The Competition Commission Project National Express Rail vs. Rail 2004

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The Competition Commission Project National
Express Rail vs. Rail 2004
The Competition Commission
Synovate940695(01) August 2004
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Presentation Format

• Methodology
• Todays Journey
• Journey Cost
• The Alternative Journey
• Route Preference
• Journey Changes
• Summary of Findings

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Methodology
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Methodology

• Self-completion methodology amongst train
  passengers travelling on the C2C One Great
  Eastern lines between London and stations in the
  Greater Southend area
• Interviewers distributed questionnaires in both
  directions (i.e. from London and from Southend)
  across weekdays and Saturdays at peak and
  off-peak periods
• 1212 questionnaires completed in total, however
• Respondents were self-routed through a short
  version of the questionnaire if
• their journey did not end at either of the London
  stations, or in the Greater Southend area (17
  dropped out)
• If they did not know roughly how the two train
  services compared on cost and journey length (56
  dropped out).
• Thus, the total number of qualifying respondents
  reported on is 430

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Todays Journey
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Means of Transport to Train Station (Q2)
Walk Car (as driver) Tube/Underground Car (as
passenger) Bus Taxi Cycle
Base All respondents (437), All C2C customers
(197), All One Great Eastern (240)
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Frequency of Travel (Q6)
5 or more times a week 3-4 times a week Twice a
week Once a week Fortnightly Monthly Less than
monthly First time
Base All respondents (437), All C2C customers
(196), All One Great Eastern (241)
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Main Journey Purpose (Q7)
To/from work Leisure or social Visiting
friends/relatives On employers business Personal
business Shopping To/from education Other
Base All respondents (437), All C2C customers
(196), All One Great Eastern (241)
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Additional Journey Information
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Means of Transport After Leaving Station (Q11)
Walk Tube/underground Car (as driver) Bus Car (as
passenger) Taxi Cycle Other
Base All respondents (436), All C2C customers
(195), All One Great Eastern (241)
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Journey Cost
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Ticket Type Validity (Q14)
Off Peak Day Travelcard Cheap Day Return Standard
Day Return Single Standard Weekly Peak Day
Travelcard Weekly Travelcard British Rail
Pass C2C Flexitime Travelcard season Season ticket
Base All respondents (434), All C2C customers
(194), All One Great Eastern (240) Top mentions
only.
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Ticket Details (Q16, 17)
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Additional Expenditure (Q13, 18)
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The Alternative Journey
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• In the following charts, respondents are
  referring to a hypothetical journey using the
  alternative train service.

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Current Vs Alternative Journey
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Cost of Current vs Alternative Journey (Q13, 29)
Extra Costs Paid CURRENT JOURNEY
Travel costs to get to start station Car parking
charge Travel costs after leaving station
Base All respondents (max 422), All C2C
customers (max191), All One Great Eastern (231)
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Current Vs Alternative Journey
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Alternative Ticket Details (Q30)
Is similar ticket available on other route?
Yes No Ticket valid on other route
Base All respondents (411), All C2C customers
(182), All One Great Eastern (229)
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Route Preference
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Ease of Switching to Alternative Route (Q34)
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Route Preference Higher Agreement
Reasons For Preference Of One Train Route Over
The Other
Base All respondents (min 407 max 424)
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Route Preference Lower Agreement
Reasons For Preference Of One Train Route Over
The Other
Trains on the route I use are more comfortable
Fares are cheaper/better value for money
It is easier to park near the station
Trains on the route I use are cleaner inside
The train station is in a safer area
The start station has better transport links
Base All respondents (min 399 max 418)
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Alternative Options (Q37, 35)
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Route Preference Higher Agreement
Reasons For Preference Of Train Over Own Transport
Base All who have their own transport (min 344
max 335)
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Route Preference Lower Agreement
Reasons For Preference Of Train Over Own Transport
The train provides amore comfortable journey
I dont want to pay the congestion charge
It is easy to park near the starting train
station.
I use the train journey time to do some work
It is cheaper to travel by train
The train is safer
Car/own transport is used by someone else
Driving is too stressful
Base All who have their own transport (min 339
max 326)
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Journey Changes
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Fare Alterations (Q38, 39)
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Summary
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Summary of Key Findings

• Less than half (44) knew how journey times
  costs compared between the two rail services
• Over half of all passengers would find it
  difficult to switch rail services, whilst a
  quarter would find it easy. 7 in 10 would find it
  difficult to switch to alternative transport
• Passengers expect additional travel costs to rise
  if using the alternative rail service (many walk
  to/from stations at present)
• Passengers expect a longer journey to and from
  the train station, but not a longer train journey
  or a less frequent service on the alternative
  route
• Convenience is the top reason for preferring
  one route over another
• Speed of journey and the difficulty and
  expense of parking near to destination are top
  reasons for preferring to use the train over
  their own transport
• 3 in 10 respectively would switch to the
  alternative route if the fares on it reduced, or
  if their current fare on the line they were using
  increased

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