Refining light rapid transit typology: a UK perspective

Abstract

Recent developments in the light rapid transit sector have introduced transit modes that are attempting to imitate the performance of others, e.g. buses with tram-like characteristics. The boundaries between existing definitions of what is a bus, tram or train are becoming blurred. For transport studies and practice this requires a review of how we define modes. This is not just a matter of semantics, but has safety and competition regulation implications for system operators. This paper proposes a structure to produce rail- and bus-based transit mode definitions and typology that are appropriate for modern use. A decision tree is used to classify and define the transit modes as guided-bus, trolley-bus, light rail and tram-train and is provided with example systems. The paper provides a robust definitional framework that allows transit system promoters, operators and other interested parties to have a consistent basis of reference when specifying and comparing rapid transit systems.     

Impact of information and communications technology on transport

The impacts of information and communications technologies on transport are examined. First, the wider context of global change is outlined with the growth in the service and knowledge‐based economy, the breakdown of trade barriers, and the development of new patterns of travel. The more traditional views are briefly covered and discussed, and a case is made for longer term, more subtle direct and indirect effects of technological innovation on transport. Three spheres of influence are considered (production, living and working) to help structure the argument and to provide a framework within which to investigate the different information and communications technology applications in terms of their roles and impacts on transport. The review ends with three key unresolved questions that relate to the future of transport demand and analysis, and three further opportunities for using information and communications technology substantially to increase transport efficiency.     

翻译标准目的论——对等论的突破与发展

德国功能主义学派根据接受美学的理论和行为主义理论认为翻译行为所要达到的目的决定整个翻译行为的过程,即结果决定过程;并进一步提出了"充分"的翻译标准。这是对传统译论中"对等"标准的突破和发展,对于翻译实践具有更强的解释力和更有效的指导意义。     

Recognising customers' patterns of bus service patronage using a loyalty framework

With the aim of identifying typical characteristics of travellers, traditional segmentation approaches were based on socio-demographic variables. However, the approaches could not reveal the factors motivating individual behaviour. This result led to an emerging interest in psychological research models that are adhered to the decision-making process. Among various related theories, the concept of loyalty was attractive because the major purpose of establishing a loyalty concept is to recognise a customer's pattern towards a given service. However, there were few efforts aimed at determining market segments based on a loyalty framework. In addition, there was no consensus achieved on theoretical loyalty typology due to different empirical findings in different market contexts. This study aims to be the first loyalty-based attempt to provide an operational method of segmenting bus service market. Seeking practical implementation, another focus of this study is to determine typical characteristics of the market segments. Analyses that included cluster techniques were conducted on questionnaire data collected from 333 respondents in Hidaka city, Japan. A cross-classification between relative attitude and service patronage was successfully established, dividing the market into four segments. Segments of loyalty and no-loyalty were observed to be dominant over the remaining market. In contrast, the spurious loyalty segment was small and insignificant. An expansion of the latent loyalty segment was also observed when moving from the intention phase to the actual behaviour phase. Notably, not only demographic factors but also social awareness variables including environmental concern and elderly support were observed to be significant in distinguishing customer segments from one another.     

论客户抱怨的价值

客户抱怨与投诉是现代企业在经营管理经常面临的普遍现象,是由企业服务过程中的失误所引起。客户抱怨与投诉会给企业带来各种影响。如何正确应对客户抱怨与投诉,变失误为机会,是现代企业面临的重要课题。     

Effects of switching costs on customer attitude loyalty to an airport in a multi-airport region

The purpose is to analyze impacts of switching costs on customer attitude loyalty to an airport operator in a Norwegian multi-airport region. A sample of 167 respondents is analyzed by a structural equations modelling approach. Irrespective of customers’ perceptions of switching costs, service quality seems to be the most important customer loyalty driver. For low switching costs customers flight offers are also an important loyalty driver. For high switching costs customers facilities are important. An anticipated reduction in switching costs due to improvements in the regions’ infrastructure thus implies that more attention should be paid to an upgrading of the flight offers in order to create more airport loyalty in future. This may also have some interesting policy implications, which is briefly discussed in the paper.