Accessibility areas of Andalusian railway network stations by type of passenger services

Abstract

This study analyses and compares the areas of accessibility that can be generated around the stations that make up the Andalusian railway network by private car. To this end, the three groups in which the same station can be included have been established, consisting of those providing high-speed, medium-distance and local services.

The calculations of these areas have been obtained using a GIS, with spatial information from the Institute of Statistics and Cartography of Andalusia (IECA), revised and updated to correct any discrepancies that may exist in the information, mainly of the railway network, roads and population centres. Data from Renfe has also been used to determine the services provided by the different stations.

The results show that currently the stations that provide medium-distance services have more people within their areas of accessibility, as they are the most numerous. On the other hand, those that provide access to High-Speed services reach fewer inhabitants, although, in terms of number of stops, they serve more people. Finally, those that make up the three Cercanias hubs are characterised by being in highly populated areas, being the second type of service with the largest number of inhabitants in their areas of accessibility.