How Does My Train Line Run? Elicitation of Six Information-Seeking Profiles of Regular Suburban Train Users

Information is at the heart of the smooth running of a public transport network and the satisfaction of its users, particularly in disrupted situations. Information is a central element for users to continue to use this mode contributing to sustainable mobility and even attracting new users. Therefo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability 2022-03, Vol.14 (5), p.2665
Main Authors: Un, Pascal, Adelé, Sonia, Vallet, Flore, Burkhardt, Jean-Marie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Clustering
Data processing
Engineering Sciences
Humanities and Social Sciences
Information seeking behavior
Information sources
Library and information sciences
Other
Passengers
Planning
Public transportation
Sustainability
Technology adoption
Transportation networks
Travel
Travellers
User satisfaction
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Summary:Information is at the heart of the smooth running of a public transport network and the satisfaction of its users, particularly in disrupted situations. Information is a central element for users to continue to use this mode contributing to sustainable mobility and even attracting new users. Therefore, it is essential to understand how travellers use passenger information to adjust the way it is disseminated to actual usage. This article aims to identify the sources of information used by travellers and at what moments they consult them in order to categorise passengers according to these activities. We conducted an online questionnaire on 258 regular suburban train users of a specific branch of one particular line (with the same information material in the stations). In addition to univariate descriptive analyses, the results were analysed using Multiple Correspondence Analysis and Ascending Hierarchical Clustering to construct six information-seeking profiles named: Improvisers, Monitors, Planners, Circumscribed, Ultra-connected and Routinized. Based on clustering, we were able to link sociodemographic or travel characteristics to information-seeking behaviour. Differences in information acquisition and use were identified. These results suggest great information-seeking behaviour disparities and can provide interesting information to passenger transport stakeholders. The results could be further integrated into a multi-agent simulation.
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su14052665