Perceived risk impact on standard gauge railway (SGR) acceptance and social influence: perspective of transportation infrastructure

The revitalization of railway infrastructure is progressing with the introduction of the modern Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). However, the existing railway infrastructure is outdated and inadequate to support the proposed rail system (SGR), which has led to public scepticism about its feasibility and reliability, resulting in limited data on its acceptance. This study employs the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model to assess the intention to use the SGR rail system. Results based on the data from 229 participants are extracted using a partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach. The findings show that performance expectancy, social influence, and effort expectancy predict the positive effect on the populace’s behavioural intention to use SGR. Meanwhile, perceived risk directly affects the relationship between social influence and behavioural intention to use SGR for transport. Moreover, more than 80% of the participants have never used the train as a mode of transportation. Demonstrating the need for targeted education and public awareness campaigns to introduce the SGR system and its advantages to the populace. The study emphasizes that to identify potential security risks and vulnerabilities, it is crucial to implement regular risk assessments for the SGR system. Transportation authorities may proactively identify and address safety concerns by carrying out systematic risk evaluations, which increases passengers’ trust and confidence in the SGR system.