Much has been made of the major rail projects completed or underway across the country, and the impact they will have on our future travel behaviours.
The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) commissioned consumer research in April 2025, providing insights into how we can maximise public transport use in the years ahead.
A total of 2500 people living in different states across Australia were surveyed about their public transport use. Respondents were asked about how their travel patterns had changed over the past three years and the factors that influenced their travel choices.
The ARA also asked respondents in each state about whether new projects (either currently in operation or yet to commence operations) would result in them using rail more.
The research built on a consumer survey conducted by the ARA in 2022, which assessed travel behaviour as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.
Stability in work travel habits
The survey found that, overall, Australians’ travel behaviour has remained relatively consistent since the previous ARA survey. About the same proportion of people are using rail compared to 2022, as work habits stabilised after the easing of pandemic restrictions.
Respondents said they were working about three and a half days per week outside of home – the same amount as in 2022. The majority of people surveyed didn’t expect their work patterns to change in the near future, reflecting a new period of stability in work travel habits.
New projects
The opening of Sydney Metro City & Southwest Line last year sparked a wave of public transport enthusiasm in the city, as people started travelling through the Sydney CBD in new ways. The survey found that this enthusiasm had translated to changing travel habits.
Of the 500 people surveyed in Sydney, 78 per cent said they had used Sydney Metro since its opening, with 41 per cent saying they are now using public transport more.
Faster journey times, more frequent services and stations closer to home or work were the most common reasons people had made the change. Better connections to other public transport services were also a key driver.
The introduction of new metro services was perhaps one of the reasons New South Wales respondents topped the nation when it came to their future outlook, with 33 per cent saying they plan to use rail more in the next six months.
The story was similar in Western Australia, where 58 per cent of people surveyed had already used METRONET services. The survey found 36 per cent were using public transport more since the opening of METRONET services, with Western Australian respondents also citing faster journey times, stations closer to home or work and more frequent services as their primary reasons for making the shift.
These results – which are relatively consistent on both sides of the country – also highlight the potential for those states with major projects yet to open. Demand for new services in Queensland and Victoria is already building ahead of key project completions.
In Queensland, 45 per cent of local people surveyed said they plan to use public transport more when Cross River Rail opens. Meanwhile, a similar trend was found among Victorians, who also expect to increase their public transport use when the Metro Tunnel (39 per cent) and Suburban Rail Loop (41 per cent) open.
The results reflect the reality of what is already taking place in New South Wales and Western Australia, as new projects make public transport an easier, more convenient choice for more people. It also highlights the transformational impact that well-considered major infrastructure projects can deliver.
The provision of fast, easy, reliable and accessible transport is essential to driving mode shift and changing travel behaviours. Major projects completed or underway across the country can help deliver on these objectives, supported by planning for commercial, retail and housing development around station precincts to promote greater public transport use.
As we see more projects come into service across Australia in the future, the rail industry has an opportunity to build on this momentum and support greater use of rail as part of a sustainable transport network.
Cost of living pressures
As cost-of-living pressures rise, there is an opportunity to supporter greater use of public transport as a more affordable alternative.
Overall, 20 per cent of people surveyed said the cost of living has already led to them using public transport more often, with a further 23 per cent saying they might increase their public transport use in the future. If road user or petrol prices were to rise, 60 per cent of respondents said they would consider greater use of public transport.
The results confirmed the value public transport offers to people seeking affordable alternatives. The rail industry continues to work to ensure a great customer experience for all rail users, helping those making the shift to have an easy and convenient journey.
The value of convenience
Passengers continued to prioritise convenience when making transport plans. More frequent services, more seamless connections to other transport modes and more stations closer to home were all factors that people valued highly when considering public transport.
By contrast, the inconvenience of increasing traffic congestion was also identified as a significant influence when considering whether to use rail more often. These results again demonstrate the importance of projects such as the Sydney Metro and METRONET, which expand the rail network to previously under-served parts of the community, and provide faster journeys while connecting with existing public transport networks.
Meeting community needs
The wave of new projects across Australia has provided an opportunity to expand the rail network and provide new opportunities for people to access easy, affordable public transport services.
The shift that can be achieved through major projects is significant but must be supported by a continued focus across the network to deliver on customer needs: frequent services, easy access to stations and other public transport connections, and fast, reliable journey times.
The rail industry is supporting these goals as it continues to deliver a rail network that will continue to meet the nation’s needs well into the future.
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