Stations as Urban Centres – implementation models for development around railway stations and mobility hubs

European cities are increasingly investing in railway stations and multimodal mobility hubs as key elements supporting sustainable urban development. However, many municipalities still face challenges in translating transport infrastructure projects into well-structured, attractive and functional urban areas.

This proposed URBACT Action Planning Network will focus on practical implementation models supporting integrated development around railway stations and mobility hubs. The network aims to explore how cities can better coordinate transport investments with spatial planning, urban design and investment processes, and how stations can become attractive local urban centres rather than only transport nodes.

The initiative builds on the experience of the City of Gdańsk, which is currently preparing a masterplan for new station areas along the planned PKM Południe metropolitan rail line in the southern part of the city. The project focuses on shaping new neighbourhood centres around future stations and strengthening cooperation between local authorities, infrastructure managers and private partners.

Through the network, participating cities will exchange experience and jointly develop practical approaches related to governance models, land assembly strategies, investment sequencing and cooperation with private stakeholders. The ambition is to support cities working on station-area transformation and mobility-hub development by creating implementation-oriented tools that can strengthen sustainable urban growth across Europe.