West Midlands Rail User Profile Survey

TfWM has regularly conducted Rail User Profile surveys to monitor the profile and travel habits of local rail passengers. The West Midlands rail network contributes significantly to the region's economic, social and environmental wellbeing. There are 70 TfWM-supported rail stations in the region with more than 8,000 free Park and Ride spaces at 38 rail stations across the region.
The survey was designed to capture the travel patterns and socio economic profile of local rail users boarding at all key stations within the West Midlands conurbation and travelling within the Network West Midlands area.
i) Socio-economic profile – in terms of journey purpose, age, gender, ethnicity, occupation, social group, employment status, car ownership, car availability for travel, driving licence ownership and Mosaic Profile.
ii) Travel Patterns – in terms of frequency and times of rail travel, frequency of travel by other modes, usual travel times, mode of travel to station, Park and Ride usage, cycle usage, final alighting station, longevity of rail use.
iii) Payments for rail travel – awareness of ways to pay for rail travel, ticket type purchased, reasons for non season ticket use, usual place of purchase, payment method at station, online website used, Mobile/e-ticket use.
iv) Access and source of train information - How information for rail journeys is obtained, smartphone access for mobile information and use of social media.
v) Alternate modes of travel – modal change during times of disruption and reasons for using rail over these alternate modes.
vi) Opinion of parking at local stations – Opinion of who provides Park and Ride, ability to park at station, who should fund in the future and any effect the introduction of car park charges might have.
vii) Use of local rail for leisure purpose
viii) Frequency of rail travel post 9pm and opinion of evening services in terms of safety, frequency and value for money.