So, what is our research saying about people’s travel intentions over the Christmas period, including in the 23 to 27 December window? Two things stand out in what we’ve published today (8 December 2020). A lot of people will be staying at home (six in 10), and those who do travel will mostly do so by car (over eight in 10). Piling the car high with presents and heading off is nothing new of course. But there is some evidence that those who might otherwise have used public transport are choosing to drive this year. Of those driving more than half intend to stay local rather than take to the mo ..read more

As Christmas travel guidance is published following the announcement on the easing of Covid restrictions, we are all probably thinking about what we might do in the five-day Christmas window (23 to 27 December). Will we make a journey to see loved ones, or will we stay put? It’s a big personal choice for all of us. Our insight showed that most people were waiting to see what Government said before planning any travel. Some people will now press ahead with their plans and book their travel, others may look into making an alternative journey to their destination, while some will decide to deviat ..read more

For those travelling by bus or train we know that a ‘Covid safe’ environment is a current top priority. Passengers want visible evidence that vehicles are clean and face-covering rules are being enforced, and information that helps them plan a socially distanced journey. But what about those travelling by taxi to make that essential journey to work or the shops or, if restrictions allow, home from a pub or restaurant? Government guidance published last week details the actions that drivers, operators and owners of taxis or private hire vehicles in England can take to protect against coronaviru ..read more

What are passengers’ current top priorities for transport? Transport Focus regularly asks bus and rail passengers what their top priorities for improvement are. This is to inform what passengers feel future public transport plans should focus on and where resources are committed. Prior to Covid-19 both of our rail and bus surveys showed that getting the basics right has never been more important to passengers. These being punctual reliable and frequent services that offer value for money. Has this changed in light of Covid-19? In our latest report we explored this with our community of bus and ..read more

This week we’ve been looking to the future. We’ve published new insight from passengers from our Transport User Community about what their hopes for transport ‘post-Covid’ and heard from transport industry leaders how they plan to respond at our online event – ‘The transport user Covid debate’. So, what did passengers have to say about transport post-Covid? Our community values public transport and hopes that it will evolve with enhanced cleanliness and less crowding after Covid-19. Many rail users are relishing the opportunity not to be ‘packed into’ a crowded train and see the reduced passe ..read more

Are there times when those travelling by bus feel uncomfortable about their safety during the journey to the extent that they would get off the bus? We tested this out with our community of bus users to understand what impacts feeling safe on buses. Having enough space emerges as the top measure in this latest research as it can mitigate against other passengers being negligent about face coverings, unless exempt, the second most important element. Most said they would need to be able to keep well over two metres apart to feel comfortable if others are not covering their faces. “I might get o ..read more

Providing clear and accurate information to passengers has always been a priority. Traditionally it was about ensuring people had accurate information on fares and on services, especially during periods of disruption. But since Covid-19, it has also been about providing reassurance to passengers, so they know what to expect and enable them to travel with confidence. Back in June we published an assessment of train company websites. This looked at the advice given on things like face coverings, social distancing measures and cleaning. The Department for Transport found this useful and asked us ..read more

It’s getting harder to remember life before coronavirus, it’s had such an impact on the way we live and travel. But this week we had reason to take another look at a subject that had been one of passengers’ main issues before Covid-19 struck – compensation for delays. All our research on rail confirms the importance of punctuality for passengers – they want and expect their train to be on time. And when it’s not, a good, easy-to-use compensation mechanism can take some of the sting out of delays and help build trust between passengers and the train company. However, our research showed that to ..read more

The perceived safety of travelling by public transport continues to be a key concern for many people, particularly those not travelling at the moment. We know many are apprehensive about how thoroughly and frequently transport is cleaned, and whether other passengers will be observing social distancing and face covering rules. But can scientific evidence showing that the risks are low encourage people to get back on board? The rail industry has been working hard to demonstrate that risks are low using scientific methods. Specifically, the Rail Safety and Standards Board has published the findi ..read more

It felt good to be on an old route recently, both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. I took my children down to Bristol and Exeter so my eldest could see what the universities look like, from the outside at least. Booking tickets online was a bit frustrating – you need to know if the train is full before you get to the end of the process! Once on our way, it’s good to report that on the Northern, Victoria and Bakerloo lines (that take you from Tooting Bec to Paddington), I saw almost 100% of passengers wearing face coverings. You only hope the people that are not wearing them have good ..read more