Work

Who uses night trains and why? A mixed-method study profiling night train users in Switzerland

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Addressing air travel demand is a key open challenge in transitioning to a low-carbon society. In Switzerland, where most flights are from/to nearby European countries, their substitution with night train services is a promising alternative. However, still little research investigates whether the demand for night trains is well-established and the motivations behind it. We aim to bridge this gap through a mixed-method study involving 389 Swiss residents who travelled by night train in 2022/23. A web survey was first conducted to identify latent classes of participants based on their daily and long-distance travel mode choices and evaluate relevant predictors of class membership. Participants of each class were then randomly selected to be involved in an in-depth interview on personal experiences and motivations underlying their choices. Results identify three classes of travellers distinguished by a predominant use of rail and public transport (greens), mixed long-distance travel mode choices and car-oriented daily mobility (pragmatists), preference for flying combined with public transport and active daily mobility (dissonants). Travel cost reduction is the only motivation significantly differentiating pragmatists and dissonants from the greens. This result suggests that fluctuations in ticket prices are the main driving force in shifting demand from flights to night trains.

Source: Travel Behaviour and Society

DOI: 10.1016/j.tbs.2024.100854

Authors: Tiziano Gerosa, Francesca Cellina

Institution: University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland

Language: English

Topic: Transportation Planning and Optimization

Subfield: Transportation

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,700

Funder: Bundesamt für Energie