According to current policies on shaping the future of transport, in a Europe suffocated by intense road traffic, which is highly polluting and noisy, rail transport is the key for an efficient mobility. For passengers, major European population centres will be connected by high-speed trains and quality overnight trains, making rail the preferred means of transport over all but the longest distances. By applying sustainability as a fundamental principle for all political decision-making, the municipality can manage the city’s development in an environmentally friendly direction.
Modern, regional and urban rail transport systems will meet a significant proportion of commuter and other journey needs. These services are run efficiently under transparent public service contracts with the public authorities: they safeguard mobility, while meeting strict safety and environmental criteria in densely populated areas. They link with other urban transport in the mobility chain, which is why their importance should not be neglected. In the future, agreed quality standards will be delivered for all types of passenger service, tailored to different mobility needs, with particular attention to the reasonable requirements of people with reduced mobility. Experts in the field believe that in passenger transport, given increasing urbanisation, commuter rail will continue to be the main passenger market, in competition with car and bus which are not paying their full costs. The intercity sector will also grow with the expansion of high speed rail. However, as with much transport infrastructure, high speed lines do not fully cover their construction costs. Therefore, state intervention will continue to be required, either to increase the price of alternative modes to reflect external costs, or to provide financial support for investment, or both. In short, more progress on rail policy must be made if rail is to play its full potential role in the future.
Developing commuter rail, especially in South-Eastern Europe, should be the main priority for local administrations. The most famous examples are the S-Bahn networks in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, RER in France, Linee S in Italy, Cercanias in Spain, and in South-Eastern Europe, Beovoz in Belgrade (Serbia) and HEV in Budapest (Hungary).
Commuter rail benefits
The commuter rail market in Europe is growing. Due to the development of the urban and peri-urban transport systems, the population that lives on the outskirts of the city is no longer restricted when it comes to mobility. The benefits of developing commuter rail are multiple. However, in order to achieve maximum efficiency, this type of service should be connected to commuter buses or park&ride systems for increased intermodality.Improving commuter rail means to facilitate people’s access to their work places. A simple comparison with commuter transport by car: commuter rail provides fast and comfortable services, reducing the time spent in traffic; safety in traffic is significantly greater than in road transport. Moreover, an increase in commuter services between cities automatically reduces road traffic and, implicitly, congestion and pollution. As for the extension of commuter rail, aside from the social component, there is also the economic component, which refers to the boost in regional economic development.
by Elena Ilie
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