Skip to main content

NODES toolbox ‘offers keys to better transport interchanges’

The three-year NODES (New Tools for the Design and Operation of Urban Transport Interchanges) project has came to a close and the project findings are said to offer transport practitioners practical steps to build better interchanges. Co-funded by the Seventh Framework Programme and co-ordinated by International Association of Public Transport (UITP), NODES brings together 17 partners representing local government administrations, public transport operators, as well as research centres and European assoc
September 24, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
The three-year NODES (New Tools for the Design and Operation of Urban Transport Interchanges) project has came to a close and the project findings are said to offer transport practitioners practical steps to build better interchanges.

Co-funded by the Seventh Framework Programme and co-ordinated by 3833 International Association of Public Transport (UITP), NODES brings together 17 partners representing local government administrations, public transport operators, as well as research centres and European associations.

Interchanges play a key role in the integration of urban mobility systems and allowing smooth connections between different transport modes. The key achievements of the NODES project were the development of a toolbox to help practitioners assess and benchmark the performance of their interchange as well as to take practical steps to increase performance. The Toolbox focuses on five key areas: land use and infrastructure; design; intermodality and ICT; management and business models; and energy and environment.           

In practical terms, practitioners can more easily identify the design needs and facility requirements in an interchange thanks to the Typology Diagrammatic Representation tool. Another tool includes practical steps that can be taken to improve the experience of users in an interchange (the ‘station experience monitor), developed by Nederlandse Spoorwegen and tested in nine NODES test sites.

The aim of the research project was to help European cities in the design or operation of new or upgraded interchanges in order to boost user satisfaction. The Toolbox was tested in real conditions in nine European sites, all of which were undergoing substantial development and upgrading: Reading, Birmingham, Rouen, Toulouse, Osnabrück, Budapest, Rome, Thessaloniki, and Rotterdam, Utrecht and ‘s-Hertogenbosch (as one site).
   
UITP Secretary General Alain Flausch said: “By providing practical steps to improve stations, the NODES project makes an essential contribution towards a more enjoyable public transport experience”.

Related Content

  • January 20, 2015
    EU identifies priorities for trans-European transport network until 2030
    The European Commission has published nine studies on the state of play and the development needs of the Ten-T core network corridors. The studies have identified infrastructure development needs which represent approximately US$811 billion of financial investment until 2030. They highlight the importance of optimising the use of infrastructure along the corridors, notably through intelligent transport systems, efficient management and the promotion of future-oriented clean transport solutions. This is the
  • July 20, 2015
    UK to lead the way in testing driverless cars
    The UK government has launched a US$30 million competitive fund for collaborative research and development into driverless vehicles, along with a code of practice for testing. The measures, announced by Business Secretary Sajid Javid and Transport Minister Andrew Jones, will put the UK at the forefront of the intelligent mobility market, expected to be worth US£1.4 trillion by 2025. The government wants bidders to put forward proposals in areas such as safety, reliability, how vehicles can communicat
  • October 12, 2022
    AI: a means to an end
    Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool to create a balance between safety, resilience, sustainability and inclusivity when it comes to connected and automated driving, says Margriet van Schijndel of TU/e
  • November 14, 2014
    Twenty year vision for Birmingham city transport
    A white paper setting out Birmingham’s 20-year vision for improving transport across the city is set to be unveiled today. Birmingham Connected aims to make the city safer and easier to travel around by reducing congestion and promoting more sustainable forms of transport. Initiatives in the plan include the completion of a US$1.9 billion public transport network within 20 years and the development of Green Travel Districts to enable people to walk, cycle or take public transport safely. A feasibilit