The metro in Algiers: User profile and quality of service

Abstract

In recent years, rail transit modes (metros, trams and light rail systems) have been greatly developed around the world. They are used as a way of promoting quality public transport, to encourage modal shift from private vehicles and to achieve sustainable mobility in cities. Algiers is the first city in the Maghreb that has implemented an underground metro. The metro came into operation in November 2011. This mode of transport, whose operation is well known in developed countries, is fairly new to the population of Algiers. For this reason, the results of mobility and quality studies conducted in other developed countries cannot be extrapolated to countries like Algeria, or other neighbouring countries where other rail transit projects are being developed. The first survey on mobility and quality of service in the Algiers' metro took place in June 2012. The survey collected information on: socio-demographic characteristics of users, mobility habits, overall satisfaction with the subway, and satisfaction with 16 specific characteristics of the service (frequency, punctuality, cleanliness, price, etc.). This article presents some of the results of that survey, identifying the user profile that is most prevalent in this mode of transport as well as the users' perceptions of the quality of service provided. The results show that the level of satisfaction with almost all the characteristics of the service is very high, except for the price. Finally, the survey also revealed that, for the moment, the objective of encouraging a modal shift from private vehicles has not been achieved, because this kind of user represents only 15% of the total metro's users. © 2013 WIT Press.