TY - JOUR

T1 - Generic functions of railway stations

T2 - A conceptual basis for the development of common system understanding and assessment criteria

AU - Zemp, Stefan

AU - Stauffacher, Michael

AU - Lang, Daniel

AU - Scholz, Roland W.

PY - 2011/3

Y1 - 2011/3

N2 - The redevelopment of railway stations calls for the integration of many different objectives. Two crucial challenges thereby are the development of a common system understanding among the multiple stakeholders with potentially conflicting interests and the structured definition of comprehensiveassessment criteria. Defining the functions of the system railway station, i.e. discussing what the system should do, can support solving these challenges. Based on a review of Swiss railway stations in a transdisciplinary research project applying four focus groups (n¼38), 28 expert interviews and twoexpert workshops, we present a structured framework of five generic functions of railway stations and their interdependencies. The five generic functions are: linking catchment area and transport network, supporting transfer between modes of transport, facilitating commercial use of real estate, providingpublic space, and contributing to the identity of the surrounding area. Potential conflicts between functions are identified. They concern the competition of multiple functions for space, for customer attention or for revenues as well as increasing system complexities with station size. We illustrate how the framework of functions can be used to foster a common system understanding and to develop assessment criteria. Although elaborated from a Swiss perspective the framework is perceived adaptable to railway stations of other countries.

AB - The redevelopment of railway stations calls for the integration of many different objectives. Two crucial challenges thereby are the development of a common system understanding among the multiple stakeholders with potentially conflicting interests and the structured definition of comprehensiveassessment criteria. Defining the functions of the system railway station, i.e. discussing what the system should do, can support solving these challenges. Based on a review of Swiss railway stations in a transdisciplinary research project applying four focus groups (n¼38), 28 expert interviews and twoexpert workshops, we present a structured framework of five generic functions of railway stations and their interdependencies. The five generic functions are: linking catchment area and transport network, supporting transfer between modes of transport, facilitating commercial use of real estate, providingpublic space, and contributing to the identity of the surrounding area. Potential conflicts between functions are identified. They concern the competition of multiple functions for space, for customer attention or for revenues as well as increasing system complexities with station size. We illustrate how the framework of functions can be used to foster a common system understanding and to develop assessment criteria. Although elaborated from a Swiss perspective the framework is perceived adaptable to railway stations of other countries.

KW - Environmental planning

KW - Functions

KW - Stakeholders

KW - Common system understanding

KW - Assessment

KW - Railway station

KW - Systemic perspective

KW - Assessment

KW - Common system understanding

KW - Functions

KW - Railway station

KW - Stakeholders

KW - Systemic perspective

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79251635672&origin=inward&txGid=0

U2 - 10.1016/j.tranpol.2010.09.007

DO - 10.1016/j.tranpol.2010.09.007

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 18

SP - 446

EP - 455

JO - Transport Policy

JF - Transport Policy

SN - 0967-070X

IS - 2

ER -