Young people preferences about enhanced transportation services for intercity trips: An integrated choice and latent variable approach

With rapid urbanization, the demand for intercity travel is increasing, along with the variety of travel options due to technological advancements. However, prior studies on intercity travel mode choice have rarely considered functional amenities and psychological factors, often relying on revealed preference (RP) or stated preference (SP) data. This study designed an RP and SP questionnaire based on a trip chain integrating intra- and intercity mobility, focusing on the Hefei metropolitan area in China. Utilizing RP-SP fusion data, an Integrated Choice and Latent Variable framework incorporating random taste heterogeneity and psychological characteristics was developed to investigate travelers’ mode choice behavior for conventional train, high-speed rail, intercity bus, private car, and intercity ride-hailing. Findings indicate that intercity in-vehicle time and cost are the most influential factors, with significant heterogeneity among travelers. There is lower satisfaction with the in-vehicle time of trains and buses, and the costs associated with buses and ride-hailing services. Intra-city access time is also crucial, while service attributes like catering and hygiene conditions, Wi-Fi availability show minimal impact. Psychological traits, including safety concern, hedonism, and social anxiety, significantly affect intercity travel preferences. Elasticity analysis suggests that intercity buses’ market growth potential comes mainly from train and ride-hailing consumers.