EU policies and activities on passenger intermodality
2.1 European Transport Policy
Passenger intermodality has been put on the agenda in several European or less in national or reglonal policies. As early as 2001 the European Commission identified integrated ticketing, baggage handing and continuity of journeys as priority for passenger transport in the Transport Policy White Paper. As a follow-up of the White Paper, DG TREN put priority on activities in the freight sector with the development of the MARCO POLO program as one of the best examples.In 2004 the same directorate-general commissioned a study Towards passenger intermodality in the EU’which has been a basic report putting priorities from a European Policy perspective forward.
In June 2006 the Eu organised a Mid-Term Review of the Transport white Paper with the following key points maintain a high level of mobility, attention to environmental protection and energy security innovation for efficiency and sustainability and international connection beyond the EU. A new concept was also introduced comodality comodality stands for the optinisation of each mode (clean and efficient and integration of modes for seamless transport, thus prowoking modal shift.
The EC Action Plan on Airport capacity was launched in January 2007, urged by the statement that 60airport will be heavily congested by 2025.Some capacity can be freed if some of the short-haul flights
airports will be heavly congested by 2025. Somo capacity be shifted to rail and with improved air rail intermodality. Therefore airport access and especiany links need to be improved. The European Commission is promoting rail links from to cities and regions, with funding for intermodal infrastructure (EN.T, European Regional Development and Cohesion Funds
Towards a new European Transport Policy
In the EC communication A sustainable future for transport of June 2009, the main outline for a new White Paper at the end 2010 was sketched. in this new White Paper there will be three priorities people, integration and technology.
The communication included a strong statement on the integration of modes "(We) strongly believe that meeting the future challenges will require focusing on new technologies and on the integration of the different transport modes into a single system, all this in a more integrated internal market in which competition is fully granted.
2.2 Urban transport
Also in the field of urban transport there are a few European policy initiatives with strong links with intermodality In 2007 the Green Paper on Urban Mobility was coordinated, titled Towards a new culture for urban mobility.Ultimate goal was to optimise the use of all modes of transport and to organise comodality. In 2009 this work was elaborated by the Action Plan on Urban Mobility which includes some important topics for intermodality improved information, passenger rights, integrated planning, greener transport staring experiences and extra funding.
2.3 Other EU policies
For some specific issues it is important to mention further Eu initiatives The Action Plan for the Deployment of intelligent Transport Systems 2008 was originally started as a road only exercise but now also covers interconnections with other modes (mainly public transport).The links to intermodality are quite
obvious when taking a look at some action themes: development of a Europe-wide real time traffic and travel information system, promotion of multimodal journey planners, attention to privacy and liability is sues, urban and Inter-urban Interfaces (traffic management) and the development of a decision making toolkit.
In the field of passenger rights the Commission passed Regulation 1371/2007 Rail Passenger Rights and Obligations which gives a very practical approach to intermodality, although quite softened by compromise.For example Article 5 states that railway undertakings must enable passengers to bring bicycles onto the train, where appropriate for a fee, if they are easy to handle, if it doesn't adversely affect the specific rail service and if the rolling stock permits it
2.4 Relevant projects and activities, funded by the European Commission CIVITAS Intermodality in urban areas