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The National Transport Model
The National Transport Model (NTM) provides a systematic means of comparing the national consequences of alternative national transport policies or widely-applied local transport policies, against a range of background scenarios which take into account the major factors affecting future patterns of travel.
Road Transport Forecasts 2009 Results from the Department for Transport’s National Transport Model
Road Transport Forecasts 2009 (RTF09) presents the latest results from the Department for Transport’s National Transport Model (NTM), which produces forecasts of road traffic growth, vehicle tailpipe emissions , congestion and journey times. The estimates presented are mainly for England and are provided up to 2035. Forecasts for Wales are included in the annex.
- Published:
- 30 March 2010
The External Validation of the NTM (1 Mb)
This report assesses the forecasting performance of Version 2 of the NTM, based on external evidence. It then proposes key improvements in the modelling process to enhance forecasting performance.
- Published:
- 21 October 2009
NTM Version 4 High Level Overview (480 kb)
This document offers a high-level description of Version 4 of the NTM, which is currently undergoing final testing and validation within the Department. Aimed at those within the transport modelling community, it provides context for the more detailed Version 4 technical documentation and is a useful starting point for familiarisation with the new model.
- Published:
- 21 October 2009
NTM Recalibration: SP2 Highway Validation Final Report (1 Mb)
This report documents gives a technically detailed explanation of the work carried out by WSP to improve and update the spatially detailed Pass3 sub-model within the NTM, as part of the Version 4 development process.
- Published:
- 21 October 2009
NTM Re-Calibration Sub-Project 3 – Rail Interfaces (408 kb)
The rail supply sub-model in Version 4 of the NTM uses a special version of the Network Modelling Framework (NMF), which is employed for rail-specific modelling and analysis within the Department. This document provides a technically detailed explanation of the software interfaces between the NMF and the NTM.
- Published:
- 21 October 2009
NTM Rail Crowding Model (108 kb)
This document describes in detail how the NTM Version 4 rail supply sub-model calculates crowding costs.
- Published:
- 21 October 2009
Road Transport Forecasts 2008
This report presents the lastest DfT forecasts of road traffic growth, the associated congestion, journey times and emissions. The estimates are provided up to 2025.
Updating national car ownership model
The update to the Department’s NATCOP model has been a recalibration to a 2001 base, making use of up-to-date data sources of planning data and household income. The model also allows output of custom income segmentation. This will inform future versions of TEMPRO, which feed into the NTM.
- Published:
- 24 January 2008
National Transport Model (NTM): Summary
The Department has developed a National Transport Model (NTM) as an analytical and policy-testing tool.
- Published:
- 01 September 2003
The National Transport Model - detailed overview (787 kb)
The National Transport Model - Analysis for "Delivering Better Transport: Progress Report".
- Published:
- 01 September 2003
FORGE: The road capacity and costs model - Executive Summary
FORGE is the highway supply module of the National Transport Model. It models the congestion and pollution impacts of traffic growth and investment policies on the road network.
- Published:
- 20 January 2006
FORGE: The road capacity and costs model - Full report (272 kb)
FORGE is the highway supply module of the National Transport Model. It models the congestion and pollution impacts of traffic growth and investment policies on the road network.
- Published:
- 14 November 2005
Modelling and forecasting using the National Transport Model
An overview of the Department's National Transport Model (NTM) which has been used to generate forecasts of the outcomes from the Plan.
- Published:
- 20 January 2006
Development of National Transport Modelling Techniques
Final report.
- Published:
- 20 January 2006
Rail model - Executive Summary
Executive summary and the full report in PDF.
- Published:
- 20 January 2006
NTM Equilibrium Modelling Phase 2B (1 Mb)
A report produced by WSP Group on the development of a national-scale, multi-modal, equilibrium modelling suite for integration into the National Transport Model.
- Published:
- 02 April 2007
Data sources
The Department has set up a number of data sources to provide information of assistance to those undertaking transport appraisal and modelling.
Archived content
The following content is available from the Department for Transport web archive .
- Demand model (PDF - 9900 KB)
- English Regional Traffic Growth and Speed Forecasts (XLS - 304 KB)
- Equilibrium modelling - Pass 1 model calibration report (PDF - 64 KB)
- GB Freight model (PDF - 1070 KB)
- National Transport Model - Working Paper 1 (PDF - 245 KB)
- National Transport Model - Working Paper 2 (PDF - 313 KB)
- National Transport Model - Working Paper 3
- National Transport Model - Working Paper 4
- Rail Modelling Framework - Full report (PDF - 916 KB)
- Road Transport Forecasts for England 2007 (PDF - 760 KB)
- SID - Estimating the impacts of Integrated Transport White Paper policies (PDF - 153 KB)
- Trip end model (PDF - 567 KB)
- Updating car ownership forecasts (PDF - 605KB)
- Validation of the National Car Ownership Models - December 2003

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