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Metropolitan Regional Express Services (SERM) Projects: Stated Preference Survey on Car/Train Modal Choice

Suburban mobility represents a major challenge: it is characterised by strong, often asymmetrical, commuter flows from sparsely populated areas and over long distances. To address this, France plans the deployment of Metropolitan Regional Express Services (SERM) in several major cities. These services represent not only a transport solution but also a lever for regional planning, promoting densification around stations and limiting urban sprawl.

Location: France
Client: SNCF Réseau
Date: 2024

Context and Objectives

Within this SERM framework, SNCF Réseau entrusted Stratec with carrying out a stated preference survey aiming to better understand the modal choice criteria of suburban users, and especially the levers encouraging a shift from car to train.

The study evaluated various factors: characteristics of the rail offer, road alternatives, impact of low-emission zones (LEZ).

A dozen offer features were thus studied and tested with the survey respondents.

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Methodology

The study combined a bibliographic review and interviews with European railway stakeholders, followed by a large-scale survey conducted in five metropolitan areas (Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lille, Lyon, Strasbourg).

In total, 3,580 responses were collected via social networks and an online panel, then analysed to build modal choice models and calculate demand elasticities to the studied offer features.

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Results

From the wealth of data collected, several key findings stand out: train frequency emerges as a critical driver of ridership, secure bike parking at stations significantly boosts train usage, and the low perceived value of time among motorists undermines the deterrent impact of road congestion.

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