TerminalOnRail

The project "TerminalOnRail" examines the feasibility of a feeder system for airports based on an already existing railway infrastructure.

Existing Airport Transfer Systems lack in attraction 

Due to ecological and economic reasons, there are numerous cooperations between airlines and railways, trying to replace short –distance feeder planes and flights with trains. These cooperations however, do not take full advantage of their potential, as they do not seem attractive to costumers. 
80% of passengers do not choose to arrive by train because they do not have the possibility to check in their luggage. They prefer travelling to the airport by car or inland feeder flights due to the lack of service concerning luggage. For 75% of air passengers the possibility oto check in their luggage at the airport transfer train is a considerable factor regarding their travelling choice. A corresponding luggage deposit system would therefore highly influence the modal split behavior of travelers and further promote customer acceptance of trains as shuttle services.

Check in your luggage – on the train to the airport

The “TerminalOnRail” project aims at designing and developing an overall airport transfer system including long distance railroad traffic. Technical and logistical challenges regarding a  potential check in of luggage on the train to the airport will be taken into account and a suitable interface with the airport will be suggested. This opens up the possibility of shifting also other tasks, usually performed by the airlines, towards the railway federations.

More attractive railway based  transfer systems 

“TerminalOnRail” aims at an overall concept for a train transfer system based on an already existing railway infrastructure, especially taking into account time efficiency for the traveler as much as for the airlines. The project offers a creative solution to several problems that from today’s point of view cannot yet be overcome with state of the art infrastructure and technologies. Therefore the project will demonstrate alternative measures and open the discussion on further possibilities of research and development. 

Publications

Rüger, B., & Albl, C. (2018, 19.5). Innovative baggage drop off for intermodal air-rail trips. 5th International Conference on Road and Rail Infrastructure, Zadar. https://doi.org/10/gh3736
Rüger, B., & Eigner, T. (2018, 19.5). Platform infrastructure – influence on passenger behaviour. 5th International Conference on Road and Rail Infrastructure, Zadar. https://doi.org/10/gh3737
Rüger, B., & Albl, C. (2018, April 16). Terminal On Rail - Air Baggage drop off during train ride to the airport. Proceedings of 7th Transport Research Arena TRA 2018. Transport Research Arena TRA 2018, Vienna.
Rüger, B. (2017, June 10). Influence of passenger behaviour on railway-station infrastructure. RailNewcastle 2017 conference, Newcastle.
Rüger, B. (2017). Airport Trains - Baggage Drop Off During Train Ride To The Airport. Mehanika. Transport. Komunikacii / Mechanics, Transport, Communications, 33–39.
Rüger, B. (2017, November 14). Passenger-friendly and operationally efficient rail-vehicle interiors. RailwayInteriorsForum. RailwayInteriorsExpo 2017, Praha.
Rüger, B. (2017, November 14). Air-baggage drop-off during train ride to the airport. RailwayInteriorsForum. RailwayInteriorsExpo 2017, Praha.
Rüger, B. (2017). Baggage Handling. In Sustainable Rail Transport (pp. 93–112). Newcastle University, Springer International Publishing.

You want to know more? Feel free to ask!

Head of Department
Academic Director Rail Technology and Mobility (BA)
Head of Research Institute
Carl Ritter von Ghega Institute for Integrated Mobility Research
Deputy Academic Director Rail Technology and Management of Railway Systems (MA)
Department of Rail Technology and Mobility
Location: B - Campus-Platz 1
M: +43/676/847 228 664
External Staff
Birgit Blauensteiner
Partners
  • Vienna International Airport
  • Austrian Airlines AG
  • Austrian Federal Railways
  • Siemens AG Austria
  • University of Applied Sciences, JOANNEUM Graz
  • TU Wien, Institute of Transportation
  • University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
  • promotion&co
Funding
Austrian Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (bmvit), Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) - Take Off
Runtime
06/30/2016 – 06/29/2017
Status
finished
Involved Institutes, Groups and Centers
Carl Ritter von Ghega Institute for Integrated Mobility Research