This research is supported by the CRC for Rail Innovation under R1.133 Station Access project

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Station Access: Bridging the door-to-door divide• Station Access: The Big Picture• Station Access in Australia• Review of Station Access Planning• Important Access Planning Elements• Proposed Evaluation Framework• Case Studies• Conclusions

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Station Access: The Big PictureStation access “the portion of an individual’s trip that occurs between an origin or destination point and the transit system”

Rail as part of a door-to-door journey

Bridges the gap between origin (destination) and rail transit service to be more analogous to car door-to-door service.

(Source: ATOC 2010, p.1)

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7th

Relative importance of rail journey dimensions

(Source: Brons, Givoni Rietveld 2009, p.140)

• Station accessibility ranks 7th in terms of importance in rail journey dimensions• Infrequent users ranked accessibility 3rd after travel time

reliability and level of comfort

Station Access: The Big Picture

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Station Access in Australia

For Sydney in 2006, 25% of all dwellings in were within 800 metres of a train station48% prefer to walk to the station (average distance of 700 m). 84% walk home.

“Data on overall access data characteristics reveal overall network characteristics but reveal little about specific station characteristics, however it’s a good starting point”.

(Sou

rce:

TPD

C-N

SW 2

006)

Bus16%

Kiss-and-Ride19%

Park-and-Ride16%

Walking

48%

Other1%

To: From: Bus12%

Car2%

Other2%

Walk-ing 84%

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Station Access in AustraliaUnderstanding how passenger access a station sheds some light on the adequacy of access facilities around a station. Analysis of access mode share reveals a great deal about the characteristics of the rail network and/or station.

City Centre Station (Town Hall, NSW) City Centre Station

(Roma St, Qld)

Kiss & Ride 3%

Other-Train 48%

Bus 8%

Walk/Cycle 41%

Other-Train 22%

Kiss & Ride 3%

Bus 37%

Walk/Cycle 37%

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Station Access in Australia

Park & Ride Stations End-of-line Stations

67%23%

2%8%

Coomera Station, QLD

Park & RideKiss & RideWalk/CycleBus

38%

19%4%

40%

Cockburn Central Station, WA

Park & RideKiss & RideWalk/CycleBusOther

34%

29%

29%

8%

Ferny Grove Station, QLD

Park & Ride

Kiss & Ride

Walk/Cycle

Bus

41%

16%7%

36%

Mandurah Station, WA

Park & RideKiss & RideWalk/CycleBus

8

0 7.517.5

27.537.5

47.50

20

40

60

80

100

Walk/Bike

Bus

Car

Distance from CBD, km

Mod

e sh

are,

% • Access mode by station along the NSW rail network• Walking access important for inner locations • Car access more important for outer locationsDevelopment density (distance from CBD) affects the type access mode to stations and corroborated by mode shares versus distance from CBD in Sydney.

(Source: Kittelson and Associates et al. 2012, p.34)

(Source: Xu, Milthorpe & Tsang 2011, p.12)

Sydney: WalkingBusCar KnRCar PnR

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Station Access in AustraliaNSW RailCorp Description TransLink (Qld) Description PTA WA

Architectural Description

City (Town Hall)

Rail interchange, pedestrian, bus, cycle, & taxi but limited car access.

Principal Hub (Roma St)

Active transport supported by feeder bus.

Grand Central(Perth)

Pedestrian/cycle, car access, taxi, bus (linked or on-street)

Major (Chatswood)

Possible rail interchange, pedestrian, bus, cycle, & taxi with limited car access.

Activity Hub (Auchenflower)

Active transport supported by feeder bus, KnR, PnR.

Inner Suburban (Buranda)

Active transport supported by bus feeder.

Suburban (Kogarah)

Possible rail interchange. Pedestrian, bus, cycle, taxi, & car access provided.

Suburban (Zillmere)Active transport & bus feeder supported by KnR, PnR

Suburban (manned)(Victoria Park)

Pedestrian/cycle, car access, taxi, bus on-street

Community (Homebush)

Pedestrian, cycle, & car access but limited bus & taxi access.

Outer (Birkdale) Bus feeder, KnR, PnR, some active transport.

Park & Ride(Claremont)

Pedestrian/cycle, car access, taxi, bus on-street

Outer Urban No interchange with other forms of PT.

Suburban (unmanned)(Queens Park)

Pedestrian/cycle, car access, taxi, bus on-street

End-of-line (Ferny Grove)

Interchange bus & rail supported by active transport, KnR, PnR.

Bus-Rail Interchange/Terminus (Murdoch)

Pedestrian/cycle, car access, taxi, bus (linked or on-street)

Special Events(Showgrounds)

Pedestrian/cycle, taxi, bus on street

Select Australian station categorisation and corresponding access modes

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Station Access in Australia

Access mode hierarchy across station categories (WA)

Access Hierarchy

Grand Central

Bus-Rail Interchange

Park-n-Ride Stations

Suburban Station (manned)

Suburban Station (unmanned)

Special Events

1 Under review Bus users Walk/cycle

users – – –

2 – Walk/cycle users

KnR & disabled – – –

3 – KnR & disabled Long term PnR – – –

4 – Long term PnR

Long term Pay & Display – – –

5 – Long term Pay & Display – – – –

(Source: PTA WA 2011, p.65)

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Station Access in AustraliaSingle overall access hierarchy for all station types

Access Rank

NSW (TfNSW) Qld (TransLink) Victoria (VRIOGS)

1 Pedestrian/bicycle Walk Pedestrian2 Train Cycle Informal bike storage3 Tram Feeder public

transportBike cages

4 Bus/Ferry Kiss-and-ride Disabled car parking5 Kiss-and-ride Park-and-ride Taxi ranks6 Park-and-ride Kiss-and-ride7 Emergency service

vehicles8 Service vehicles9 Bus

10 Tram11 Private car parking

(Source: Transport NSW 2011; TransLink 2012; State of Victoria 2011)

12Review of Station Access Planning

ElementTCRP Report 153 (US)(2012)

Network Rail (UK) (2011)

NSW Transport Interchange (2011-Draft)

Translink PT Infrastructure (2012)

Victoria Station Design Standard (2011)

PTA-WA Design Guide (2011)

Access mode hierarchy

Priority depends on location, history, setting, land use & density

Walk, cycle, taxi or bus; user priorities by passenger type

Pedestrian/bicycle, train, tram, bus/ferry, KnR and PnR

Walk, cycle, bus, KnR and PnR; detailed guide on eliminating mode conflicts

Pedestrian, cycle, disabled parking, taxi, KnR, emergency & service vehicles, bus, tram, car parking

By station category (under review)

Station categories

12 categories across 8 factors

6 categories 5 interchange category & 5 station types

3 station types & 3 hierarchy of station facilities

4 metro station categories & 5 regional

6 station categories

Station category & access mode

mode share defined

access mode given

Stakeholders’ collaboration

Collaboration Collaboration Stakeholders Collaboration Not defined Collaboration

Station access components lists

List for interchange type

Generic Lists station amenities

Guiding principles

Detailed Guidance Detailed Very detailed Detailed Less-detailed

Access demand methodology

Planning tool

Refers to another guide

Mode demand guidance

Comparison of station planning guides

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Important Access Planning Elements

• Access Hierarchy• Station Access-Related Zones of Influence• Access Facilities’ Location• Station Categories with Access Modes• Station Formation and Access Modes• Station Access Principles by Mode

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Pr o p os ed

Ev al ua ti o n Fr a m e w or k

Framework based on a ‘traffic light’ rating system (UK Network Rail).Access principles rated green, amber or red depending how principles are met. Green light – all the criteria adequately addressed. Amber light – some (not all) criteria have been taken into consideration. Red light –only a few (if any) criteria met. Principles with red or amber require further improvements to meet requirements.

Rating Comments ActionsAccess Mode PrincipleWalking to the stationCycling to the stationBus feeder accessKiss-and-ride accessPark-and-ride access(Adapted from Network Rail 2011)

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Case Study station profiles

Station Category City Centre Regional PnR End-of-line

Station Name Town Hall, NSW Coomera, QLD Mandurah, WA

Access Facilities Availability

Bike Rack or Lockers No Yes Yes

Bus Stop Yes Yes Yes

Kiss-and-Ride Yes Yes Yes

Park-and-Ride No Yes Yes

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17Access Modes Principles Evaluation ResultsTown Hall • No PnR access • Walking access direct (several

entrances), sufficient signage and adequate pathway widths

• Bus feeder access convenient .

Mandurah • Ticks almost all the green boxes • Issue on locating parking on

isolated area.

Coomera • All access modes catered• Walking and cycling access not as

direct • Bus, KnR, and PnR principles listed

adhered (issue with locating the northern parking area).

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Conclusions: Station Access• Key component of overall passenger rail journey – bridges gap

between origin/destination & stations

• Reviewed local and international planning guides & analysed Australian stations

• Elements identified for planning: • access mode hierarchy• facilities’ location• access mode by category• detailed access mode principles.

• Access principles rated green, amber or red

• Brisbane, Perth & Sydney case studies illustrate approach.