Intermodal transport is pivotal for enhancing the use of rail and other mass transit options, especially as the prevalence of mixed-mode journeys is on the rise. On 19 October 2023, UIC kicked off another project dedicated to closer cooperation between air and high-speed rail (HSR). UIC and its members have a long history of working together with airlines, with UIC and IATA working actively together on ticketing, for example. This new project also brings together several members of the UIC AUHSR (UIC Alliance of Universities for HSR), including BJTU in China, SWSJ in Seattle, USA, ZHAW in Switzerland and UNINA in Italy, to build on previous initiatives to connect airports such as Zurich and Frankfurt to long-distance rail networks, reducing dependency on domestic flights. These examples highlight the potential for collaboration between air and rail transportation.
The “Air + HSR” project’s main objective is to analyse and improve the general coordination of air and rail transport, focusing on Europe, the USA and China. It aims to develop practical solutions, including improving service, enhancing infrastructure and potentially implementing regulatory changes, in order to maximise the benefits to both modes of transport and promote sustainable mobility. It encompasses analysis, customer experience enhancement, optimisation, solution development, programme creation and summaries to guide future initiatives around the work.
Moreover, the project’s framework aligns with the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) development goals and draws inspiration from successful previous examples of integration.
These objectives ultimately target passengers, whether they are travelling for business or leisure, with the quality criteria employed being directly linked to the market sector and its respective expectations. In this regard, the project will invite other travel and transport industry stakeholders to take part, and they will be involved in the workshops being held until mid-2024. The findings and recommendations will then be presented at the next UIC World Congress on HSR, which will take place in 2025 in China.