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OCR for page 98
98 Ground Access to Major Airports by Public Transportation
Baggage-Handling Strategy. There is currently no downtown check-in facility in Paris to
replace the original City Air Terminal at Invalides Station on the Left Bank. There are no dedi-
cated areas for baggage on the RER trains, which are overcrowded during peak periods. The long-
distance TGV trains have excellent baggage storage, and plans are under consideration for off-site
check-in services.
Amsterdam (37% Market Share)
Market Share
European/Asian
Rank Airport Total Rail Bus
9 Amsterdam Schiphol Airport 37% 35% 2%
SOURCE: International AirRail Organization (32)
The Airport. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Europe's fourth largest airport, served more
than 44 MAP in 2006. It is located about 12 miles from Amsterdam and 40 miles from The
Hague, capital of the Netherlands. The airport serves a wide geographic feeder area; for exam-
ple, travel to Rotterdam (approximately 32 miles from Amsterdam) is often made via rail
connections after a flight into Schiphol. A taxi ride takes about 30 minutes from the airport to
downtown Amsterdam, at a fare of approximately $30.
Connections at the Airport. Schiphol airport was reconstructed to create a common arrivals
area adjacent to three baggage claim areas. The rail platforms are located directly under this com-
mon area. Even though the design evolved from the construction of separate terminal buildings,
the main arrival hall functions occur near the rail and bus departure areas. With metropolitan
rail service, national rail service, and an increasing amount of international high-speed rail ser-
vices, Schiphol airport is served by one of the widest varieties of high-quality public transporta-
tion modes of any airport in the world.
Rail. Line-Haul Service. The combined rail system provides service every 15 minutes
throughout most of the day, with a 15- to 20-minute travel time to Amsterdam Central Station.
The fare between the airport and downtown is about $5.
Integration with the Regional Transportation System. Although the local rapid transit lines
do not serve the airport, the national railway system operates high-frequency services through-
out the country, meeting the needs of local commuters. Therefore, service to Rotterdam or The
Hague is offered as frequently as many traditional airport services to the dominant CBD.
This strategy, which serves destinations throughout the country, is similar to that adopted in
Switzerland. Services to international destinations are provided both by traditional intercity
trains and by the high-speed Thaylis train. With new high-speed rights-of-way in the Benelux
countries, service at 180 mph will be available from France to Cologne, Germany.
Baggage-Handling Strategy. Currently, there are no off-site baggage check-in facilities in
the Netherlands. In general, the trains that serve Schiphol airport are designed for national ser-
vice and have ample space for bags.
Bus/Van. Schiphol airport is developing a wide array of van-type services. Eight-person
shuttle vans depart every 10 minutes to more than 100 hotels, providing essentially a flexible
shared-ride van system; the return trip on the hotel shuttle can be requested up to 2 hours in
advance. Importantly, the airport also offers shared-ride taxis, which are essentially small vans,
operating to any destination in the Netherlands. Taxis must be reserved 24 hours in advance, at
which time the user is given an Internet confirmation, including price and pick-up time. The air-
port shared-ride taxi system commits to the traveler that the distance taken in the journey to the
