Research and analysis

Rail infrastructure disruption: passenger perspectives (qualitative research)

Qualitative research to assess passenger preferences and tolerances for service alterations during blockades for rail infrastructure projects.

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

Service alterations: passenger preferences research report Autumn 2021

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Details

This report presents findings on research into passenger preferences and tolerances for disruption and service alterations during blockades. The research aimed to explore:

  • passenger responses to different models of service alteration during infrastructure projects
  • how the context of COVID-19 might have shifted passenger preferences

It also informed the development of a quantitative survey and subsequent report.

The Department for Transport commissioned BritainThinks to conduct research to investigate passenger preferences and tolerances for disruption and service alterations during blockades.

This qualitative research project consisted of a week-long online community with 70 rail users. It involved:

  • 7 x 90-minute focus groups of 6 participants
  • 3 x 45-minute paired in-depth interviews

Eight 45-minute in-depth interviews were also conducted with rail industry stakeholders.

The fieldwork took place between 7 June and 14 June 2021.

Published 5 August 2022