The transport system of the future will be a harmonised, interoperable entity composed of infrastructure, services and information. The aim is that transport will be genuinely seen as a service. The principle is that mobility and transport services matching people’s needs should be provided on market terms, be interoperable and easy to use, preferably via a single interface. Where a basic service would not otherwise be available, this will be secured with public funding.

As transport systems become more digitised, physical mobility and digital transactions will not only be alternatives but will also complement each other. The emergence of new service markets will be accelerated by the declining appeal of car ownership and the rapidly advancing automation in transport. The customer will have a stronger role, becoming ever more closely involved in designing and developing the services. The increasing utilisation of data and the development of advanced ICT solutions will also improve traffic flow, enhance safety and advance the eco-friendliness of transport, and will therefore help meet the traditional challenges encountered in transport policy.

Transport and communications networks, information and the services covering these serve as a growth platform for wellbeing in society and for corporate and regional competitiveness. The obstacles to utilising digital data are becoming fewer. Nevertheless, the value of data often depends on how it can be combined with other datasets. The issue of data confidentiality and privacy protection is one that must be resolved. This can in part be dealt with by anonymising data.