German research outlines requirements for future multimodal railway stations

A research team led by the Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE) has developed a comprehensive catalog of measures to create user-friendly railway stations in Germany. Commissioned by the German Center for Rail Transport Research (DZSF) and the Federal Railway Authority (EBA), the study emphasizes that stations must serve as hubs for multimodal mobility, seamlessly connecting trains, buses, bicycles, and sharing services.

The findings suggest that for the transition to climate-friendly transport to succeed, stations must offer more than just reliable infrastructure. Key factors include ease of orientation, a sense of safety, and high quality of stay. Researcher Jutta Deffner noted that the quality of the environment at stations is not merely a comfort feature but a prerequisite for encouraging people to use climate-friendly mobility options.