Modeling public transport mode choice using stated preference: A comparative analysis of rail, bus, and shuttle services

Source abstract

Background: Growing intercity mobility increases the need for public transport services that respond effectively to travelers’ preferences and service expectations. Understanding how passengers evaluate competing transport alternatives is therefore essential for improving mobility planning and service provision. Aims: This study aimed to model public transport mode choice on the Kotabumi–Bandar Lampung corridor by examining passenger characteristics, identifying influential service attributes, and estimating choice probabilities for rail, bus, and shuttle services. Method: A quantitative stated preference approach was employed with 384 respondents, comprising 234 offline and 150 online participants. Data were analyzed using validity and reliability tests, multiple linear regression, utility estimation, multinomial logit modeling, and Pearson correlation. Results: Comfort was the leading consideration for rail users (27%), while fare was most prominent for bus (33%) and shuttle users (26%). The combined choice probabilities were 48.65% for rail, 25.86% for bus, and 25.49% for shuttle, indicating a clear preference for rail. Conclusion: Rail emerged as the most preferred public transport alternative, while differences in mode-specific considerations highlight the importance of incorporating passenger preferences into intercity transport planning and service improvement.