An International Review of The Significance of Rail in Developing More Sustainable Urban Transport Systems in Higher Income Cities

Abstract

This article reports on a study of urban rail systems in 60 high-income cities in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia. The author categorizes the cities as Strong Rail City, Weak Rail City or No Rail City; the divisions are based on three criteria related to the significance of rail within the public transport system of each city and the rail system’s speed competitiveness with cars. Trams, LRT, metro and suburban rail are all included. The study also considered key comparative urban form, public transport operational features, transport infrastructure and performance, private transport patterns, economic features of the transport systems and environmental factors in each of the three groups of cities. The author reports that the results show generally that cities with more strongly rail-oriented public transport systems experience a wide range of positive impacts at an urban system level in all of the listed areas. The study was based on data from 1995 and 1996, but has demonstrated reliability with both studies using earlier data as well as some updated data the author has begun to gather. The author concludes that urban rail systems are a critical element in building effective multi-modal public transport systems that create a ‘virtuous circle’ in public transport and thus can compete more successfully with the car. Any developed city wishing to build a better public transport system, to curb or reduce its automobile dependence, and to become more environmentally and economically sustainable, should consider a strong rail backbone as the mainstay of the city's public transportation system.

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