IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/trapol/v73y2019icp71-83.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring intercity passengers’ attitudes and loyalty to intercity passenger rail: Evidence from an on-board survey

Author

Listed:
  • Losada-Rojas, Lisa Lorena
  • Gkartzonikas, Christos
  • Pyrialakou, V. Dimitra
  • Gkritza, Konstantina

Abstract

The journey to access a passenger rail station has been found to be an important factor in determining whether passengers choose rail as a transport mode alternative. Along with access to rail services, several factors make a transportation system more competitive and appealing to passengers and can influence users' loyalty to the service, such as fare level, service frequency, the quality of the waiting environment, and in-vehicle amenities. However, intercity passengers' attitudes and intentions to travel by rail are not fully understood to date. This paper explores loyalty to intercity passenger rail by i) assessing intercity passengers' attitudes towards intercity rail and other transportation modes for intercity travel through the use of a multi-attribute attitude model and ii) modeling passengers' intention to ride the train in the short and long terms through the use of a bivariate ordered probit model. The proposed methodology is demonstrated in the context of an intercity rail service in the Midwest using data from an on-board survey. The findings of this study suggest that attitudes towards transportation modes for intercity trips can vary by level of access to a rail line. For example, intercity train was found to be the most favorable mode for riders who traveled less than two miles to access a station. Furthermore, available parking facilities near the train stations and on-board amenities, such as space for storing luggage and the availability of bike-cars and other services, can positively affect riders’ intention to use the train. It was also found that specific population groups, such as captive riders and riders who drive less than 100 miles per week, were more likely to ride the train in the future. The results of this study can help intercity rail operators identify the aspects of rail service that can be enhanced to attract more ridership and maximize customer retention.

Suggested Citation

  • Losada-Rojas, Lisa Lorena & Gkartzonikas, Christos & Pyrialakou, V. Dimitra & Gkritza, Konstantina, 2019. "Exploring intercity passengers’ attitudes and loyalty to intercity passenger rail: Evidence from an on-board survey," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 71-83.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:73:y:2019:i:c:p:71-83
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2018.10.011
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967070X18302233
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tranpol.2018.10.011?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Beck, Matthew J. & Rose, John M., 2016. "The best of times and the worst of times: A new best–worst measure of attitudes toward public transport experiences," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 108-123.
    2. Allard, Ryan F. & Moura, Filipe, 2018. "Effect of transport transfer quality on intercity passenger mode choice," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 89-107.
    3. Beirão, Gabriela & Sarsfield Cabral, J.A., 2007. "Understanding attitudes towards public transport and private car: A qualitative study," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 14(6), pages 478-489, November.
    4. Eboli, Laura & Mazzulla, Gabriella, 2011. "A methodology for evaluating transit service quality based on subjective and objective measures from the passenger's point of view," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 172-181, January.
    5. Carreira, Rui & Patrício, Lia & Natal Jorge, Renato & Magee, Chris, 2014. "Understanding the travel experience and its impact on attitudes, emotions and loyalty towards the transportation provider–A quantitative study with mid-distance bus trips," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 35-46.
    6. Tyrinopoulos, Yannis & Antoniou, Constantinos, 2008. "Public transit user satisfaction: Variability and policy implications," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 260-272, July.
    7. Wardman, Mark, 2006. "Demand for rail travel and the effects of external factors," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 129-148, May.
    8. Lai, Wen-Tai & Chen, Ching-Fu, 2011. "Behavioral intentions of public transit passengers--The roles of service quality, perceived value, satisfaction and involvement," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(2), pages 318-325, March.
    9. Greene,William H. & Hensher,David A., 2010. "Modeling Ordered Choices," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521194204.
    10. Kroesen, Maarten & Handy, Susan & Chorus, Caspar, 2017. "Do attitudes cause behavior or vice versa? An alternative conceptualization of the attitude-behavior relationship in travel behavior modeling," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 190-202.
    11. Tilahun, Nebiyou & Thakuriah, Piyushimita (Vonu) & Li, Moyin & Keita, Yaye, 2016. "Transit use and the work commute: Analyzing the role of last mile issues," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 359-368.
    12. Harvey, Joan & Thorpe, Neil & Caygill, Matthew & Namdeo, Anil, 2014. "Public attitudes to and perceptions of high speed rail in the UK," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 70-78.
    13. Brown, Dennis, 1997. "When Rural Communities Lose Passenger Rail Service," Rural America/ Rural Development Perspectives, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, vol. 12(2), February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Christos Gkartzonikas & Lisa Lorena Losada-Rojas & Sharon Christ & V. Dimitra Pyrialakou & Konstantina Gkritza, 2023. "A multi-group analysis of the behavioral intention to ride in autonomous vehicles: evidence from three U.S. metropolitan areas," Transportation, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 635-675, April.
    2. Yang, Min & Wang, Zheyuan & Cheng, Long & Chen, Enhui, 2022. "Exploring satisfaction with air-HSR intermodal services: A Bayesian network analysis," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 69-89.
    3. Borhan, Muhamad Nazri & Ibrahim, Ahmad Nazrul Hakimi & Miskeen, Manssour A. Abdulasalm, 2019. "Extending the theory of planned behaviour to predict the intention to take the new high-speed rail for intercity travel in Libya: Assessment of the influence of novelty seeking, trust and external inf," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 373-384.
    4. Margarita Bagamanova & Miguel Mujica Mota & Vittorio Di Vito, 2022. "Exploring the Efficiency of Future Multimodal Networks: A Door-to-Door Case in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-20, October.
    5. Ting Wang & Yong Zhang & Meiye Li & Lei Liu, 2019. "How Do Passengers with Different Using Frequencies Choose between Traditional Taxi Service and Online Car-Hailing Service? A Case Study of Nanjing, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-18, November.
    6. Rajesh Gupta & Vaibhav Bhamoriya, 2021. "‘Give Me Some Rail’: An Enquiry into Puzzle of Declining Female Labour Force Participation Rate," Management and Labour Studies, XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business Management & Human Resources, vol. 46(1), pages 7-23, February.
    7. Li, Yigang & Yao, Enjian & Liu, Shasha & Yang, Yang, 2024. "Spatiotemporal influence of built environment on intercity commuting trips considering nonlinear effects," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    8. Pan, Haixiao & Gao, Ya & Shen, Qing & Moudon, Anne Vernez & Tuo, Jianyi & Habib, Khandker Nurul, 2023. "Does high-speed rail mitigate peak vacation car traffic to tourist city? Evidence from China," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 93-105.
    9. Wei Chiang Chan & Wan Hashim Wan Ibrahim & May Chiun Lo & Mohamad Kadim Suaidi & Shiaw Tong Ha, 2020. "Sustainability of Public Transportation: An Examination of User Behavior to Real-Time GPS Tracking Application," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-20, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Shuli Luo & Sylvia Y He, 2021. "Using data mining to explore the spatial and temporal dynamics of perceptions of metro services in China: The case of Shenzhen," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 48(3), pages 449-466, March.
    2. Ittamalla, Rajesh & Srinivas Kumar, Daruri Venkata, 2021. "Determinants of holistic passenger experience in public transportation: Scale development and validation," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    3. Dea Lierop & Ahmed El-Geneidy, 2018. "Is having a positive image of public transit associated with travel satisfaction and continued transit usage? An exploratory study of bus transit," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 10(2), pages 241-256, August.
    4. Shreya Das & Debapratim Pandit, 2013. "Importance of user perception in evaluating level of service for bus transit for a developing country like India: a review," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(4), pages 402-420, July.
    5. Echaniz, Eneko & dell’Olio, Luigi & Ibeas, Ángel, 2018. "Modelling perceived quality for urban public transport systems using weighted variables and random parameters," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 31-39.
    6. Karzan Ismael & Szabolcs Duleba, 2021. "Investigation of the Relationship between the Perceived Public Transport Service Quality and Satisfaction: A PLS-SEM Technique," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-20, November.
    7. Mulley, Corinne & Clifton, Geoffrey Tilden & Balbontin, Camila & Ma, Liang, 2017. "Information for travelling: Awareness and usage of the various sources of information available to public transport users in NSW," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 111-132.
    8. Celik, Erkan & Aydin, Nezir & Gumus, Alev Taskin, 2014. "A multiattribute customer satisfaction evaluation approach for rail transit network: A real case study for Istanbul, Turkey," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 283-293.
    9. Hoffmann, Christin & Abraham, Charles & White, Mathew P. & Skippon, Stephen M., 2020. "Ambivalent about travel mode choice? A qualitative investigation of car user and non-car user attitudes," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 323-338.
    10. Juan de Oña & Rocio de Oña, 2015. "Quality of Service in Public Transport Based on Customer Satisfaction Surveys: A Review and Assessment of Methodological Approaches," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 49(3), pages 605-622, August.
    11. van Lierop, Dea & El-Geneidy, Ahmed, 2016. "Enjoying loyalty: The relationship between service quality, customer satisfaction, and behavioral intentions in public transit," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 50-59.
    12. Joewono, Tri B. & Tarigan, Ari K.M. & Susilo, Yusak O., 2016. "Road-based public transportation in urban areas of Indonesia: What policies do users expect to improve the service quality?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 114-124.
    13. Echaniz, Eneko & Ho, Chinh Q. & Rodriguez, Andres & dell'Olio, Luigi, 2019. "Comparing best-worst and ordered logit approaches for user satisfaction in transit services," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 752-769.
    14. De Vos, Jonas, 2018. "Do people travel with their preferred travel mode? Analysing the extent of travel mode dissonance and its effect on travel satisfaction," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 261-274.
    15. De Vos, Jonas & Witlox, Frank, 2017. "Travel satisfaction revisited. On the pivotal role of travel satisfaction in conceptualising a travel behaviour process," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 364-373.
    16. Tiago Camacho & Marcus Foth & Andry Rakotonirainy & Markus Rittenbruch & Jonathan Bunker, 2016. "The role of passenger-centric innovation in the future of public transport," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 8(3), pages 453-475, December.
    17. Wan, Dan & Kamga, Camille & Liu, Jun & Sugiura, Aaron & Beaton, Eric B., 2016. "Rider perception of a “light” Bus Rapid Transit system - The New York City Select Bus Service," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 41-55.
    18. Ni, Anning & Zhang, Chunqin & Hu, Yuting & Lu, Weite & Li, Hongwei, 2020. "Influence mechanism of the corporate image on passenger satisfaction with public transport in China," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 54-65.
    19. Ganji, S.S. & Ahangar, A.N. & Awasthi, Anjali & Jamshidi Bandari, Smaneh, 2021. "Psychological analysis of intercity bus passenger satisfaction using Q methodology," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 345-363.
    20. Sharma, Deepa & Pandit, Debapratim, 2021. "Determining the level of service measures to evaluate service quality of fixed-route shared motorized para-transit services," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 176-186.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:73:y:2019:i:c:p:71-83. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/30473/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.