Decision support framework for bicycle accommodations on commuter rail in the Helsinki region

Abstract

Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (HSL) plans to expand its commuter rail rolling stock, with the procurement process commencing in 2021. This presents an opportunity to explore options for accommodating bikes on board the new train units. This research sought to investigate options for onboard bike accommodations and their implications as a bike-train integration measure. It also sought to develop and apply a decision support process for addressing the procurement-related decision problem concerning how best to accommodate passengers with bikes.

The degree of uncertainty associated with the procurement of the new commuter rail fleet poses challenges to the decision-making process concerning bike accommodations on trains. Such uncertainties included the time frame for both the procurement and acquisition of the new train units, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on ridership, the potential shifting of procurement priorities, and the lack of clarity around other infrastructure and design considerations involved in the overall procurement decision making. For this reason, articulating a problem evaluation procedure can be helpful for making well-informed decisions later. The decision support procedure can function as a tool for the assessment of bike accommodation alternatives and their implications in future decision-making efforts.