01476435

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2351-05

http://scholar.google.com...rani&publication_year=2013

This project advances the current understanding of intraurban rail passengers and their travel experiences to help rail industry leaders tailor policy approaches to fit specific, relevant segments of their target population. Using a Q-sorting technique and cluster analysis, preliminary research identified five perspectives occurring in a small sample of rail passengers who varied in their frequency and location of rail travel as well as certain sociodemographic characteristics. Revealed perspectives (named to capture the gist of their content) included "Rail travel is about the destination, not the journey" ; "Despite challenges, public transport is still the best option" ; "Rail travel is fine" ; "Rail travel? So far, so good" ; and "Bad taste for rail travel." This paper discusses each of the perspectives in detail and considers them in relation to tailored policy implications. An overarching finding from this study is that improving railway travel access requires attention to physical, psychological, financial, and social facets of accessibility. For example, designing waiting areas to be more socially functional and comfortable has the potential to increase ridership by addressing social forms of access, decreasing perceived wait times, and making time at the station feel like time well spent. Even at this preliminary stage, the Q-sorting technique promises to provide a valuable, holistic, albeit fine-grained, analysis of passenger attitudes and experiences that will assist industry efforts in increasing ridership.

01517273

13-2298

English

pp 38–45

2013

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309286992

Print

Figures (1) ; References (25) ; Tables (7)

Attitudes; Cluster analysis; Demographics; Passengers; Policy; Quality of service; Rail transit; Urban transit

Australia

Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Feb 5 2013 12:30PM

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