Diverting Inter-Urban Car Users to Rail: Results from a Revealed Preference Mode Choice Model

This paper reports disaggregate mode choice models based on the actual choices made by business and leisure travellers on inter-urban journeys which involved crossing the Pennines. The models explain choices as a function of the times and costs of each mode and of train headway and interchange. The models are an extension of those previously reported by Oscar Faber TPA as part of their Trans-Pennine Rail Strategy Study, involving a more detailed examination of functional form and disaggregation by journey purpose.

The research reported here was undertaken as part of an ESRC funded project examining the potential for diverting inter-urban car and air passengers to rail. There have been very few studies of inter-modal interaction for inter-urban travel and therefore little is known about the cross- elasticities. The findings discussed here are based on a preferred functional form of mode choice model. The results for leisure travel are generally very satisfactory, with an important distinction identified between group and solus travel. However, we place more reservations on the results ohtained from the business model.