EIRP Proceedings (May 2019)
Determinants of Rail Passenger Transport Usage: A Case of Buffalo City Municipality
Abstract
This study investigated the determinants of rail passengers transport usage. Descriptive analysis in the form of Pearson-chi square and inferential analysis using probit regression were used in this study for data analysis. The study used closed-ended questionnaires and they were distributed to 100 people. The results of the study revealed that level of income, occupation, level of education, safety, and affordability are the common factors that influence the usage of trains for transport. The frequency of usage based on income was about 44%, with about 55% of people indicating they make use of trains because they find it a safe mode transport. The income level, safety, occupation and affordability were statistically insignificant. The level of education had a high frequency at 74% and it was statistically signifacant.004. The second part of the study assessed the incidence of train usage and results revealed that most of people (about 74%) travel by train daily. The policy recommendation from this study is that efforts should made to improve the rail transport services, like the facilities, speed and the time schedule. This study will contribute to generation of knowledge around these issues.
