The Competition Commission Project National Express Coach vs. Rail 2004

1
The Competition Commission Project National
Express Coach vs. Rail 2004
The Competition Commission
Synovate940695(02) September 2004
2
Methodology
3
Methodology

• A self-completion methodology was used amongst
  train passengers travelling on One Anglia
  services between London and Ipswich, Colchester
  and Norwich and amongst National Express coach
  passengers on similar routes
• Interviewers distributed questionnaires in both
  directions of travel for both the coach and train
  journeys across weekdays and Saturdays during
  peak and off-peak periods
• 547 coach questionnaires, and 284 train
  questionnaires were completed in total
• Fieldwork was conducted 23rd July 5th August
  2004.

4
Todays Journey
5
Means of Transport to Train Station/Coach Point
Car (as passenger)
Bus
Walk
Underground
Taxi
Train
On average, coach passengers took longer to reach
their departure point 33 minutes when train
passengers took 25 minutes. Passengers leaving
from London take considerably longer to reach the
departure points (coach 43 minutes and train 29
minutes)
Coach
0
Cycle
0
Car as driver
Other
Base All coach customers answering (547), All
train customers answering (276)
Train customers
Coach customers
6
Frequency of Travel
5 or more times a week 3-4 times a week Twice a
week Once a week Fortnightly Monthly Less than
monthly First time
0
Base All coach customers answering (509), All
train customers answering(241)
Train customers
Coach customers
7
Main Journey Purpose
Visiting friends / relatives Leisure or
social Personal business To / from work On
employers business Shopping To/from
education Other
On average, coach passengers spend around 3
hours on the coach and train passengers around 2
hours.
Base All coach customers answering (535), all
train customers answering (280)
Coach customers
Train customers
8
Means of Transport After Leaving Station/Coach
Point
0
Base all coach customers answering (534), all
train customers answering (276)
Coach customers
Train customers
9
Journey Cost
10
Ticket Type
Open return
Standard return
Cheap day return
Economy return
Off Peak Travelcard
Standard single
Standard single
Economy single
Standard day return
Open dated return
Travelcard season
Day return
Peak day Travelcard
Season ticket
Station to station season
Open Jaw return
Other
Base All coach customers answering (519)
Base All train customers answering (267),
Train customers
Coach customers
11
Additional Expenditure
How Much Extra (one way/daily cost)
Extra Travel Costs Paid
Travel costs to get to start station Car parking
charge Travel costs after leaving station
Coach 5.60 Train 4.30
Coach 3.10 Train 4.60
Coach 5.50 Train 6.60
Base All coach customers answering (521, 521,
494), All train customers answering (274, 262,
261)
Coach customers
Train customers
12
The Alternative Journey
13

• In the following charts, respondents are
  referring to a hypothetical journey using the
  alternative train or coach service.

14
Means of Getting to Alternative Departure Point
Base All coach customers answering (471), All
train customers answering (240). Top mentions
Coach customers
Train customers
15
Cost of Alternative Journey
Coach 4.20 Train 3.80
Coach 11.80 Train 4.70
Coach 5.60 Train 5.60
Base All respondents answering coach (max 458),
train (237 )
Coach customers
Train customers
16
Current Vs Alternative Journey
Base n.b low bases for car parking costs All
respondents answering coach (max 273), train
(max 214 )
17
Time to Reach Alternative Departure Point
For train customers the alternative method
(coach) would mean a slightly longer travelling
time to the departure point, 29 minutes compared
to 25 minutes for their current method. Coach
passengers would benefit from a slightly shorter
journey time using the alternative transport
method (train) - it would take on average 28
minutes compared to the 33 minutes currently.
Coach customers
Train customers
Base Coach customers answering (465), train
customers answering (234)
18
Main Form of Transport to Final Destination
0
Base Coach customers answering (464), train
customers answering (241)
Coach customers
Train customers
19
Time to Reach Final Destination
For train customers the alternative method would
mean a slightly longer travelling time to reach
the destination, 26 minutes compared to 22
minutes average for their current method. Coach
passengers would benefit from a slightly shorter
journey time using the alternative transport
method - it would take on average 33 minutes
compared to the current 35 minute average.
Coach customers
Train customers
Base Coach customers answering (455), train
customers answering (230)
20
Alternative Ticket Type
Economy return
Open return
Standard return
Standard day single
Open dated return
Cheap day return
Standard day return
Day return
Standard single
Off Peak Day Travelcard
Season ticket
Peak day Travelcard
Economy single
Travelcard season
Other
Other
Base All train passengers answering (221)
Base All coach passengers answering (439),
21
Preference For Train or Coach
22
Ease of Switching to Train or Coach
Ease of Switching to Train or Coach
Very easy Quite easy Neutral Quite difficult Very
difficult
Base All coach customers answering (470), All
train customers answering (246)
23
Preference Higher Agreement
Reasons For Preference Of Coach over Train
Base All coach respondents who answered (min
432 max 488)
24
Preference Lower Agreement
Reasons For Preference Of Coach over Train
Station is closer to destination
Better transport links at end
Station is closer to home
Better transport links at start
Coach is safer
Coaches are frequent and plentiful
Coaches are quicker
Easier to park near start point
19
Base All coach respondents who answered (min
432 max 488)
Coach customers are less likely to have a car, so
parking is not such a priority for them.





The coach is recognised as being slower and
less frequent than the train by





customers who put cost ahead of these priorities.
25
Preference Higher Agreement
Reasons For Preference Of Train over Coach
85
The journey is quicker by train
Trains are more frequent and plentiful
Trains are more comfortable
The start train station has better transport links
The end station has better transport links
It is easier to travel with luggage
Easier to get a seat
Base All respondents (min 247 max 255)
26
Preference Lower Agreement
Reasons For Preference Of Train over Coach
More likely to be on time
46
Easier to park
43
42
Station nearer to destination
34
Station closer to home
34
Trains are safer
Fares are cheaper
21
Trains are cleaner
14
Base All respondents (min 247 max 255)
Train customers recognise the train is a more
expensive option and trains





are generally regarded
as being dirtier than coaches
27
Alternative Options
Ease of Switching to Alternative Transport
Alternative Transport Owned/Available
Car -driver
Very easy Quite easy Neutral Quite difficult Very
difficult
Car - passenger
Bicycle
Motorcycle
Bus
Underground
0
None
Base All coach customers answering (492), All
train customers answering (257).
Base All coach customers answering (483), all
train customers answering (246)
Train customers
Coach customers
28
Preference Higher Agreement
Reasons For Preference Of Train Over Own Transport
79
Base All who have their own transport (min 183
max 193)
The speed, frequency and end station links are
the most common reasons for preferring the train
over other forms of transport.

29
Preference Lower Agreement
Reasons For Preference Of Train Over Own Transport
54
Dislike driving into London
47
Stops near destination
45
Easy to park near station
44
Congestion Charge
Train is safer
43
Less likely to be delayed
49
31
Cheaper by train
Car is unavailable
Base All who have their own transport (min 183
max 193)
Despite the fact that train customers are more
likely to have access to their own transport, and
they find the train more expensive, they still
make a positive choice to use the train.
30
Preference Higher Agreement
Reasons For Preference Of Coach Over Own Transport
It is cheaper to travel by coach
59
I dont like to drive into London
58
Driving is too stressful
58
I dont want to pay congestion charge
46
46
The end station / pick up point has good
transport links
45
The coach is comfortable
Coaches are frequent and plentiful
41
I like to use the journey to do some work
39
Base All who have their own transport (min 220
max 251)
Coach passengers put cost above all motivations
for their choice of transport. They are less
likely to have their own car than train
passengers and more concerned about driving.
31
Preference Lower Agreement
Reasons For Preference Of Coach Over Own Transport
38
Coach stops near destination
The coach is safer
36
31
Hard to park at destination
Expensive to park
34
30
Car is unavailable
37
Less likely to be delayed
Coach is faster
21
Easy to park near station
18
Base All who have their own transport (min 220
max 251)
Coach passengers are less likely to agree that
the coach is faster than their own transport.
There was also a high level of disagreement that
the coach is less likely to be delayed and that
it is easier to park near coach stations.
32
Journey Changes
33
Fare Alterations
Would a Fare Reduction on Other Transport Make
You Switch to it?
Would Increase in Current Fare Make You Switch to
Other Transport?
Yes, a fare saving would make me use other
transport No, I would always use the same
transport
Yes No, I would always use the same transport
Base All All coach customers responding (455),
All train customers responding (243)
Base All coach customers responding (461), All
train customers responding (237)
Coach customers
Train customers
34
Price Changes Necessary to Encourage Switch
Base All where a fare change would encourage
switch. Coach customers answering (172),
all train customers answering
(27, 65)
35
Price Changes to Stop Use of Public Transport
Of these, 62 of train customers and 54 of coach
customers would stop using public transport
completely if fares increased by more than 20
Base all coach customers answering (434), all
train customers answering (232)
Coach customers
Train customers
36
Action Taken if Public Transport Costs Increase
Base All where fare increase would stop use of
Public transport,coach customers (49), train
customers (72)
Coach customers
Train customers
37
Action Taken if Coach Service Only Available at
DifferentTtimes
Base All coach customers answering (429)
38
Previous Journey Choices
0
0
Base all who began using this means of transport
in past 12 months coach customers (213), train
customers (51)
Coach customers
Train customers
39
Reason For Change to Current Transport Mode
Coach customers
Train customers
Base all answering who began using current means
of transport in past 12 months coach customers
(169), train customers (38)
40
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