This paper reviews methods that have and can be used to forecast the effect of changes in accessibility to the rail network on the demand for inter-urban rail travel and of available evidence on rail accessibility elasticities. It reveals that relatively little research has been conducted in this area and that the forecasting procedures that could be used imply large variation in accessibility elasticities, which has not been empirically justified. Fresh empirical evidence on two related matters is reported. First, the neglected area of choice set composition is examined and the extent to which rail is considered to be a realistic alternative for inter-urban journeys and the contribution that accessibility to the rail network makes to this are analysed. Second, rail trip rate models are presented that not only contain estimates of accessibility elasticities and of the effects of a range of socio-economic variables on the demand for rail travel, but also that allow tests of the accessibility elasticity variation implied by many forecasting procedures to be conducted. It is found that this elasticity variation is not empirically supported. It is concluded that there is only limited scope for increasing rail demand through improvements in rail network accessibility.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Rail network accessibility and the demand for inter-urban rail travel


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Transport Reviews ; 20 , 1 ; 3-24


    Publication date :

    2000-01-01


    Size :

    22 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    Unknown




    Travel satisfaction and rail accessibility

    Zhai, Jingtong / Wu, Wenjie / Yun, Yanwen et al. | Elsevier | 2021


    Analysing Demand for Rail Travel

    Bradley, Mark | Online Contents | 1993


    Analysing demand for rail travel

    Fowkes, Tony ;Nash, Chris | TIBKAT | 1991


    Analysing demand for rail travel

    Fowkes, Tony | SLUB | 1991