First and last-mile connectivity has always been the Achilles’ heel of any railway operation. While trains are able to deliver large volumes of people quickly and effectively from point to point, passengers’ homes or offices are often some distance from the station, and when it comes down to a straightforward choice, it is hard the match the convenience and flexibility of simply jumping in your car and turning the key.
However, there are signs that the public’s acceptance of personal mobility is beginning to shift.
The financial challenges of owning a car – rising petrol prices and insurance costs – as well as the problem of securing a parking space and urban congestion are increasingly putting people off. Environmental concerns are also encouraging people to move away from personal transport based on the internal combustion engine and embrace green and shared mobility options.