Electrifying railway station parking: enhancing Scotland's sustainable mobility

Recognising the importance of mass electrification of transport demand and the reduction of energy demand, the Scottish Government has committed to reducing car kilometres travelled by 20% by 2030. This necessitates a reduction in the number of daily car journeys and an overall change in attitude towards how cars are used. With an expected increase in the number of commuters using multi-modal travel and low carbon public transport infrastructure there is an increasing need for EV charging infrastructure to support the transition between different travel options. At present, there are 162 EV chargers installed across 17% of Scotland’s rail stations with 64% of rail stations accommodating vehicle parking. This study considers the hypothesis that rail stations located in different geographic areas with different levels of available parking will have unique EV charging infrastructure requirements leading to varying impact on distribution networks. A geospatial analysis of existing EV charging installations is first carried out, followed by a statistical hosting capacity assessment of the network infrastructure located at two rail station sites. The research provides valuable insights for local government, distribution network planners, and stakeholders in the transport sector, facilitating the development of sustainable integrated mobility ecosystems.