All In The Timing
This article discusses the primary concerns of rail passengers in the United Kingdom. Passenger Focus, an organization that was established in 2005 to represent British rail passengers, gathers much of its information through an annual National Passenger Survey and uses its findings to highlight passenger concerns. The latest research by Passenger Focus shows that the most critical concern for passengers is that their trains arrive on time. Passenger Focus has determined that although most trains arrive at their final destination on time, the trains are often late to arrive at intermediate stations. Trains that are just one minute late decrease customer satisfaction. Passengers are also concerned about fares, which rose an average of 5.8% last year. Although passengers have a negative opinion of ticket barriers that have been installed in many stations, Passenger Focus sees the barriers as a necessary feature for ensuring security and revenue. Another common passenger concern is the lack of information provided during disruptions. Passenger Focus hopes that train operating companies will continue to work hard to meet these customer priorities.