relation: https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/3956/
title: Transferring by plane or train: A transition perspective on barriers to air-rail integration
creator: Bruinsma, Nils
description: With increasing awareness of aviation’s negative environmental impacts and the rising popularity of High Speed Rail services, there is much pressure to stop flying on short haul routes where rail connections exist. One of the major reasons why short haul routes are still served by aircraft, is to serve transfer passengers who have a connecting flight. Although scholars have advocated for improved air-rail integration, air-rail products are still a niche. This research has carried out an in-depth case study with semi-structured interviews and a document analysis to uncover barriers to the development of an air-rail product at the Amsterdam-Paris corridor. The multi-level perspective from transition theory has offered an analytical framework in which air-rail integration is framed as a niche development trying to penetrate the dominant aviation and High Speed Rail regime practices. Results suggest that there are several factors that prohibit the development of the air-rail product. Firstly, because of fierce international competition for transfer passengers between airlines, airlines have the need for a high quality product to avoid losing passengers. This high quality product demands a frequent stop at the airport, a code-share agreement that guarantees passengers’ connection, quick transfer times and a luggage solution for larger bags. For many years the airlines and railway operators have worked in isolation from each other while creating highly efficient working processes. This has led to the separate development of physical and digital High Speed Rail and aviation infrastructures and services. The integration of infrastructure and services is costly and time consuming, which complicates the development of an air-rail product.
date: 2022
type: Thesis
type: NonPeerReviewed
format: text
language: en
identifier: https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/3956/1/Master%20thesis%20Nils%20Bruinsma%20final.pdf
identifier:   Bruinsma, Nils  (2022) Transferring by plane or train: A transition perspective on barriers to air-rail integration.  Master thesis.