Majority want high-speed rail to replace short-haul flights

While sustainability factors may not drive how people travel – only an important factor to 14 per cent – the research shows that respondents back green legislative interventions. A significant majority (64 per cent) of respondents stated they would support banning short-haul flights where high-speed rail alternatives exist.

With governments increasingly exploring legislative interventions to encourage green travel, it is notable that respondents in France – where a similar policy was enacted last year – were the most supportive of this proposal (75 per cent) out of anywhere globally.

Urban public transport

When travelling within cities, driving remains the most likely mode of transport for the majority of people, but other modes of transport are increasingly important, with train and bus ridership increasing by around one-third over the past year as part of a post-Covid revival. For commuters, 60 per cent of journeys involve a car, and 60 per cent involve another mode of transport.

Crowding remains the single biggest barrier to people using public transport, (49 per cent, up one per cent from last year’s research); however, one of the issues associated with crowding – Covid-19 concerns – is no longer perceived as a major barrier (falling from 42 per cent to 16 per cent). In this context, 78 per cent would be more likely to use public transport if they could avoid crowding. Interestingly, this factor becomes consistently less relevant with age (84 per cent for 18-24-year-olds versus 63 per cent for 65-plus age bracket).

“Policymakers and transport operators must take note of the high demand for better connected public transport”

There is also a demand to use public transport more in the future, with 72 per cent saying they would be more likely to use public transport if it was better connected. This support ranges from as high as 87 per cent in Dubai and 85 per cent in Milan and Warsaw, to lower levels in Washington DC (56 per cent) and Copenhagen (57 per cent). Globally, almost half (49 per cent) would still support the idea of a better connected public transport system even if it were more expensive.

“Policymakers and transport operators must take note of the high demand for better connected public transport,” said Giuseppe Marino, CEO of Hitachi Rail. “Almost two-thirds of people are prepared to see short-haul flights banned where high-speed rail alternatives exist, and 56 per cent of people also back increased air taxes to fund high speed rail.

“Our new research shows that there is a genuine demand for more green travel. Over one-third of people expect to travel more by train in the next five years and 72 per cent would use better connected urban transport even more. The challenge now as an industry is to continue to grow seamless and sustainable rail travel at pace to meet this global demand.”