Surface Transport Networks: Improving Reliability and Levels of Service

Objective

The Joint Transport Research Centre of the OECD and the International Transport Forum is conducting a study on surface transport networks: improving reliability and levels of service. The study will investigate the performance of transport networks in the major OECD/ITF regions. It will focus on the reliability and levels of service of these networks for the international movement of passengers and goods and make assessments of performance and draw comparisons across regions. It will explore the effectiveness of current operational arrangements and performance measures, identify possible improvements (including in service reliability) and - in the context of expected future increases in demand - draw conclusions on the priorities for regional/international transport policy and the nature of improvements needed for surface transport network operations.

Outline

This study examines how governments can improve reliability and levels of service for the movement of passengers and goods in surface transport networks. The primary focus is on interurban movement of passengers and goods on roads, rail and, to a some extent, at ports with their hinterland connections.

This study defines reliability from the perspective of different users. It will consider how reliability may be understood by users and managers of transport networks. It will also review the current and projected impediments to acceptable reliability in different countries and regions. The study will then review issues on measuring reliability in the transport system. The study will present an overview of different ways of how reliability can be measured and monitored and what kind of indicators are to be used for this purpose. To provide insight into the value of reliability for society, the relative importance of changes in reliability will be compared to other system attributes. The study will examine possibilities for evaluating the value of reliability (on top of the value of time) for cost-benefit analysis. The study will also consider the role of pricing in improving the level of transport reliability, with the longer-term aim of ensuring efficient levels of reliability across the transport sector.

Participating Countries

Australia, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Japan, Poland, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States.

Time Schedule

The working group was launched in 2007. A final report will be available in January 2009.

For more information, please contact: Jari Kauppila