The impact of train accessibility on housing affordability: evidence from COVID-19 and the work-from-home shift

Shi, S; Ou, Y; Mao, T

The impact of train accessibility on housing affordability: evidence from COVID-19 and the work-from-home shift

Shi, S

Ou, Y

Mao, T

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Publisher:: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Transportation Research Part A Policy and Practice, 2025, 202
Issue Date:: 2025-12-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Shi, S https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4188-5151
dc.contributor.author	Ou, Y https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5922-9406
dc.contributor.author	Mao, T https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1657-5437
dc.date.accessioned	2026-01-30T00:26:09Z
dc.date.available	2026-01-30T00:26:09Z
dc.date.issued	2025-12-01
dc.identifier.citation	Transportation Research Part A Policy and Practice, 2025, 202
dc.identifier.issn	0965-8564
dc.identifier.issn	1879-2375
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/192573
dc.description.abstract	This study examines the impact of train accessibility on housing affordability in Sydney, Australia, before, during, and after COVID‑19. Using panel regression and propensity score matching (PSM) to mitigate bias from unobserved neighbourhood heterogeneity and sample selection, we compare housing affordability between train-stop and non-stop suburbs for both house and unit (apartment) markets. Our findings indicate that before COVID‑19, housing affordability was worse in train-stop suburbs relative to non-stop suburbs due to an accessibility premium, particularly for houses. However, the pandemic and the shift towards remote work significantly reduced this premium, resulting in improved purchase affordability in train-stop suburbs for homeowners and investors, particularly for units. Meanwhile, rental affordability for houses in train-stop suburbs improved during and after the pandemic, but not for units. Our findings may influence the effectiveness and design of the government's Transport‑Oriented Development (TOD) initiatives aimed at increasing unit/apartment supply around major train stations under changing commuting patterns and post-pandemic housing demand.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Transportation Research Part A Policy and Practice
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.tra.2025.104709
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1205 Urban and Regional Planning, 1507 Transportation and Freight Services
dc.subject.classification	Logistics & Transportation
dc.subject.classification	3304 Urban and regional planning
dc.subject.classification	3509 Transportation, logistics and supply chains
dc.title	The impact of train accessibility on housing affordability: evidence from COVID-19 and the work-from-home shift
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	202
utslib.for	1205 Urban and Regional Planning
utslib.for	1507 Transportation and Freight Services
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Data Science Institute (DSI)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design and Society
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2026-01-30T00:26:07Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	202

Abstract:

This study examines the impact of train accessibility on housing affordability in Sydney, Australia, before, during, and after COVID‑19. Using panel regression and propensity score matching (PSM) to mitigate bias from unobserved neighbourhood heterogeneity and sample selection, we compare housing affordability between train-stop and non-stop suburbs for both house and unit (apartment) markets. Our findings indicate that before COVID‑19, housing affordability was worse in train-stop suburbs relative to non-stop suburbs due to an accessibility premium, particularly for houses. However, the pandemic and the shift towards remote work significantly reduced this premium, resulting in improved purchase affordability in train-stop suburbs for homeowners and investors, particularly for units. Meanwhile, rental affordability for houses in train-stop suburbs improved during and after the pandemic, but not for units. Our findings may influence the effectiveness and design of the government's Transport‑Oriented Development (TOD) initiatives aimed at increasing unit/apartment supply around major train stations under changing commuting patterns and post-pandemic housing demand.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/192573