Conceptualising the transport interchange

A transport interchange is the physical point at which a traveller switches from one leg of a journey to another. This think piece characterises the concept, and then speculates on what the future of the interchange might be. Overall it identifies that interchange comprises three core elements: access mode, interchange facility, and egress mode, and notes that new forms are becoming increasingly common. Four future developments are envisaged: more minimalist interchanges; increasingly developed macro interchanges; struggling mid-range interchanges; and a reduced role for interchanges overall as driverless vehicles become more commonplace. It recommends that policy makers pro-actively designate facilities as being minimalist or as destinations in their own right, and that they direct resources accordingly.