Joint analysis of intermodal long distance-last mile trips using urban interchanges in EU cities

Abstract

Abstract This paper provides an analysis of long-short distance passenger interconnectivity in the European context. The analysis is based on the results of the project HERMES (EU 7th FP). In order to gather information about the barriers to intermodality, a series of interviews to stakeholders were carried out and complemented with surveys to passengers. Their outputs show weakness and strengths of four intermodal stations: Gothenburg Central Station (Sweden), Avenida de America Interchange in Madrid (Spain), Lleida-Zaragoza railway stations (Spain), and Part Dieu Intermodal Station in Lyon (France). The stakeholders’ surveys highlighted the main management features and characteristics of interchanges. The survey conducted to passengers gave an insight into the key requirements of long-short distance intermodal services. Passenger surveys provided information about the trip and their socioeconomic characteristics. In addition, they rated the importance and satisfaction of a series of aspects. This paper identifies the most relevant elements of each interchange -their weakness and strengths. These findings consider both providers’ and customers’ perspectives. The most common weakness in terms of management is the lack of internal coordination among operators, managers and decision makers, which influences the quality of the information provided to passengers. The strengths of each interchange depend on the customers’ personal profile. In some cases, the availability of a variety of cheap urban transport services is the most valued characteristic. In other cases, customers prefer good quality and comfortable facilities. Those findings are consistent with the outputs of other EU funded projects like NODES and City-HUB that provide guidelines to the design and management of interchanges in response to travellers’ desires and expectations.