While intermodality in freight transport is being promoted with a number of concrete initiatives on a European level (for example, Marco Polo programme, freight transport integrators), passenger intermodality has not yet received the same attention.
The current situation of intermodal passenger transport shows that there is still a long way to go, both politically and from the point of view of transport operators. Intermodality, which describes both a policy objective and a quality of the transport system, has evolved into a major focus for the European and also national transport policies, especially within the last ten years.
With all efforts made until present, intermodal passenger transport still raises problems, as it often results in a loss of comfort and/or time or involves a higher cost, both for the operator and the passenger. High costs is also one of the features of individual car transport, but one of the reasons for an increasing market share of the private car across most of Europe is its ability to provide (nearly) door-to-door transport, despite the problems generated by congestion in many urban regions.
The effort to improve intermodality involves many issues. Planning and location of suitable infrastructure networks and their interconnection is only a first step. Interchanges must be developed for a smooth transfer of modes. A high quality of integrated services is needed to assist the traveller in his or her journey ranging from door-to-door information to integrated fares, ticketing and payment systems to baggage handling for the full trip chain.
Several experts in the field believe that special attention should be given to identifying the method to overcome the gaps identified for services and infrastructure. Certain items are either almost without implementation across Europe or restricted to specific developed Western Europe countries where intermodality doesn’t raise too many problems anymore, but represents an advantage of the public transport system as a whole.
Urban dimension will grow in importance being estimated that the percentage of the European citizens living in urban areas will increase from 74% at the time being to around 85% in 2050. Designing sustainable cities is one of the greatest challenges that the political decision makers are confronted with. Fortunately, the urban environment offers several alternatives as regards mobility. Shifting to less polluting energy strategies is facilitated by reduced requirements for the types of vehicles. Public transport choices are more widely available, as well as the option of walking and cycling. Demand management and land-use planning can lower traffic volumes.
Over the next decades, as a consequence of reduced urban space and increasing energy and infrastructure access costs, journeys should no longer rely on multifunctional automotive vehicles which, usually, don’t carry the maximum number of passengers, the White Paper on Transport estimates.
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