"Global economy" scenario

There is a vibrant global economy built in response to businesses taking full advantage of the open market. National government has seen many of its legislative and economic controls disappear, either to regional and local government in a process of devolution; to the marketplace, or to corporations and to international organisations. In this increasingly consumer-based and hedonistic society, there is a great diversity in lifestyles; thus the boundaries of social exclusion have widened.

Despite this, society has continued to demand a transport system that is comfortable and reliable. Transport services are provided as an integral part of the value chain through which the market organises and provides services to the consumer.

Affordability is key - personalised transport services are provided through new business organisations - travel brokers or lifestyle providers - which buy space on transport networks from the network operators. Large multi-national organisations run and manage these integrated transport networks.

Freight transport and deliveries are organised in much the same way through bespoke travel serving niche markets. Freight is shipped by forwarding companies which provide door-to-door, multi-modal transport and delivery services.

Urban and inter-urban mobility services are fully integrated. There is high intensity use of existing corridors with increasing levels of automated control to meet the demand capacity, reliability and service level targets - "Sweating the corridor".
  

Local communities have emerged to pursue the goal of sustainable living in order to achieve an improved quality of life. Those who hold these new values embrace advancing technologies and adopt day to day lifestyles that reduce their use of energy and dependency on the car. Land use planning takes account of transport needs whilst encouraging people to live and work in sustainable locations.

Improved collective transport, greater use of non-motorised modes, less dependency on the car and increased distribution services are implicit in this scenario. High quality public transport networks service radial routes from city centres to the suburbs. Other mobility needs are satisfied through a combination of walking, cycling, vehicles for the elderly/disabled, hybrid-power taxis, minibuses and home delivery. Parking and interchange at the edge of conurbations encourages those living beyond city limits to use collective transport to access the city centre.

Commercial distribution in 2030 is highly competitive, efficient and well organised. Integrated services for both suppliers and consumers minimise the volume of delivery vehicles on the network.

On the inter-urban network, more trips are now for leisure purposes. Business travel mostly uses the smart corridors between city centres, often on the extended national rail network. Motorways are gradually upgraded to provide a fully automated system. Access to this network is provided at nodes at intersections between modes and the boundaries of the conurbations. Freight transport also benefits from the improved transit times and reliability afforded by automation.