On February 20, the first MultiModX EU project workshop, orchestrated with the support of the SESAR Joint Undertaking, took place at UIC HQ in Paris, gathering a diverse assembly of approximately 50 experts representing the airline, airport, passenger, rail operator, and air traffic management sectors.
Morning Session Highlights
The workshop’s morning session commenced with a deep dive into innovative scientific approaches, guided by Dr. Kay Plötner, Project Coordinator at Bauhaus Luftfahrt. His insightful introduction set the stage for the objectives of the MultiModX project. Special guest Jérôme Delmeulle, SESAR 3 JU Programme Manager, further unveiled the essence of multimodality and the passenger experience, emphasising the pivotal role of the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking in advancing the integration of air and rail networks.
Presentations during the morning session explored MultiModX Solutions, including the Performance Framework SOL-1, Schedule Designer SOL-2, and Disruption Manager SOL-3.
Afternoon World Café Sessions
The afternoon was primarily dedicated to ‘world café’ sessions. This forum allowed the exploration of concrete solutions for the future of air and rail transportation, featuring diverse perspectives from experts in various domains.
The roundtable insights from the MultiModX workshop encompassed discussions on future policy options, regulation, and passenger rights, as well as proposed solutions for air-rail cooperation and the optimal alignment of flight and rail schedules. Participants emphasised the need for incentives and intergovernmental initiatives, clear liability understanding, and explicit passenger rights regarding ticketing. The participants explored the challenges and benefits of multimodal journeys, suggesting government subsidies and distribution of compensation based on journey parameters.
MultiModX presented two Solutions which focus on evaluating a deepened cooperation between air and rail transportation. The first Solution addresses the need for dedicated indicators to measure and monitor the performance of multimodality; obstacles to the air-to-rail shift, including data accessibility issues, were identified. The second Solution aims to align flight and rail schedules, considering varied perspectives from rail operators, airlines, and passengers. Constraints such as time pressure and capacity limitations were identified, emphasising the need for infrastructure upgrades and regulatory alignment.
The third Solution tackles disruption management, proposing strategies such as technology enhancement, enabling regulations, and funding support. The importance of adapting to delays, reassuring passengers, and streamlining information provision was highlighted. Discussions also revolved around responsibilities and liabilities, suggesting the establishment of a multimodal network manager and fast-track channels for multimodal passengers.
The workshop concluded with collective insights and feedback, serving as a platform for intense discussions among experts from various transportation sectors. The goal is to advance towards a more integrated, efficient, and sustainable future for multimodal transportation.
The MultiModX project is supported by the SESAR3 Joint Undertaking and its members under grant agreement no. 101114815, running from July 2023 to December 2025, with a combined grant amount of €1,750,380.
The workshop organisers encourage staying updated on the MultiModX project through its website and social media, with plans for another workshop in late 2024.
The MultiModX project is available on social media: follow us on Twitter @MultiModX_eu and LinkedIn. You can also keep an eye on our website: 
MultiModX project – Improving railway security through awareness and training , and more information is available on the SESAR website.