Joost Van der Made
the Netherlands, people
take the bike to the train
station, but incoming
people have a hard time
hiring a bike. We need to
know how to redesign a train
station, systematically, so that it
becomes an optimal element of MaaS
and boosts sustainable cities.”
Intermodal travel
This approach extends to better intermodal
travel, a matter of particular pertinence as the
Flight Shame movement encourages Europeans
to consider trains instead of air travel, wherever
that is feasible. Rather than fight this trend,
Dutch airline KLM has embraced it as part
of a long-term sustainability and growth
management strategy.
“Together with KLM and Schiphol, there is
a lot of interest in creating better transitions
to help passengers access sustainable public
transport options and improve the experience,”
says Van der Made.
Railway Interiors International ANNUAL SHOWCASE 2019 36
Questioning the tide
He believes the success
of future sustainable,
intermodal infrastructure
will rely on designers who
are problem-solvers at heart,
and who have a strong focus on
human-centric design.
“The design community has a critical role
to play,” he says. “There are new technologies
that position themselves as innovations, but are
no more than a technology push – things like
flying cars as personal helicopters. We don’t
know how they will create more sustainable
cities. Are we really doing this because it is
a substantial step or just because it’s possible
to push the technology? It’s the same with
self-driving cars – is this really what people
want, or is it being developed just because we
can, as an expensive extension of your living
room? The design community should be on
the cutting edge, challenging the march of
technology for technology’s sake, and looking
for the human element in everything.”
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
One of the key trends influencing
rail design in the present and for the
future, Joost Van der Made believes,
is sustainability. “Sustainable interior
design is crucial – and not just because
it’s fashionable,” he contends. “A more
durable, sustainable design will look
much better these days and create
a design language that will last at
least 15 years.”
NS currently recycles 98% of the
materials used in its trains at the end
of their lifecycle. With the Train of the
Future, it aims to boost this to 100%.
“We want to make the train more
sustainable and lightweight, and easier
to modernise,” says Van der Made.
“It will involve agile manufacturing
techniques such as 3D printing and
smart constructions. For example,
a couch that is made with a 3D-printed
plastic frame and only needs a cover.
That 3D-printed plastic can be re-used,
without any material loss, 10 times.
New production techniques are allowing
us to create more lightweight trains
and also making it easier to maintain
and adjust the interior.”
On average,
NS transports
1.2 million
passengers each
working day – and
says the number
grows every
year
RIGHT: There
are also spaceefficient
window
bar seats in
standard class
Sustainable interior design
is crucial – and not just
because it’s fashionable
Joost Van der Made, NS