Integrated transport economics and appraisal - data sources

National origin - Destination transport survey databank

The DfT has established a databank of roadside interview, public transport and home interview survey sites. The database provides a list of site locations for existing transport datasets held by UK public authorities, including summary data (contact name, telephone number and date of survey). Note that the data collected is not included in this databank, but must be obtained from the relevant authority. The database can be transferred to users' machines from DfT's website. Alternatively, the survey site locations can be viewed on a map over the Internet.

Census journey to work trip matrices

The Department has developed software to produce Census Journey-to-Work matrix extracts for use in base year matrix building. The software produces trips by mode in a production and attraction format suitable for transport modelling. The users define their zoning system, specifying each zone in terms of one or more 1991 Census regions, counties, districts or wards. Appropriate factors are applied to convert from the 'usual journey to work' in the Census to an estimated number of trips by each mode in the selected year (1991-1997), split by household car ownership if required.

The software is maintained and distributed by Peter Davidson Consultancy and is available to all public authorities (private sector users will need to negotiate royalty payments with ONS).

Rail passenger trip matrix from CAPRI data

The Department has commissioned the creation of rail passenger matrices based upon the railway ticketing data set CAPRI (Computer Analysis of Passenger Revenue Information).

It should be noted that CAPRI information has a number of limitations, which need to be considered carefully before a decision is taken to use this dataset:

  • it does not cover tickets bought for travel on the major light rail systems;
  • CAPRI cannot assign a point to point journey where a multi-modal ticket is bought (e.g. rail/bus/LRT travelcards);
  • CAPRI cannot reflect travel without a ticket (e.g. free concessionary travel, PTE rail only travelcards) and has limitations with flat fare concessionary travel;
  • CAPRI covers all days of the week (there is no data on the return leg of return tickets, and the use of season tickets).

While CAPRI provides station-to-station movements, DfT supplies OD matrices, taking account of the location of trip end points (referenced to wards) relative to rail stations. This has been carried out using category analysis techniques on survey data for a limited number of stations. Profiles for observed situations have been developed and applied across the network. Detailed analysis of the data for the study area in question is recommended prior to a decision to make use of this source. Further data processing has been conducted to segment by purpose and car availability. Future developments are in hand to provide matrices in production/ attraction format and for peak and off-peak time periods.

Availability of this data is subject to commercial confidentiality. Those wishing to use the data should in the first instance contact: itea@dft.gsi.gov.uk.

For related documents, pages and internet links, see the column on the right.