviour across the South East. The RTS addresses this by collecting around 6,820 responses across all 16 Local Transport Authorities (LTAs), providing richer insights into regional travel trends, challenges and opportunities.

The survey sample was designed to be representative across socio-demographic groups and geographies, ensuring that findings reflect the varied communities and travel needs within the region.

About the study

The RTS provides an in-depth picture of how people travel in the South East and how behaviours are changing. It supports TfSE’s evidence-led approach to transport planning, helping local authorities and partners make informed decisions about future transport investment and policy.

Key findings

The survey explores a wide range of topics, including:

  • Travel patterns – commuting frequency and changes in trip frequency since the pandemic.
  • Car ownership – levels of vehicle ownership, including electric and hybrid vehicles.
  • Mode share – travel by purpose, time of day (e.g. rush hour), and journey length, along with reasons for mode choice.
  • Trip rates and distances – average trips per person per day by mode and purpose, and average miles travelled per person per day.
  • Demographic variations – differences in travel behaviour by age, income, household size, and employment status.

Using the findings

Insights from the RTS will inform TfSE’s ongoing analytical work and support the development of policies aimed at improving connectivity, promoting sustainable travel, and achieving regional growth and decarbonisation goals. This information will also be available to the region’s LTA’s through TfSE’s Centre of Excellence.