South West England has an extensive road network, though much of it is removed from the UK's central transport infrastructure.  
 
Overall there are more than 5,000km of major roads and 43,000km of minor roads. The busiest sections of road are the M4 and M5 motorways.  
 
Over 25 million rail journeys were undertaken by South West residents during 2003/04; an increase of 60% since 1996/97. Most (58%) rail journeys originating in the South West in 2003/04 were to destinations elsewhere in the region. However, 20% of journeys were to London.

The Department for Transport (DfT) 'Future for Air Transport' (2003) showed that there is a growing demand for air travel in the South West. In 2003 approx 70% of people had to travel outside of the region for non-European and long haul flights. This is now set to change as Bristol International Airport, the second fastest growing airport in the UK, now provides flights to the United States. The ODPM expects that passenger numbers flying from Bristol will almost double to 8 million a year by 2015. 
 
According to 'Regional Transport Statistics 2004', airports in the South West carried 5.1 million passengers in 2003.  
 
Air travel has grown in every region in England but the region's airports - Bristol, Exeter, Bournemouth, Plymouth and Newquay - experienced a much more substantial growth over the five year period to 2003.  
 
There are also a number of major ports within the South West. Portbury and Avonmouth are Bristol's two main ports, concentrating on the import and export of cars, forest products and bulk cargo, such as animal feeds. Plymouth and Poole ports primarily deal with roll-on roll-off traffic and provide important linkages to France, Spain and the Channel Islands. Fowey, Par, Teignmouth and Falmouth are also important regional ports for freight transport. 
 
For further information regarding the region's transport links please view State of the South West 2007, a comprehensive review of the South West of England's economic, social, environmental and cultural life.