Niels van Oort

Public transport researcher

Automation in public transport: Lessons learnt from pilots and research

Find the presentation by Bart van Arem and Niels van Oort at the Conference on
Autonomous Vehicles and Public Transport in Europe HERE

More details in this paper by Irene Zubin et al. HERE and work by Martijn Holtestelle HERE

Public Transport Reliability: podcast and book chapter

This podcast and book chapter discuss the elements of service reliability, the impact of service reliability on passengers, indicators that are used to measure reliability and variability, and how to make improvements. In this episode of the podcast Niels van Oort talks about the research behind the handbook chapter, including his PhD thesis and subsequent work. Some of the topics discussed are: the factors that can impact service reliability; the need for perspectives across strategic, tactical and operational levels; and bridging the gaps between front-line staff, management and researchers.  Data sets, modelling and the practicality of optimal solutions are also discussed.

Learn more via http://publictransportresearchgroup.info/portfolio-item/rt35-niels-van-oort-public-transport-reliability/

Insights into the bicycle-train combination: welcome on board!

The bicycle as an access and egress mode to and from train stations offers multiple (societal) benefits. A recent study shows that > 60% of the Dutch population who use the combined mode, actually do have the availability of a car, but experience more benefits by using the bicycle+train combination. International studies show that the introduction of shared bicycle systems enabled a shift from car up to 20%. A strong relation with public transport was recommended.

Next to the benefits for the passenger, societal benefits are also widely, namely regarding accessibility, health, safety and sustainability. To conclude, good access and egress facilities also enable to improve the efficiency and quality of public transport networks.

However, good implementation requires attention to up to 40 factors, ranging to safe cycling routes, user characteristics and related preferences and quality of public transport and competing modes. To learn about these and overcome the barriers, we discuss multiple aspects of the combination in detail.

Find the presentation at the European Transport Conference HERE

Find our blog HERE

Standing E-Scooters, what to expect?

Standing E-scooters are an emerging mode of transport, for which shared e-scooter-suppliers claim that  it is part of the solution for a sustainable and liveable city. However, little is known about the impact of these vehicles that can be expected when e-scooters are launched. In this paper we show the results of a research exploring impacts and supporting implementation in the Netherlands, also useful for other cities and countries that consider introduction of e-scooters.

Learn more via the presentation of Gijs Alberts at the European Transport Conference (ETC) HERE


Covid-19 and train travel behavior

To gain insights into passenger behavior during and after the pandemic, NS and Delft University of Technology organized a longitudinal survey with the goal to capture behavior, attitudes and intentions related to train usage. Five surveys were held between April 2020 and April 2021, involving 23,000-47,000 passengers each. The results provide valuable, quantitative insights that help to recover and rethink public transport after the pandemic, for instance by adjusted planning, design and operations.

Find the insights presented at the European Transport Conference 2021 in:

Our paper

Our presentation

Find all output of this ongoing project: HERE

The future of public transport in the era of emerging modes

Due to societal and technological trends and developments, new modes (will) emerge. In this workshop at the Urbanism Next Europe conference, Maaike Snelder (TNO/TU Delft), Maria Alonso-Gonzalez (KiM) and Niels van Oort (TUDelft) shared their research findings about on-demand pooled services, autonomous shuttles and share bicycles and discussed about their contribution to the future of public transport.

Find the presentations, including references, here:

Introduction

On-demand pooled services

Autonomous shuttles

Shared bicycles

De kans voor fiets+trein: 4-delige blogserie

Begin 2021 hebben drie enthousiaste, jonge experts hun kennis en ideeën over de fiets+trein combinatie gedeeld in deze blogserie. Tessa Leferink (Witteveen en Bos) begon bij de voordeur over de rol van gebiedsontwikkeling, Jerom Marseille (AT Osborne) beschreef de first mile en Joeri van Mil (AT Osborne) nam ons mee in oplossingen om de fietsparkeerdruk bij stations te verzachten. Waardevol, want wat mij betreft is de trein-fiets combinatie een goed nieuwsshow door de vele maatschappelijke baten, zoals gezondheidduurzaamheid en bereikbaarheid. Aan mij de eer om de serie af te sluiten met een vooruitblik.

Lees hier alle delen in deze serie:
18 januari: “Nieuw in de buurt en direct fan van de fiets+trein combinatie!” Tessa Leferink (adviseur mobiliteit en gebiedsontwikkeling bij Witteveen+Bos)

25 januari: “De first mile in de schijnwerpers: Dé opstap naar duurzame mobiliteit” Jerom Marseille (adviseur mobiliteit en duurzame leefomgeving bij AT Osborne)

1 februari: “Fietsen, fietsen en nog meer fietsen. Hoe pakken we de overvolle stallingen aan?” Joeri van Mil (adviseur mobiliteit en infrastructuur bij AT Osborne)

8 februari: “De kans voor fiets+trein: Dit is de eindbestemming van deze trein, u wordt allen echter verzocht niet uit te stappen.” Niels van Oort (co-director Smart Public Transport Lab TU Delft)

De presentatie en discussie over dit onderwerp op het Fietscongres 2021 is HIER te vinden.

Train traveller behaviour during and after Covid: insights of a longitudinal survey of Dutch train passengers

The pandemic had (and still has) an obvious impact on public transport (use). To gain insights into passenger behaviour during and after the pandemic, a longitudinal survey is organised with the goal to capture behaviour, attitudes and intentions related to train usage. Four surveys were held between April and December 2020, involving 23,000-47,000 passengers each. The results provide valuable, quantitative insights that help to recover and rethink public transport after the pandemic, for instance by adjusted planning, design and operations. Findings show that 30% of the passengers want to avoid the peak hour after Covid and 72% will telework more often, saving multiple trips per week. The most popular days for teleworking will be Friday and Wednesday. Related future research directions are for instance developing more flexible and demand-driven schedules and services.

Read more in the PAPER by Mark van Hagen et al. or check the PRESENTATION at the BIVEC Transport days

When science meets practice

Samen met wetenschappers organiseren het Smart Public Transport Lab van de TU Delft en Railforum jaarlijks een ‘When Science Meets Practice’. Hier wisselen studenten, wetenschappers en professionals uit de sector hun kennis en ervaringen uit. Hiermee willen we elkaar inspireren met nieuwe inzichten, betere oplossingen voor de praktijk vinden of nieuwe onderzoeksvragen benoemen. 

2021: Zo kiest men in Europa vaker de trein

2020: Digitale ongelijkheid in slimme mobiliteit

2019: Fiets en ov, hoe faciliteren we deze sterk groeiende combi?

2018: Internationaal railvervoer

2017: Knooppunten

2016: Mobility as a Service (MaaS)

2015: Robuustheid

Smart Public Transport Lab onderzoek in OV Magazine

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