A RESEARCH ON PASSENGERS’ REASONS FOR CHOOSING HIGH SPEED TRAIN AS A MEANS OF TRANSPORT

The global and technological developments in transportation sector helped the expansion of the market and brought intensive competition among the types of transportation. thus determining the factors effecting passengers’ decisions on choosing the means of transport is vital. in this study the railway passengers’ reasons for choosing the high speed train (hst) have been attempted to be determined in order to serve better on trains and make high speed train project successful in turkey. questionnaires were carried out at different hours and on different days of the week in case the passenger profiles could change. 800 questionnaires were carried out in random sample method. 762 of those questionnaires were valid and they were evaluated. according to the results, among the reasons for choosing hst time saving comes first. moreover, comfort of the trains, their punctuality and reasonable prices affect passengers’ preferences.