Eight new projects have been awarded £150,000 each as part of the UK government’s Rural Transport Accelerator Fund, designed to enhance transport connections for rural communities
The funding will support the development of new digital tools and sustainable travel technologies that aim to improve accessibility, reduce isolation, and boost local economies in the UK’s rural areas.
Improving rural transport
The Rural Transport Accelerator Fund, which totals £1.2 million, is focused on tackling the specific transport challenges faced by people living in rural areas. From better access to healthcare to more flexible, greener transport options, the projects are set to transform how residents travel and connect with essential services.
Among the winning projects is You.Smart.Thing, is developing a digital platform to offer on-demand and community transport services for people without access to a car. This project, set to be trialled in Warwickshire, aims to provide flexible and affordable transportation options, particularly for those in remote areas.
Another project, UrbanTide, will focus on mapping patient journeys to rural hospitals. By identifying barriers to accessing health services, the project hopes to improve hospital transport services and ensure that patients can attend appointments more easily. This initiative will be trialled near Fife, Scotland, and is expected to help reduce the strain on local healthcare systems while improving patient outcomes.
Alchera Technologies is using data-driven insights to create a new travel model for rural mobility, enabling local authorities to make more informed decisions about transport planning. This project will be trialled in Norfolk and aims to improve transport services based on real-time demand.
Keeping rural areas connected
Other funded projects include a scheme to install eco-friendly drainage systems along flood-prone cycling routes in Milton Keynes, as well as initiatives focused on developing sustainable transportation for the agricultural sector. Each of these projects will be trialled in various locations, from Norfolk to Herefordshire, and from Suffolk to southeast Scotland.
The government’s funding is part of a wider effort to address rural transport challenges and improve the lives of people living in less densely populated areas. By supporting these innovative solutions, the Rural Transport Accelerator Fund aims to deliver a more connected, sustainable future for rural communities across the UK.
