This thesis aims to design baggage solutions for Air-Rail resulting in an implementation roadmap that offers multiple baggage solutions to improve the Air-Rail service between Brussel Zuid train station and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

The Dutch government aims to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses in the aviation industry. This incentive resulted in a collaboration called the ‘Actieagenda Trein en Luchtvaart’. Their ambition is to strengthen international trains, by making them more attractive alternatives to short-haul flights. Specifically, the route between Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Brussel Zuid train station. On this route KLM is working together Thalys to offer a service to combine flight and train tickets. This service is called: Air-Rail. The challenges of Air-Rail lie within the transfer that differs from traditional Air-Air, using non-Air-Rail facilities, and a complex stakeholder network.

Research is done to understand how the Air-Rail transfer service can be improved to better suit the needs for Air-Rail transfer passengers. This done by experiencing the Air-Rail journey first-hand between Copenhagen and Brussels. As well as, analyzing the results of a research report about the Air-Rail passenger’s experiences.

Three main issues are to be concluded from research: 1. Pre-travel info, 2. Missing signage, 3. Baggage. From these three issues, it can be concluded that pre-travel info and missing signage require short-term solutions due to being involved with a singular or small number of stakeholders. However, baggage requires a long-term solution based on the complexity of the vast stakeholder network that is involved. Therefore, the main issue to solve is baggage. By creating a focus on a long-term plan, while in the meantime the low-hanging fruit (pre-travel info and signage) is picked to create a fully seamless and complete Air-Rail service.

Subsequently, concepts are generated for baggage by organizing an Air-Rail stakeholder workshop and interviewing representatives from an Air-Rail rail operator and an Air-Rail airline. The result is a list of generated concepts. From this a selection is made, to find the best and most fitting baggage concept. This is done by having representatives from an Air-Rail airline and airport, assess by filling in Harris profiles for the concepts. This is done with potential Air-Rail travelers as well, who vary in international train travel experience.

The outcome for the first horizon in 2025, is a temporary door-to-airport baggage delivery service. This service transports Air-Rail baggage by delivery van between Brussels and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and vice versa. The outcome for the second horizon in 2032, is a permanent concept of designing a new train for Thalys that includes a fourgon. A fourgon is a train compartment where Air-Rail baggage can safely and separately be stored. Both solutions create a secure and convenient way of handling baggage during Air-Rail travel between Brussel Zuid and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

In the final roadmap design, it is elaborated how to implement these concepts. The roadmap specifies what the main product/service is and what is needed to support it. Additionally, the roadmap shows the tasks for Air-Rail stakeholders needs for a successful Air-Rail service.