Linking the transport networks

Encouraging more use of public transport as a means to reduce pollution and congestion problems in European cities is a no-brainer.

But poor connections between modes of transport and a scarcity of information on options available in many EU cities mean that citizens are reluctant to ditch the car. Why leave behind the cushioned seat and the stereo, especially when you are likely to end up walking the last kilometre, possibly in the rain?

"Intermodality is not really covered by EU policy," says Brigitte Ollier, director of the European branch of the International Association of Public Transport. "Institutions see it as being only about easy transfers between rail and air, but it also involves cars and bicycles." The major problem, according to Ollier, is that intermodality - a linked transport infrastructure - is often the responsibility of local authorities.

Local authorities are unable to co-ordinate action on providing the connections between local and regional services that would boost use of communal transport. "At national and regional level, we need more contact points to co-ordinate all issues relating to intermodal transport in one place," says Tim Asperges, a lecturer at the transport research institute of Hasselt University in Belgium, who contributed to the European Commission study Towards Passenger Intermodality in the EU in 2004. "Administrations are not always keen to exchange information as, for them, it is commercial data not to be shared with other actors," he says.

Given the fragmented markets, it is perhaps not surprising that public transport has problems competing with private cars. As Asperges points out, people face practical problems when using different forms of public transport to travel door-to-door. "Intermodal passenger transport has to be made more attractive," he says. "There are some regions where you have integrated ticketing, not only for trains and buses, but also for car-sharing and bicycles."

With little standardisation between member states, use of public transport modes for long-distance travel is especially dismal. Asperges points to the poor flow of information between different operators running cross-border services. "Information on services available isn't always available to the customer," he says. "We need a ticketing and pricing policy to make cross-border services compatible. There is no overall legislation covering this."

The Commission will tackle the issue in its forthcoming green paper on urban transport, expected in 2007. Ollier believes rigorous action is needed at EU level. "The question is, do we need something other than exchanges of best practice?" she asks. "The same problems, which exist everywhere, are contributing to pollution and congestion."

Citizens can hope for an age of joined-up public transport systems at local, regional, national and supra-national levels. Use of technology would perhaps complement a more comprehensive offering, embracing not only trams, buses, trains, but also bicycles and shared cars. "Real-time information available on mobile phones, notifying people of delays and alternative options, is a future possibility which would make intermodal transport more attractive," says Asperges.

Encouraging more use of public transport as a means to reduce pollution and congestion problems in European cities is a no-brainer.