A new study published by Hitachi Rail has found that the general public living in both Europe and North America believe the coming years will see a significant increase in the use of rail travel.
The belief is based on the suggestion that the increase should come at the expense of flying, with nearly two-thirds of those surveyed backing legislation to enforce a ban on short-haul flights where high speed rail alternatives remain an option.
Carried out by SavantaComres and incorporating the opinions of more than 11,000 people living across the US, UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain, as well as those living in key cities such as Washington DC, Toronto, London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen and Dubai, the survey received its third year of substantial feedback in a row and was commissioned by Hitachi Rail.
Edoardo La Ficara, Group Chief Markets Officer, Hitachi Rail, said:The findings of this research are strikingly clear. Those surveyed expect to increase their rail usage more than any other form of transport in the next five years and they support Government action to enable this. We, as an industry, have a crucial opportunity to meet this public demand by delivering a great sustainable mobility transition.
Data shows that whilst rail currently accounts for roughly one-third (29%) of long-distance journeys (2.5 hours or more), one-third of people now expect to travel more via train within the next 12 months, increasing to between 40% and 49% across countries and cities respectively by 2030.
In comparison, expectation for air travel currently expects the mode of transport to gain a 2% increase in extra passengers during this time period, with car travel also set to grow but at a rate of 50% less than that of rail.
62% of those surveyed backed legislation to ban short-haul flights, with those surveyed in Europe rising to 67% in support of such a ban.
As it stands, such legislation has already been implemented in France, with similar laws anticipated for Spain in the near future.
Those surveyed also voiced their support for the funding of new rail infrastructure at the expense of increased air or road taxes, with research also taking into account ways to grow wider public transport ridership.
