Presentation as part of the EU Citizens' Rail project, delivered by Nick Davies (University of Central Lancashire, UK), Marco Trienes (RWTH Aachen University, Germany) and Dominik Elsmann (formerly of RWTH Aachen University, now at Aachen's transport authority, AVV).

1. Understanding Citizens’ Rail –
How social outreach can encourage involvement
by the public in their rail services and change
attitudes towards rail
Nick Davies (University of Central Lancashire)
Dominik Elsmann (Aachener Verkehrsverbund)
Marco Trienes (RWTH Aachen University)

2. Understanding Citizens‘ Rail
Nick Davies, Dominik Elsmann , Marco Trienes | EPOMM Utrecht | 22.05.2015
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Introduction

3. Understanding Citizens‘ Rail
Nick Davies, Dominik Elsmann , Marco Trienes | EPOMM Utrecht | 22.05.2015
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Citizens‘ Rail
Source: Citizens’ Rail 2014

4. Understanding Citizens‘ Rail
Nick Davies, Dominik Elsmann , Marco Trienes | EPOMM Utrecht | 22.05.2015
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Citizens‘ Rail
 Measures within the project are diverse
Revitalisation of station buildings
More train services
Feasability analysis and planning
Marketing
 Focus on participation
Involving the local community
Engaging with hard to reach groups
 Evaluation & empirical fieldwork
 Transnational student masterclass
 Practitioner Toolkit

5. Understanding Citizens‘ Rail
Nick Davies, Dominik Elsmann , Marco Trienes | EPOMM Utrecht | 22.05.2015
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Citizens‘ Rail
Source: Citizens’ Rail 2014

6. Understanding Citizens‘ Rail
Nick Davies, Dominik Elsmann , Marco Trienes | EPOMM Utrecht | 22.05.2015
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Service
Stations
Trains
Information
ManagementLocal
Economy
Value for
money
Environment
Local
Planning
6 Based on Salveson 2013: Kap. 7
Zit.: Smart Growth UK 2014: Abs. 3
Conceptual Background:
Community Rail
Community
„‘Community rail
development’ ... is about
involving local
communities in
hundreds of different
ways with their local
railway: from looking
after station gardens to
involving children in arts
projects, live music and
beer on local trains and
taking over unused
station buildings.” (Salveson
2013: Kap. 7)

7. Understanding Citizens‘ Rail
Nick Davies, Dominik Elsmann , Marco Trienes | EPOMM Utrecht | 22.05.2015
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Conceptual Background:
Community involvement
PARTICIPATION &
SOCIAL INNOVATION
New strategies, concepts, ideas,
organizations and practice that
meet social needs
paradox of participation
ladder of citizens‘ participation
Emergence, implementation and
diffusion of new social practices
as a result of participatory
governance?
Zapf 1989, Howaldt / Jacobsen 2010, Moulaert et al. 2005 & 2007
Arnstein 1969, Salveson 2013
chart : authors‘ diagram based on Reinert/Sinning 1997

8. Understanding Citizens‘ Rail
Nick Davies, Dominik Elsmann , Marco Trienes | EPOMM Utrecht | 22.05.2015
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REGIONALE
GOVERNANCE
Regional stakeholders,
network, decision making
process, multilevel, visions
and measures
Benz 2004, Benz/Fürst 2003, Fürst 2001, Pütz 2004
„Community rail involves
local people and
organisations working in
partnership to improve their
local railways.” (DfT 2013: Abs. 1)
Conceptual Background:
Regional Governance

9. Understanding Citizens‘ Rail
Nick Davies, Dominik Elsmann , Marco Trienes | EPOMM Utrecht | 22.05.2015
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Evaluation cycle
 Evaluation of
mobility behavioural
change (MAX &
MAX-SUMO),
passenger statistics
 Evaluation of
changes in citizens
participation &
engagement →
Identify new
indicators for
social &
governance
dimension of
regional rail
Status quo → needs
→ objectives
What needs to be
changed & why?
Which indicators/
assessment
criterion
are relevant?
Design
How to do it?
subject of evaluation
approach & methods
resources
measurement
procedure
data & information
collection
data & information
analysis
benchmarking
results &
objectives
Something has
been changed.
Implementation
(measures/ actions)
based on: SCDC 2011

10. Understanding Citizens‘ Rail
Nick Davies, Dominik Elsmann , Marco Trienes | EPOMM Utrecht | 22.05.2015
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Methods:
Quantitative study
 Internet based survey
 5 catchment areas
 Rail user and non-user

11. Understanding Citizens‘ Rail
Nick Davies, Dominik Elsmann , Marco Trienes | EPOMM Utrecht | 22.05.2015
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Methods:
Qualitative study
 Follow-up survey by
email
 3 open ended
questions
 Also an internal
partner survey and
transnational
student masterclass

12. Understanding Citizens‘ Rail
Nick Davies, Dominik Elsmann , Marco Trienes | EPOMM Utrecht | 22.05.2015
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Results
 Quantitative study
Mix of regular car users
and public transport
Train is more important
for work, bus for
shopping
Car
Q6: For each journey purpose
please indicate your most frequent
means of transport (percentages)?
Work Education Shopping Social
Visit
Leisure Health
Care
Car 35.6 6.5 44.1 43.8 35.3 32.6
Bus 7.6 3.2 16.5 10.6 9.1 12.1
Train 11.8 6.8 3.8 13.5 10.9 2.4

13. Understanding Citizens‘ Rail
Nick Davies, Dominik Elsmann , Marco Trienes | EPOMM Utrecht | 22.05.2015
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Results
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
I am not aware of
any train services
I could use
There are no train
services that I
could use
There are train
services, but I
have not used
them
I am considering
using trains, but
haven´t done so
yet
I have used the
train but am not
sure if I will do so
again
I use the train
regularly
I have used the
train, but no
longer do so
Q7 Thinking again about your most frequent journey,
please choose the statement below that best describes
your current situation.

14. Understanding Citizens‘ Rail
Nick Davies, Dominik Elsmann , Marco Trienes | EPOMM Utrecht | 22.05.2015
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Results
 Ticketing is the most prominent
theme
 Interconnectivity was also
important
 Crowding
 Timetabling
 Cycles
 Security
 Later trains

15. Understanding Citizens‘ Rail
Nick Davies, Dominik Elsmann , Marco Trienes | EPOMM Utrecht | 22.05.2015
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Results
 Internet most prominent
source of information
 Additionally, the station and
more specifically the staff are
important sources
 75% had heard of the
measures (Successful
marketing).
 Involvement in railways is
important
 Participation in local planning
processes, (most prefer
online).

16. Understanding Citizens‘ Rail
Nick Davies, Dominik Elsmann , Marco Trienes | EPOMM Utrecht | 22.05.2015
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Conclusion
 On the whole, citizens want to be
engaged with local railways.
 Successful innovations and
approaches for social outreach.
 Welcoming stations
 Interaction between station staff
and citizens
 A community hub
 Tangible rewards and results
 Engaging with the full range of
citizens

17. Understanding Citizens‘ Rail
Nick Davies, Dominik Elsmann , Marco Trienes | EPOMM Utrecht | 22.05.2015
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Conclusion
 Numerous barriers still exist
 Physical interventions can
improve access and
attractiveness of rail
 More study needed,
particularly to encourage
inclusivity (ie the
masterclasses)

18. Thank you for your attention!
More information www.citizensrail.org
Nick Davies
NJDavies@uclan.ac.uk
Dominik Elsmann
d.elsmann@geo.rwth-aachen.de
Marco Trienes
Marco.Trienes@geo.rwth-aachen.de