Key quality factors and travellers profiles at interurban interchanges

La planificaci��n y las pol��ticas de transporte no pueden descuidar la calidad del servicio, considerando que influye notablemente en el cambio modal del coche hacia otros medios de transporte m��s sostenibles. El concepto se aplica tambi��n a los intercambiadores de transporte p��blico, los nodos del sistema donde se cruzan las distintas redes del transporte p��blico y privado. Aunque se han logrado numerosos avances para medir y evaluar la calidad en el sector del transporte p��blico, se han dedicado relativamente pocos esfuerzos a investigar estos aspectos relacionados con la calidad de los intercambiadores del transporte p��blico. Este trabajo de investigaci��n se concentra en la calidad del servicio de la transferencia modal en los intercambiadores interurbanos, seg��n la perspectiva de los viajeros. Su objetivo es identificar los factores clave de la calidad del servicio y los perfiles de los viajeros en los intercambiadores. La investigaci��n es exploratoria y ofrece informaci��n acerca de la percepci��n de los viajeros intermodales relacionada con los aspectos de la calidad, aportando nuevos elementos y datos para adentrarse en estudios m��s detallados. La metodolog��a del trabajo combina t��cnicas de an��lisis estad��stico multivariante para analizar los datos de las encuestas sobre la satisfacci��n de los clientes y se subdivide en tres etapas. En primer lugar, se ha implementado el an��lisis de correspondencias m��ltiples para explorar los constructos latentes relacionados con la satisfacci��n de las caracter��sticas cualitativas de los intercambiadores interurbanos, identificando as�� los factores clave de la calidad. En segundo lugar, se ha aplicado un an��lisis de conglomerados de k-medias sobre los factores clave de calidad para clasificar a los viajeros en grupos de usuarios de transportes homog��neos, de acuerdo con su percepci��n de satisfacci��n, identificando de este modo los perfiles de los viajeros. Por ��ltimo, se han formulado sugerencias y recomendaciones sobre la calidad para respaldar la formulaci��n de pol��ticas, estableciendo las prioridades para los intercambiadores interurbanos. La metodolog��a se aplic�� en cuatro intercambiadores interurbanos (estaciones de ferrocarriles o de autobuses ) en Madrid, Zaragoza, Gothenburg y Lion, analizando los datos recogidos mediante una encuesta de satisfacci��n del cliente llevada a cabo en 2011 en los cuatro casos de estudio, donde se interconectan distintos medios de transporte p��blico y privado, de corta y larga distancia. Se recogieron datos sobre la satisfacci��n de los viajeros con 26 criterios de calidad, as�� como informaci��n sobre aspectos socio-econ��micos y pautas de comportamiento de viajes. Mediante el an��lisis de correspondencias m��ltiples se identificaron 4-5 factores clave de calidad en cada intercambiador, que se asocian principalmente con el sistema de emisi��n de billetes, el confort y la interconexi��n, mientras que los viajeros no perciben los temas cl��sicos como la informaci��n. Mediante el an��lisis de conglomerados se identificaron 2-5 perfiles de viajeros en cada intercambiador. Se reconocieron dos grupos de viajeros en casi todos los casos de estudio: viajeros de cercan��a/trabajadores y turistas. Por lo que concierne a las prioridades para apoyar a las partes interesadas en la formulaci��n de pol��ticas, la expedici��n de billetes es el factor clave para los intercambiadores interurbanos espa��oles, mientras que la interconexi��n y los aspectos temporales se destacan en los intercambiadores de Francia y Suecia. Quality of Service can not be neglected in public transport planning and policy making, since it strongly influences modal shifts from car to more sustainable modes. This concept is also related to Public Transport interchanges, the nodes of the transport system where the different sub-systems of public passenger transport and personal vehicles meet. Although a lot of progress has been generally done to measure and assess quality in public transport sector, relatively little investigation has been conducted on quality at PT interchanges. This research work focusses on Quality of Service in the use of transfer facilities at interurban interchanges, according to current travellers��� perspective. It aims at identifying key quality factors and travellers profiles at interurban interchanges. The research is exploratory and offers insight into intermodal travellers��� perception on quality aspects, providing new elements and inputs for more definitive investigation. The methodology of the work combines multivariate statistical techniques to analyse data from customer satisfaction surveys and is subdivided in three steps. Firstly, multiple correspondence analysis was performed to explore latent constructs as concern satisfaction of quality attributes at interurban interchanges, thus identifying the so-called Key Quality Factor. Secondly, k-means cluster analysis was implemented on the key quality factors to classify travellers in homogeneous groups of transport users, according to their perception of satisfaction, thus identifying the so-called Travellers Profiles. Finally, hints and recommendations on quality were identified to support policy making, setting priorities for interurban interchanges. The methodology was applied at four interurban interchanges in Madrid, Zaragoza, Gothenburg and Lyon, analysing the data collected through a customer satisfaction survey carried out in 2011 at the four railway or bus stations where different modes of public and private transport are interconnected covering both short and long trips. Data on travellers��� satisfaction with 26 quality attributes were collected, as well as information on socio-economical and travel patterns. Through multiple correspondence analysis were identified 4-5 key quality factors per interchange. They are mainly related to ticketing, comfort and connectivity, while classical issues, as information, are not perceived as important by travellers���. Through cluster analysis were identified 2-5 travellers profiles per interchange. Two groups of travellers can be found in almost all case studies: commuter / business travellers and holiday travellers. As regards the priorities to support stakeholders in policy making, ticketing is the key-issue for the Spanish interurban interchanges, while connectivity and temporal issues emerge in the French and Swedish case studies.

Assessment methodology to make urban transport interchanges attractive for users

En las ciudades europeas, los patrones de movilidad son cada vez m��s complejos debido fundamentalmente a un crecimiento sostenido de la poblaci��n as�� como a la tendencia de dispersi��n de los n��cleos urbanos. En consecuencia, muchos de los usuarios del transporte p��blico se ven obligados a combinar varios modos o servicios de transporte para completar sus viajes diarios. Por tanto, el mayor reto de las ciudades es conseguir una mejora e incremento en la movilidad mientras que al mismo tiempo se reducen problemas como la congesti��n, los accidentes y la contaminaci��n (COM, 2006). Un principio b��sico para lograr una movilidad sostenible es reducir los inconvenientes y molestias derivados de la transferencia o ruptura del viaje. En este sentido, los intercambiadores de transporte p��blico juegan un papel fundamental como nodos de la red urbana de transporte y la calidad del servicio prestado en ellos tiene una influencia directa sobre la experiencia diaria de los viajeros. Como se��al�� Terzis and Last (2002), un intercambiador de transportes urbano eficiente debe ser competitivo y al mismo tiempo, debe ser atractivo para los usuarios dado que sus experiencias f��sicas y sus reacciones psicol��gicas se ven influenciadas de manera significativa por el dise��o y operaci��n del intercambiador. Sin embargo, todav��a no existen standards o normativas a nivel europeo que especifiquen como deber��an ser estos intercambiadores. Esta tesis doctoral proporciona conocimientos y herramientas de an��lisis dirigidas a planificadores y gestores de los propios intercambiadores con el fin de entender mejor el funcionamiento de los intercambiadores y gestionar as�� los recursos disponibles. As�� mismo, esta tesis identifica los factores clave en el dise��o y operaci��n de intercambiadores urbanos de transporte y proporciona algunas gu��as generales de planificaci��n en base a ellos. Dado que las percepciones de los usuarios son particularmente importantes para definir pol��ticas adecuadas para intercambiadores, se dise���� y se llev�� a cabo en 2013 una encuesta de satisfacci��n al viajero en tres intercambiadores de transporte urbano europeos: Moncloa (Madrid, Espa��a), Kamppi (Helsinki, Finlandia) e Ilford Railway Station ( Londres, Reino Unido). En resumen, esta tesis pone de relieve la naturaleza ambivalente de los intercambiadores urbanos de transporte, es decir, como nodos de la red de transporte y como lugares en s�� mismos donde los usuarios pasan tiempo dentro de ellos y propone algunas recomendaciones para hacer m��s atractivos los intercambiadores a los usuarios. Travel patterns in European urban areas are becoming increasingly complex due to a sustained increase in the urban population and the trend towards urban sprawl. Consequently, many public transport users need to combine several modes or transport services to complete their daily trips. Therefore, the challenge facing all major cities is how to increase mobility while at the same time reducing congestion, accididents and pollution (COM, 2006). Reducing the inconvenience inherent in transferring between modes is a basic principle for achieving sustainable mobility. In this regard, transport interchanges play a key role as urban transport network nodes, and the quality of the service provided in them has a direct influence on travellers' daily experience. As noted by Terzis and Last (2000), an efficient urban transport interchange must be competitive and, at the same time, be attractive for users given that their physical experiences and psychological reactions are significantly influenced by the design and operation of the interchange. However, yet there are no standards or regulations specifying the form these interchanges should take in Europe. This doctoral thesis provides knowledge and analysis tools addressed to developers and managers in order to understand better the performance of an urban transport interchange and manage the available resources properly. Likewise, key factors of the design and operation of urban transport interchanges are identified and some 'Planning guidelines' are proposed on the basis on them. Since the users' perceptions of their experience are particularly important for achieving the most appropriate policy measures for interchanges, an ad���hoc travellers' satisfaction survey was designed and carried out in 2013 at three European transport interchanges: Moncloa (Madrid, Spain), Kamppi (Helsinki, Finland) and Ilford Railway Station (London, United Kingdom) In summary, this thesis highlights the ambivalent nature of the urban transport interchanges, i.e. as nodes within the transport network and as places where users spending time and proposes some policy recommendations in order to make urban transport interchanges attractive for users.

Hybrid choice model for propensity to travel and tour complexity

During the last years cities around the world have invested important quantities of money in measures for reducing congestion and car-trips. Investments which are nothing but potential solutions for the well-known urban sprawl phenomenon, also called the ���development trap��� that leads to further congestion and a higher proportion of our time spent in slow moving cars. Over the path of this searching for solutions, the complex relationship between urban environment and travel behaviour has been studied in a number of cases. The main question on discussion is, how to encourage multi-stop tours? Thus, the objective of this paper is to verify whether unobserved factors influence tour complexity. For this purpose, we use a data-base from a survey conducted in 2006-2007 in Madrid, a suitable case study for analyzing urban sprawl due to new urban developments and substantial changes in mobility patterns in the last years. A total of 943 individuals were interviewed from 3 selected neighbourhoods (CBD, urban and suburban). We study the effect of unobserved factors on trip frequency. This paper present the estimation of an hybrid model where the latent variable is called propensity to travel and the discrete choice model is composed by 5 alternatives of tour type. The results show that characteristics of the neighbourhoods in Madrid are important to explain trip frequency. The influence of land use variables on trip generation is clear and in particular the presence of commercial retails. Through estimation of elasticities and forecasting we determine to what extent land-use policy measures modify travel demand. Comparing aggregate elasticities with percentage variations, it can be seen that percentage variations could lead to inconsistent results. The result shows that hybrid models better explain travel behavior than traditional discrete choice models.