A Panel Data Approach to Evaluate the Passenger Satisfaction of a Public Transport Service

Abstract

In the present work we analyze the passenger satisfaction of a public transport service by means of a panel data approach. Improving the quality and efficiency of public transport is important if we are to change the daily transport habits of the public. The congestion in urban areas and its immediate and wider consequences on the climate are pushing central and local governments to instigate sustainable transport policies. These policies require an ever more personalised attention to the desires of the customer, to know and quantify the most influential variables on their decision to travel in public transport. The quality of a public transport system is covered by many factors, such as considerations relative to comfort and safety within the vehicle, the time taken to cover the routes and the convenience and existence of any supporting infrastructure. The techniques that we have used to analyse the panel data are: fixed effects and random effects.