Transforming railway stations into mobility hubs

Recently, researchers from the ISTP have completed the research project ‘Co-Creating Mobility Hubs (CCMH)’ – a transdisciplinary research project of SBB together with ETH Zurich and EPF Lausanne. This research project studied the potential transformation of railway stations into so-called mobility hubs. Specifically, the team conducted survey research on societal demands as well as secondary data analysis on the potential spillover effects of the development of railway stations.

The future development of rail-based transport hubs into intermodal mobility hubs is intended to create locations that meet the requirements for a high quality of stay and a wide range of services for customers and citizens. Mobility Hubs could thus improve the interface between different modes of transport, such as private transport and the public rail network, especially in agglomerations and regional population centers. However, mobility hubs are not only important for the development of rail-based transport and intermodal mobility, but also for the spatial development of regions, cities and areas. This research project investigated the potential transformation of railway stations into so-called Mobility Hubs by focusing on the demands of users and specifically citizens those who live around the respective area. Understanding current and anticipating future societal demands of different user groups is therefore crucial for the success of transformation efforts.

The first results from the survey research show that the provision of public transport is the predominant concern, followed by the high demand for stations as a public space. Thus, railway stations appear to be more than a means to an end but depict an essential part of neighborhood identity. While retail and services show some demand, they appear to be not a key concern. Finally, yet importantly, the connection to other means of transport encounters rejection, especially regarding the free-floating supply of micro-mobility solutions such as e-scooters. This finding indicates a lack of demand or lack of understanding for the development of multimodal mobility hubs, thus demanding alternative or creative solutions and measures to be taken by transport companies and public authorities.