Intentions to take night trains (sleepers) for leisure trips: A study in London

Giuseppe Catenazzo; Ramesh Roshan Das Guru; Giovana Goretti Feijó Almeida; Paulo Almeida

doi:10.71159/icemit2502C

Authors

Giuseppe Catenazzo Institute of Higher Education, Switzerland, Polytechnic University of Leiria, CiTUR, Portugal
Ramesh Roshan Das Guru South Asian University, India
Giovana Goretti Feijó Almeida Polytechnic University of Leiria, CiTUR, Projeto FAST-Agenda ATT-PRR, Portugal
Paulo Almeida Polytechnic University of Leiria, CiTUR, Projeto FAST-Agenda ATT-PRR, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71159/icemit2502C

Keywords:

night trains, sleeper trains, theory of planned behaviour, environmental concern, sustainable tourism, rail travel intentions

Abstract

Despite the revival of night trains across Europe, understanding what drives travellers to choose this mode of transport remains mostly underexplored. This study examines Londoners’ intentions to take night trains for leisure travel, positioning environmental concern as a key antecedent within the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Survey data from 278 respondents reveal that environmental concern significantly shapes travel attitudes and intentions, with the model explaining 60% of the variance in night train adoption. Ecological consciousness and familiarity with the service offer emerge as the primary drivers of night train intentions, outweighing social pressure. For rail operators and policymakers, findings suggest targeting sustainability-oriented travellers, enhancing service familiarity through promotional trials and experiential marketing, and addressing social perceptions that may hinder adoption. Also, this study contributes to sustainable mobility research in metropolitan contexts and invites further investigation into how environmental values and peer influence shape travel choices across diverse urban settings, particularly in understanding the complex role of subjective norms in sustainable transport decisions.

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