Technical and regulatory challenges for the development of a new, supermodal transport system

Abstract

Mobility without changing public transport - in many countries and cities this sounds like science fiction. This type of mobility has long been a reality in individual road transport. So why not use it in public transportation as well, without the need to own a car, which is often parked unused for many hours a day or even days? The solution that exploits this potential would be a system that goes beyond mere intermodality and creates a concept of supermodal mobility. A pod system of standardized transport units, compatible with different powered transport platforms. This would enable a seamless transition between road, rail and air transportation, shipping or cable cars. The interface between the various systems in particular offers great potential that currently remains untapped by many visions for new means of transportation. Based on these thoughts, the basic idea for a pod system was born a few years ago, which could be used in rail transport as well as with other types of mobility, such as road transport or cable cars [1, 2]. In September 2023, an EU-funded research project began as part of Europe's Rail Joint Undertaking (HORIZON-ER-JU-2022-FA6-01), which aims to lay the foundations for the realization of such a pod system.