Sustainable, Seamless, Enjoyable and Smart: How is rail changing?

Dr Francesca Pagliara is an Associate Professor of Transportation at the Department of Civil, Building and Environmental Engineering (DICEA) of the University of Naples Federico II.

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Abstract

The future of rail is bright. Public transport is a cornerstone of decarbonization and trains are the only sustainable mass-transport system for medium and even longer distance travel. The European Commission has identified railways as the future solution to providing affordable mobility to the population. Integrating emerging mobility solutions with rail networks involves combining different transport modes to create seamless, door-to-door travel experiences. This approach focuses on enhancing the role of rail as the backbone of a sustainable transport system by integrating it with other modes like ridesharing, bike-sharing, and public transport. Key aspects include digital platforms for journey planning and booking, improved infrastructure at stations, and a shift towards user-centric, sustainable mobility solutions.

The integration of bikes and luggage transportation within railway systems is becoming increasingly significant as urban areas strive to address the growing challenges of mobility, congestion, and environmental sustainability. With the rise of multimodal transportation solutions, rail operators are recognizing the importance of providing seamless options for cyclists and travellers with luggage, which enhances the overall customer experience and reduces dependency on personal vehicles. This shift towards a more holistic approach to transport is driven by the need to cater to urban dwellers who seek flexible and eco-friendly travel options.

The EU's ongoing legislative efforts reflect a clear strategy to position cycling and rail as complementary modes of transport, essential for achieving the goals outlined in the European Green Deal and the EU's broader sustainability agenda, and the strong commitment to promoting sustainable mobility, with a particular focus on integrating cycling with railway travel. These efforts do not only consist of guidelines but also of legally binding commitments that require member states to adapt their national railway networks to accommodate bicycles.

Developing mobility hubs that integrate various transport options like EV charging, bike-sharing, and public transit around railway stations is a key strategy for enhancing connectivity and promoting sustainable transportation. These hubs aim to streamline multimodal journeys, reduce reliance on private vehicles, and improve overall accessibility.

Short Bio

Francesca Pagliara is an Associate Professor of Transportation at the Department of Civil, Building and Environmental Engineering (DICEA) of the University of Naples Federico II.

During her PhD period at the Department of Transportation Engineering of the University of Naples Federico II, in 2000 she collaborated on research activities with David Simmonds Consultancy in Cambridge, UK. In 2002, she took part in research activities at the Transport Studies Unit of the University of Oxford, UK, during a two-year postdoctoral research fellowship awarded by the Department of Transportation of the University of Naples Federico II. In 2006, she carried out a research period at the Institute for Transport Planning and Systems of ETH Zurich, and in 2013 she conducted a research period at the Laboratoire des Villes, Mobilité et Transports of the University of Paris-Est, France.

She has been a visiting professor at numerous foreign universities, including the Transportation Research Group of the University of Southampton (2007 and 2009); TRANSyT of the University of Madrid (2007, 2010, 2015); Wuhan University (2011); the Department of Economics of the University of Valencia (2012); the Institute for Transportation of the Technical University of Munich (2013); the University of Castilla–La Mancha in Ciudad Real, Spain (2016); the Institute of Tourism and Sustainable Economic Development (TIDES) of the University of Las Palmas, Spain (2018); the Department of Tourism Management, School of Economics and Management, Beijing Jiaotong University (2019); the Asian Development Bank Institute in Tokyo (2025); Chubu University in Kasugai, Japan (2025); and Tongji University in Shanghai (2025).

She has been invited numerous times to foreign universities to give seminars and lectures, and she has also been invited four times to the European Parliament as a speaker at events promoting high-speed rail.

Since 2021, she has been the promoter of the International Symposium on High-Speed Rail Socioeconomic Impacts, supported by the International Union of Railways (UIC). Her main research fields include the analysis and modelling of the socioeconomic impacts of investments in transport systems (including high-speed rail); the analysis and modelling of vulnerability and resilience of transport systems; and the analysis and modelling of transport–land use interactions. She is the author of academic books in both Italian and English and of more than 200 publications.