Institute of Transport Studies

This three day course, run by the Choice Modelling Centre (CMC) at the University of Leeds, will provide delegates with in-depth insights into the estimation of advanced choice models. The course is a continuation of our annual winter course on ‘Choice modelling and stated choice survey design’ and assumes participants have the ability to estimate basic choice models, including the mixed logit model.

Taught by experts from the University of Leeds, the course will consist of a mixture of lectures, computer practicals (using R), and detailed case studies. Bringing together expertise from fields as diverse as transport, health, marketing and environmental economics, the course will cover all the steps required for successful estimation of flexible Mixed Logit and hybrid choice models, the implementation and interpretation of the Expectations Maximisation algorithm and Bayesian estimation procedures, and an introduction to models of multiple and continuous choice.

Euro Trip gives you the opportunity to explore and experience the transport systems of selected European countries (the Netherlands & Belgium), as well as visit top transport and tourist attractions.

The Euro Trip will take place from Sunday, 7 June 2026, to Friday, 12 June 2026 (both days inclusive).

Key highlights of the trip include:

1. Exploring Beamish Living Transport Museum
2. Ferry trip from Newcastle to Amsterdam
3. Exploring and experiencing transport systems in selected cities in the Netherlands and Belgium
4. Briefings, site visits, and technical sessions to understand transport policies and practices in the Netherlands and Belgium
5. Visiting selected tourist attractions
6. Board games, music, and social activities
7. Return journey on the high-speed Eurostar train, passing through the Channel Tunnel

This 2-day course equips participants with skills to undertake transport investment appraisal, as well as providing an opportunity to discuss key appraisal issues around – for example – active modes, decarbonisation and transport sector futures. Starting from the principles of cost-benefit analysis and financial appraisal, the course covers the key methods and techniques, and includes worked examples and case studies from road and rail, as well as multi-modal packages. Recent technical developments and appraisal issues are also covered.

 The course structure below gives a guide to what you can expect from the course. This course is suitable for those who are new to the field and for more experienced professionals seeking to refresh their knowledge. For further information about the course content or its relevance to your work please contact the course leader - John Nellthorp (j.nellthorp@its.leeds.ac.uk), and indicate if you would prefer to discuss by phone or via Teams.

Designed for people in the industry, these courses will develop up-to-date skills and knowledge for all transport professionals. Short courses are taught by active research staff and teachers, with external experts contributing, and are normally held at the Institute for Transport Studies. Alternate arrangements can be made to bring a course closer to you. All courses can be tailor-made to your company’s particular needs. Please get in touch to discuss bespoke course options.

We are currently offering a £100 discount for delegates who would like to book onto this course and our Transport Investment Appraisal course.

Course Overview

The politics of devolved decision-making to cities has put the spotlight on how transport affects economic performance. Transport schemes are now judged and prioritised on their expected economic outcomes. Like it or not Gross Value Added and jobs are now part of the lexicon in transport planning, but:

• Have we got the right tools to be making decisions based on GVA and jobs?
• Are these tools being applied correctly?
• What is a reasonable level of economic impact? And;
• Underlying all that, why and how do we expect transport to affect the economy?

Judging from the many claims and counter-claims of ‘expected’ economic impact in the media, it may seem like the economic performance of transport has been reduced to rhetoric.
The primary aim of this course is therefore to give transport professionals the knowledge to see through the rhetoric and understand the fundamentals regarding the role that transport can play in shaping the economy and how those impacts can be brought into appraisal. After attending this course transport professionals will:

• have a solid grasp of how, when, why and to what extent transport infrastructure affects businesses and the economy,
• understand how to incorporate economic impacts into a transport cost benefit analysis.