On 5 October 2023, Takamasa Suzuki, representing the International Union of Railways (UIC), took to the stage at the World Passenger Festival in Vienna to deliver a presentation aimed at revolutionising the passenger experience. His talk, entitled “The Station as a City Hub: A Vision of the Stations of the Future”, shed light on the goals of Rail4Cities, a European project supported by Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (RailJU).

In the current landscape, train stations have transcended their traditional role as mere transit points and have emerged as indispensable urban hubs, serving a multifaceted purpose within our cities. As a result, they face new challenges:

1. Sustainability and resilience: to ensure that they serve their communities in the long run, stations must be built with sustainability and resilience in mind. These stations are designed to withstand the test of time, making them pillars of stability and environmental consciousness.

2. Flexibility and adaptability: the dynamic nature of cities requires train stations to remain flexible and adaptable, capable of adjusting to evolving societal needs and expectations, having more than merely a rail transport role.
In order to effectively achieve these objectives, it is crucial to have an in-depth understanding of the stations’ surroundings. This involves answering key questions such as:

• Who uses these stations and trains?
• Who resides in the vicinity of these stations?
• What surrounds these stations in the urban landscape?
• How do people access these stations?
• What expectations do individuals have regarding the role of these stations in serving their needs?

In short, Suzuki’s presentation underscored the pivotal role that stations play in the rail service domain, evolving into vital urban hubs with constantly shifting dynamics. Often, the roles and expectations of these stations are undefined, uncertain, and unpredictable. To ensure that stations function optimally as urban hubs, it is imperative to meet the aforementioned objectives.

As our cities continue to grow and transform, the railway stations within them must keep pace, fostering sustainability, adaptability, and community-centred service.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or of the Europe’s Rail JU. Neither the European Union nor the Europe’s Rail JU is to be held responsible for them.

The project is supported by Europe’s Rail and its members.