Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Working papers in Transport Economics,
CTS - Centre for Transport Studies Stockholm (KTH and VTI)

No 2013:18: Rail passengers’ time use and utility assessment: 2010 findings from Great Britain with multivariate analysis

Yusak O. Susilo (), Glenn Lyons, Juliet Jain and Steve Atkins
Additional contact information
Yusak O. Susilo: KTH, Postal: Centrum för Transportstudier (CTS), Teknikringen 10, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
Glenn Lyons: University of the West of England
Juliet Jain: University of the West of England
Steve Atkins: University of the West of England

Abstract: Using data from Great Britain’s National Passenger Survey 2010 this paper examines the travel time use of rail passengers and their indicative assessment of its utility. The paper explores the impacts of individuals’ socio demographic characteristics, types of activity undertaken and the perceived difficulties that may be faced by the travellers on their assessment of travel time use utility. The study shows that only 13% of travellers considered their travel time as wasted. However, this varies by journey purpose, travelling class (first/standard class), gender and journey length. The study shows that the positive or negative appreciation by passengers of their journey time is not only a result of various combinations of on-board activity engagements, but also the smoothness of overall journey experience. Being able to work/study on the train most significantly increases individual appreciation of time use. However, a delay on an individual’s train journey also has a major influence in reducing his/her perceived value of travel time spent. ICT devices that enable travellers to watch film/video or play games or check emails are more appreciated than those providing access to music/podcast or access to social networking sites. The paper joins others in questioning assumptions made in economic appraisal that travel time is unproductive. It concludes with a call for more substantive and targeted data collection efforts within travel behaviour research devoted to further unravelling the phenomenon of the positive utility of travel.

Keywords: Travel time use; Rail passenger; Journey satisfaction; Great Britain

JEL-codes: R40; R42

26 pages, September 23, 2013

Note: Full bibliographic details: Transportation Research Record, vol. 2323 / Travel Behavior 2012, Vol. 2, pp 99-109. DOI information: 10.3141/2323-12

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