Research by the transport consultant Systra finds that reductions could be particularly pronounced among rail passengers, with more than a quarter expecting to travel on trains less following the lockdown.

In London, 40% of respondents to a survey said they expected to use public transport less than before the Coronavirus outbreak, compared to 20% from the Midlands and 19% from Scotland.

The main reasons given among those expecting to reduce their travel on public transport were worries about falling ill (49%), working more from home (24%) and finding another way of making a journey (14%).

The research also found that two thirds of those questioned believe virtual meetings will replace some or all business trips and meetings. Just under a third said face to face trips and meetings will happen at the same frequency as they did prior to the pandemic – and 4% thought they will happen more frequently than before.

Commenting on the findings, Systra’s travel behaviour director Katie Hall said: “Our climate emergency has not been cancelled. There is no doubt that this situation has opened up different ways of working for many, but if people start rejecting public transport over the car for work and leisure trips – that’s a massive step backwards. Public transport operators must rise to this challenge.”

The firm’s public transport director Neill Birch added: “A drop of 20% equates to five million fewer trips being made every single day, most of them in and out of our major towns and cities. Our research highlights the need for the public transport sector to think hard and plan ahead to be ready for when travel restrictions are lifted.”

The survey took the views of a representative sample of 1514 adults in the UK between 8 and 14 April.

(Photograph: Network Rail)