Regional passenger train services: regional propositions in a strategic context. The railway branch, i.e. the Dutch ministry of Transport, the inframanager and the passenger and freight railway companies, have developed a joint strategy for the future of the railways. The strategy aims at substantially increased levels of utilisation of infrastructure to be joined with a substantially improved reliability of train schedule performance. The resulting capacity gains are available to accommodate forecast traffic growth, both for passengers and freight. Simplification of work processes, logistics and the introduction of a two-train system are key ingredients of the new strategy. Leaders of regional authorities with transport in their portfolios have joined in a Commission Bandell and have, in line with the new joint strategy for the future of the railways, developed their propositions for regional passenger rail transport. The proposition is entitled Stedenbaan. Its concept fits with the strategy of the railway branch. Phased introduction based on realism and availability of scarce financial resources is feasible. Collaboration and active participation, also in terms of finance, between authorities, transport companies and the inframanager are vital for success. (Author/publisher)
Abstract