Two recently-completed EC FP7 projects, ORIGAMI and COMPASS, have investigated solutions to improve interconnected passenger journeys in Europe in line with European policies on future integrated, sustainable transport, and in the context of changing transport demands from socio-economic and demographic trends. The area of research covered by ORIGAMI and COMPASS has particular relevance at the European level because the European Transport Networks’ role as integrated international networks is compromised by poor interconnectivity and because the next generation of European transport policies (for the Transport White Book 2010-2020 revision and TEN-T update) will have to be sensitive to the differences between short, medium and long-term transport markets and the market advantages of each transport mode. In this context, a realistic assessment of co-modal and intermodal opportunities is a key ingredient to future policy development. Clearly these factors are also important in a Scottish context. COMPASS took this general background and focused on how improvements in seamless transport can achieve environmental goals in reduced CO2 emissions, in particular with the application of ICT solutions. ORIGAMI addressed the potential for greater efficiency and reduced environmental impact of passenger transport by judicious encouragement of integration, co-operation and, where appropriate, competition in the provision of connections. Thus the project encompassed physical characteristics of the network, as well as the users of the transport system, their demand for travel, their expectations and their reaction to the transport supply that will be on offer. The profile of users varies across European countries and regions and so will their actual and future travel behaviour, meaning that factors such as demographics and social groups influence this behaviour and need to be taken into account when trying to assess the potential effectiveness of any intervention. The general focus of ORIGAMI was on all those long-distance journeys which might benefit from more effective co-operation and/or interconnection between modes and services, and on those situations where this is currently hampered by institutional barriers, lack of investment, or failure to innovate and which could benefit from a more enlightened approach. One particular focus of the project was the identification of technical solutions for improved co-modality and, in particular, intermodality, and the project has investigated how examples of how good solutions found in one mode can be transferred to other modes. The research undertaken in the COMPASS project has recommended solutions that will allow improvements to the planning and operation of the passenger transport network to enhance co-modality in transport thus contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions. COMPASS aimed to provide an overall picture of what travellers require from the transport system at the present time and what they will require in the future based on an investigation of key socio-economic trends. COMPASS analysed how solutions based on ICT (information and computer technology) and ITS (intelligent transport systems) applications can meet the future demands identified, in particular to provide for the integration of multimodal and co-modal transport solutions, and then assessed how these solutions can contribute to the decarbonisation of transport activities. The central question on the contribution of ICT solutions to achieve reduced CO2 emissions has been addressed in COMPASS in three main ways: the development of the Handbook of ICT solutions; the realisation of eleven case studies on the implementation of specific ICT solutions in different European regions, including one study related to Scotland; and the European assessment of ICT solutions through scenarios analysis. This paper will outline the work undertaken in ORIGAMI and COMPASS, key outputs, and conclusions reached. The conclusions cover both the actions that can be implemented to achieve better connected journeys, and the identification of gaps in knowledge and the potential for future research. (Author/publisher)
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