The market of commuter transport is developing across Europe. Due to the development of urban and peri-urban transport systems, the citizens living in areas adjacent to the cities are no longer constrained about their mobility choices. There are many benefits related to the developing of commuter transport, but for efficiency, this type of transport has to be linked, in rail stations, to commuter buses or to park&ride systems for improved intermodality.
As for attracting customers to railway passenger transport, the authorities in big European cities plan a connection of their cities to high-speed trains and night trains, whose servi-ces will provide superior quality, thus making railway transport the mode of choice, but not on very long distances. By applying sustainability as fundamental principle for all political decisions, the municipality can manage the development of the city towards an environmentally friendly approach.
Modern regional and urban railway transport systems will be confronted with a significant proportion of demands such as commuter transport or other type of journeys. These services are efficient if they are the subject of transparent public obligations signed with public authorities: they ensure mobility while ensuring a stricter safety and environment criteria in densely populated areas. Commuter services are closely related to the other types of urban transport in the mobility chain, that is why their importance should not be neglected.
In the future, the set quality standards will have to be delivered for all types of passenger services, including commuter services and they will have to be adapted to the different mobility needs, with special attention granted to people with reduced mobility.
Experts in the area believe that due to the increasing mobility, railway commuter transport will continue to be the main passenger market in close competition to the commuter transport by personal vehicles or by bus. However, these last two types of transport will not pay the entire generated costs. Moreover, experts in the area also foresee that the intercity transport segment will also develop with the extension of high-speed railway transport. However, with all the existing infrastructure, they cannot cover construction costs entirely. Consequently, the state’s contribution will continue to be necessary, either by increasing the price of alternative modes that would reflect external costs or by providing the financial support for investments or even, why not, both.
To cut things short, more progress is necessary as regards the railway policy if commuter rail transport is to exploit its full potential in the future. Moreover, more commuter services between cities will significantly reduce the cars in traffic and, implicitly congestion and pollution. As related to the extension of railway commuter transport services, the economic component is also important, apart from the social aspect, due to the benefits it brings to regional economic development.
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