Portsmouth ranks fifth in UK infrastructure study of roads, rail and public transport access

Anyone who’s spent half their morning stuck behind roadworks, waiting on a late train or trekking across town just to reach a bus stop will know how quickly poor infrastructure can turn everyday life into a slog. While some UK areas make getting around feel relatively seamless, others are still battling ageing roads, patchy transport links and long travel times that add up day after day.

New research by Councilclaims.co.uk has revealed the UK areas with the strongest overall infrastructure, looking at everything from bus stop accessibility and rail usage to road quality, bridge conditions and travel times. The study analysed 45 local authorities using data from sources including the Department for Transport, Office of Rail and Road and RAC Foundation. 

Metrics included bus stop proximity, cycleways per capita, train entries and exits per resident, the proportion of roads in good condition, infrastructure spending per road kilometre, bridge conditions, and average car and walking distances to key places.

Portsmouth ranks 5th overall in this study, and its high position is mainly driven by strong public transport access, solid road condition, and relatively efficient day-to-day travel times in a compact urban setting.

One of the most consistent strengths is accessibility. Around 98.4% of residents are within reach of a bus stop, meaning public transport coverage is widespread across the city. While slightly below the very top performers like Southampton, it still reflects a city where getting a bus is rarely difficult for most households.

Portsmouth also performs well on rail usage, recording 59.94 train entries and exits per capita, which places it among the stronger cities for rail connectivity. That level of usage suggests rail plays an important role for commuting and regional travel, adding to the city’s overall transport mix.

Road quality is another solid contributor, with 75% of roads classed as being in good condition, one of the stronger figures in the dataset. Combined with zero substandard bridges, this gives Portsmouth a relatively strong structural infrastructure profile compared with many similarly sized authorities.

In terms of everyday travel, Portsmouth remains fairly efficient. Average car journeys sit at 9 minutes, while walking journeys average 21.5 minutes. These figures suggest a compact urban layout, although walking distances are slightly longer than some of the very top-ranking areas like Southend-on-Sea.

Compared with Southend-on-Sea, Portsmouth is slightly weaker on accessibility and travel times, which is what ultimately keeps it just behind the top spot despite strong infrastructure fundamentals. Against Manchester, it has less cycling infrastructure and lower overall transport intensity, but it compensates with stronger road condition and more balanced performance across core measures.

Overall, Portsmouth’s position near the top reflects a well-connected coastal city with strong road quality, solid rail usage and near-universal bus accessibility, even if it doesn’t quite match the very best-performing areas for speed and efficiency of everyday travel.

Nicholas Tate, spokesperson for Councilclaims.co.uk, said: “Infrastructure is one of those things people only really notice when it starts going wrong. Whether it’s potholes damaging cars, poor public transport links or long travel times, weak infrastructure has a knock-on effect on people’s daily lives and local economies.”

“Good infrastructure does far more than simply help people get around. It affects how quickly emergency services can respond, how easily businesses can operate, how connected communities feel and even how attractive an area becomes for investment. When roads, transport links and public infrastructure are properly maintained, the benefits ripple through almost every part of daily life.”

Top 10 UK areas for infrastructure (roads, transport and connectivity)

1 Southend-on-Sea

2 Manchester

3 Leicester

4 Southampton

5 Portsmouth

6 Nottingham

7 Kingston upon Hull

8 Plymouth

9 Derby

10 Milton Keynes