Revitalizing Railway Heritage for Sustainable Regional Development: User Satisfaction and Implications for University Students in the Case of the Lakes Express

This study examines the revitalization of railway heritage as a tool for sustainable regional development, focusing on user satisfaction with the Lakes Express and its implications for university students. Using a quantitative research design, data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to passengers using the Lakes Express. The sample predominantly consisted of university students, reflecting the railway’s role in supporting higher education mobility. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, and one-way ANOVA to examine differences in satisfaction across demographic variables. The findings indicate that overall user satisfaction is above the average level, highlighting the railway’s effectiveness in providing accessible and affordable transportation. Significant differences in satisfaction were found according to gender, education level, and income, while no significant differences were observed across age and occupational groups. University students and lower-income participants reported higher satisfaction levels, suggesting that the Lakes Express plays a critical role in supporting educational accessibility and social inclusion. The results suggest that regional railway services contribute not only to sustainable mobility but also to higher education participation by facilitating reliable and cost-effective student travel. In this context, the Lakes Express emerges as a functional public service with the potential to strengthen the relationship between transportation infrastructure and higher education systems.