Significant improvements have been made to European cross-border transport in recent years in terms of the development of the Trans-European road and rail networks. However, cross-border public transport on a local and regional level has received less attention and, as a result, the use of public transport for such journeys is often much more difficult than for a public transport journey of similar length within a single country. Increases in local cross-border trips for work, education and leisure have come about due to socioeconomic factors (e.g. lower cost of living in one country, higher salaries in the other), the reduction in administrative barriers (e.g. mutual recognition of qualifications, relaxation of border controls) and increased mobility, particularly in terms of higher car ownership and better roads. However, the convenience of the car and the frequent lack of comprehensive cross-border public transport provision has led to most of this increase in cross-border movements being by car. This paper presents the work and some key results so far of the CONPASS project ("Better Connections in European Passenger Transport"), identifying the principal barriers to passengers, planners and operators in terms of local and regional public transport.
Abstract