Management of Urban and Regional Rail: Case Study Bucharest

The capital of Romania is the main railway hub of the country. As such, the railway network around the capital is quite extensive, with main cities around it being directly connected by rail. Despite this, there are no regular train services for commuters, similar to other large European cities. This paper aims to analyze the current state of railway passenger transport in the region surrounding Bucharest, to highlight the weaknesses of the network and to present a guideline for the implementation of an efficient commuter service. 100 stations in and around the city were evaluated with regard to their degree of accessibility (DoA), defined as the location of the station relative to the nearest settlement. Train frequency, travel times and journey costs were determined for each line originating in Bucharest. These variables were compared to their road equivalents to highlight the differences between these two modes of transport. Low train frequency and the remoteness of many stations were determined to be the main obstacles in establishing an appropriate commuter service. Reworking future timetables to prioritize commuter trains is proposed as a short-term solution, while line improvements and better integration with existing public transport are set as priorities.