Results From an Analysis of the Mode Choice Decisions of Long Distance Business Travellers

Mode choice models for long distance business travellers have been calibrated, using data on actual choices, generally with the objetive of deriving demand elasticities and values of time for use in forecasting. The most recent such work using UK data dates from 1971. The results presented in this paper provide a much needed update of this earlier work.

Mode choice models are estimated using data collected from two surveys of long distance business travellers. Two sets of choices are modelled: car versus rail and air versus rail, where one of the two modes was that used on a recent long distance business trip and the other was the traveller's best alternative mode for the trip. Most of these trips were between North East and South East England. The estimated values of time are found to be substantially larger than those obtained in past studies.