Not Just a Stop: Understanding Safety at Small Train Stations
A Qualitative study on perceived safety and coping behavior at small Dutch railway stations
P.P. Kupers (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
J.A. Annema – Mentor (TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management)
N. van Oort – Mentor (TU Delft - Civil Engineering & Geosciences)
Bas Van Vliet – Graduation committee member (Wageningen University & Research)
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Abstract
Small railway stations serve as essential nodes in the daily mobility of travelers in the Dutch mobility system, yet they are overrepresented among the lowest-scoring stations in research on travelers’ experiences over the last five years. Building on the Capabilities Approach, this research considers perceived safety as a condition that influences whether the presence of small railway stations ensures equal accessibility for all travelers. Therefore, this research examines how travelers experience safety at small Dutch railway stations and explores how these insights can inform the design and development of these stations. By using an exploratory and descriptive qualitative research design, interviews were conducted with travelers at four small stations associated with the lowest scores in the Station Experience Monitor of NS in 2024. Additionally, in-depth interviews with experts in station design, safety, and public transport were held to gain insight into governance structures, design principles, and safety interventions.
The findings reveal how perceived safety is shaped by multidimensional and overlapping dynamics between temporal, spatial, social, and personal factors. Temporal conditions, particularly evening and nighttime travel, as well as gender identity, act as an amplifying lens through which the other factors are interpreted and experienced. Moreover, travelers identifying as women frequently adopted coping behaviors, such as arranging pick-ups or calling someone, thereby relying on their social networks. Travelers identifying as men often described their gender as a protective factor. Furthermore, the interviews with experts indicated that institutional dynamics, including fragmented responsibilities and difficulties regarding data sharing, further complicate the specific contexts of small railway stations that influence perceived safety.
At the same time, current monitoring tools do not include the complex nature of experienced safety and the related dynamics between the different factors influencing it. This study suggests that small railway stations deserve more attention in governance and monitoring frameworks. Creating station environments where travelers feel comfortable contributes to positive travel experiences and highlights perceived safety as a crucial condition for realizing equal mobility and accessibility.