The SWestrans area is contiguous with the boundary of Dumfries and Galloway Council, situated in the southwest corner of Scotland. It is the country’s third largest region by landmass, covering some 2,380 square miles, stretching in an east-west direction from Langholm to Stranraer. The SWestrans area borders the SPT and the SEStran partnership areas. The North West of England and Northern Ireland are also near neighbours.

The largest population centre is Dumfries, with some 37,000 of the region’s 147,000 residents. The next main towns are Stranraer (11,000 population) and Annan (8,900) with a further 10 settlements ranging in size between 4,000 and 2,000 population. There are about 60 people for every square mile, which is significantly lower than the Scottish Average of 168, and this reflects the region’s sparsely populated rural areas. The region faces many complex issues, of which transport is one.

There are some 2,900 miles of road which includes the A74(M) motorway and the A75 Euroroute. The important Irish Sea Ferry Ports in the west of the region link Scotland with Ireland and there are regular sailings between Stranraer/Cairnryan and Belfast/Larne. There are seven railway stations in Dumfries and Galloway with main stations at Dumfries and Stranraer and at Lockerbie (on the West Coast Main Line). There is an extensive bus network covering the region.

The National Planning Framework recognises that the local economy is dependent on livestock farming, forestry, tourism, manufacturing, engineering and food processing, with a growing strength in the renewable energy sector.

There are a number of key locations in the region including Dumfries, Stranraer, the Loch Ryan Ferry Ports, the Gretna/Lockerbie/Annan triangle and various remote rural communities.

Health services are significant generators of transport demand, particularly in rural areas, and access to healthcare together with active travel are important issues for the region.