Bridging the gap: A social equity analysis of intra-city transit access to inter-city rail in Canada

To support the decarbonization of inter-city transport and reduce the risk of marginalized populations being excluded from long-distance travel, intra-city transit systems should provide equitable access to inter-city rail network nodes. This study evaluates transit-based accessibility to inter-city rail stations in seven Canadian cities along the Québec City–Windsor corridor through an equity lens. Specifically, we evaluate accessibility inequalities using Gini coefficients and three accessibility ratios based on income, race, and age. While Gini coefficients reveal no clear link between city size and inequality, the three socioeconomic status-based accessibility ratios indicate that marginalized population groups face significant inequalities in the two largest cities: Toronto and Montréal. In these two cities, low-income individuals, visible minorities, and older citizens experience inequitable accessibility, with longer transit travel times to inter-city rail stations. These findings highlight the uneven distribution of transit access to inter-city rail services in larger cities, potentially deepening social exclusion for vulnerable population groups and hindering the transition to sustainable inter-city travel. By examining intra-city transit access to inter-city rail through a social equity lens, this study offers valuable insights into the social equity of intermodal connectivity in Canada and provides a framework for similar assessments in other geographic contexts. • We examine the equity of transit access to inter-city rail in seven Canadian cities along the Québec City–Windsor Corridor. • Spatial and socioeconomic inequities are assessed with Gini coefficients and socioeconomic status-based accessibility ratios. • In larger cities, low-income, visible minority, and older populations face longer transit travel times to rail stations. • This study highlights the need for equity considerations in inter-city intermodal connectivity policy and research.