Using data from Great Britain‟s National Passenger Survey 2010 this paper examinesthe travel time use of rail passengers and their indicative assessment of its utility. Thepaper explores the impacts of individuals‟ socio demographic characteristics, types ofactivity undertaken and the perceived difficulties that may be faced by the travellerson their assessment of travel time use utility. The study shows that only 13% oftravellers considered their travel time as wasted. However, this varies by journeypurpose, travelling class (first/standard class), gender and journey length. The studyshows that the positive or negative appreciation by passengers of their journey time isnot only a result of various combinations of on-board activity engagements, but alsothe smoothness of overall journey experience. Being able to work/study on the trainmost significantly increases individual appreciation of time use. However, a delay onan individual‟s train journey also has a major influence in reducing his/her perceivedvalue of travel time spent. ICT devices that enable travellers to watch film/video orplay games or check emails are more appreciated than those providing access tomusic/podcast or access to social networking sites. The paper joins others inquestioning assumptions made in economic appraisal that travel time is unproductive.It concludes with a call for more substantive and targeted data collection effortswithin travel behaviour research devoted to further unravelling the phenomenon of thepositive utility of travel.
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