Greater Manchester Transport – STUDY OF CUSTOMER ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE LAYOUT & DISPLAY OF RAILWAY TIMETABLES 1985

Description

This 1985 report, Project 1526b, documents a “Study of Customer Attitudes Towards the Layout & Display of Railway Timetables” conducted by Scantel Research Limited on behalf of Greater Manchester Transport. Spanning 127 pages, the document details research involving 227 train travelers in Greater Manchester, surveying their preferences between British Rail and GMT’s local “Train Guides.” It includes photographic reproductions of the actual timetable leaflets and pages shown to respondents, offering invaluable visual context to the user feedback. The study rigorously compares aspects like general format, layout, clarity of information (including print size), extent of route details, and understanding of abbreviations. This primary source provides a direct 1980s insight into public perception of rail information design, making it a significant resource for researchers in transport history, user experience, and information design. Its detailed tabulations and inclusion of internal correspondence enhance its trustworthiness and historical value.