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01-09-2012

Working on the train: from ‘dead time’ to productive and vital time

Authors: Mattias Gripsrud, Randi Hjorthol

Published in: Transportation | Issue 5/2012

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Abstract

The conventional approach to the study of travel time is to see it as ‘dead time’, i.e. time that should be minimized. In this paper, we study time-use on trains, especially in relation to the use of information and communication technology for work purposes. The empirical results are based on a survey of rail travellers in Norway in 2008. It was found that a high proportion of ordinary commuters and business people work on board while travelling by train, i.e. 35 % of commuters and 43 % of business people. Nearly every fourth commuter gets their travel time approved as working hours. Most respondents had some sort of electronic device with them on board, and 25 % travelling for work-related purposes use a laptop computer. Only 10 % report that their travel time is of no use. Knowledge of how travel time is utilized is indispensable in the discussion about the evaluation of travel time in cost-benefit analysis. The use of travel time can also be important for choice of transport mode in the assessment of travel time versus work options.

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Comparing parameter estimated is not possible because of scale differences.

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Title: Working on the train: from ‘dead time’ to productive and vital time
Authors: Mattias Gripsrud
Randi Hjorthol
Publication date: 01-09-2012
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Transportation / Issue 5/2012
Print ISSN: 0049-4488
Electronic ISSN: 1572-9435
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-012-9396-7

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