Key quality factors at urban interchanges

Abstract

Quality of service should not be overlooked in public transport planning and policy making, as it influences modal shift from car use to more sustainable means. Little research has been conducted on the quality of public transport interchanges from the perspective of current travellers (i.e. perceived quality). This work thus aimed to identify key quality factors at urban interchanges through an exploratory approach (multiple correspondence analysis) that provides novel elements for further investigation. The methodology was applied at interchanges in Madrid and Gothenburg and the data used in the analysis were collected through customer satisfaction surveys conducted in 2011. The analysis identified five key quality factors per interchange. Ticketing plays a key role at both interchanges while physical and environmental issues emerged at Avenida de América in Madrid, and services, temporal issues and interconnectivity characterise Gothenburg central station. Compared with other quality aspects, classical issues such as safety/security and information are not perceived as important by intermodal travellers.

Measuring the Service Quality at Multimodal Public Transport Interchanges: A Needs-Driven Approach

“…Desiderio ( 2 ) and the Auckland Transport Public Transport Interchange Design Guidelines ( 1 ) provide useful overviews of research in this area. The order of these factors vary: for instance, in the U.S.A. service quality aspects (e.g., connectivity and reliability) and personal safety and security are deemed more important than the physical condition of stops and stations ( 9 ), while Dell’Asin et al ( 7 ) found the opposite for travellers in two European cities.…”

“…A review of the literature on passenger needs and satisfaction at public transport interchanges shows that very similar factors are important to passengers the world over. These include transfer waiting time, walking distances, reliable services, comfort and convenience (shelter, seating and facilities), safety and security, information (including wayfinding), and fare integration ( 7 – 10 ). Desiderio ( 2 ) and the Auckland Transport Public Transport Interchange Design Guidelines ( 1 ) provide useful overviews of research in this area.…”

A New Perspective on Supporting Vulnerable Road Users’ Safety, Security and Comfort through Personalized Route Planning

“…City centers experience an increase in traffic, which in turn brings associated harmful effects. To counter this, efforts have been made to promote a modal shift to the use of more sustainable transport means, such as walking, the use of bicycles and scooters, as well as traditional public transport [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Recently, a number of studies that measured a reduction of air pollutants from vehicles in city centers due to the pandemic lockdown were published [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ], which further reinforces the point.…”