Infrastructures for proximity – Methods and strategies for the regeneration of railway station areas in the Lombardy network
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69143/2464-9309/1992026Keywords:
railway stations, station area regeneration, proximity infrastructures, intermodality, multi-criteria evaluationAbstract
The regeneration of railway stations represents a strategic field for integrating mobility infrastructures, public space, and territorial cohesion. This contribution proposes a systemic method for the analysis and programmatic orientation of interventions on railway station areas, understood as territorial infrastructures of proximity, capable of promoting territorial equity and social inclusion. Starting from a comparison between national and international models and from the analysis of the Lombardy railway system, the research defines a multi-criteria tool for the analysis and evaluation of stations and the development of operational guidelines for their regeneration. The application to the Milano Cadorna case (Italy) provides a profile structured by macro-areas, highlighting critical issues, opportunities, and intervention priorities, and outlining a method that can be replicated at the network scale. The paper presents an interpretative framework for an infrastructural heritage that now requires systemic regeneration, together with a method that can be replicated in comparable regional railway contexts.
Article info
Received: 10/03/2026; Revised: 15/04/2026; Accepted: 18/04/2026
Downloads
Article Metrics Graph
References
ARUP (2022), Active Train Stations. [Online] Available at: arup.com/insights/active-train-stations/ [Accessed 2 April 2026].
ARUP (2020), Future of Stations. [Online] Available at: arup.com/globalassets/downloads/insights/future-of-stations.pdf [Accessed 2 April 2026].
ARUP (2019), Tomorrow’s Living Station. [Online] Available at: arup.com/insights/tomorrows-living-station/ [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Banerjee, I. and Saha, A. (2022), “Mobility centre-oriented urban regeneration – Examining place value of railway stations”, in GeoJournal, vol. 87, issue supp. 4, pp. 567-581. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1007/s10708-022-10582-y [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Berretta, T., Desideri, F. and Staltari, M. (2024), “Il progetto dello spazio pubblico, tra complessità e crisi ecologica – Da sfida a opportunità per la rigenerazione urbana | Public space project, between complexity and ecological crisis – From challenge to opportunity for urban regeneration”, in Agathón | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, vol. 16, pp. 74-87. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.19229/2464-9309/1662024 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Bertolini, L. (1999), “Spatial development patterns and public transport – The application of an analytical model in The Netherlands”, in Planning Practice and Research, vol. 14, issue 2, pp. 199-210. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1080/02697459915724 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Bertolini, L. (1996), “Nodes and places – Complexities of railway station redevelopment”, in European Planning Studies, vol. 4, issue 3, pp. 331-345. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1080/09654319608720349 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Bertolini, L. and Spit, T. (1998), Cities on Rails – The Redevelopment of Railway Station Areas, Routledge, London. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.4324/9780203980439 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Bertolini, L., le Clercq, F. and Kapoen, L. (2005), “Sustainable accessibility – A conceptual framework to integrate transport and land use plan‑making – Two test-applications in the Netherlands and a reflection on the way forward”, in Transport Policy, vol. 12, issue 3, pp. 207-220. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2005.01.006 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Bruinsma, F. (2009), “The Impact of Railway Station Development on Urban Dynamics – A Review of the Amsterdam South Axis Project”, in Built Environment, vol. 35, issue 1, pp. 107-121. [Online] Available at: jstor.org/stable/23289647 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Bruno, D., Palmieri, S., Palomba, R., D’Alessandro, F. and Bisson, M. (2024), “Infrastrutture di mobilità intelligenti e sostenibili – Un nuovo sistema di connessioni urbane | Smart and sustainable mobility infrastructure – A new system of urban connections”, in Agathón | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, vol. 15, pp. 286-295. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.19229/2464-9309/15232024 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Bureau Spoorbouwmeester (2025), Het Stationsconcept – Visie, kaders en toepassing – Versie 3.0, 2025. [Online] Available at: spoorbeeld.nl/beleid/station/het-stationsconcept [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Campagnaro, C., Ronsivalle, D., Di Prima, N., Curtabbi, G. and Passaro, R. (2025), “Fare e rifare – Opportunità e limiti della co-progettazione per gli spazi pubblici e di welfare | Doing and redoing – Opportunities and limits of co-design for public and welfare spaces”, in Agathón | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, vol. 17, pp. 310-323. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.69143/2464-9309/17212025 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Canessa, N. V. and Centanaro, C. (2024), “Co(mplex)city – Utente come sensore urbano e mobilità accessibile nel progetto Mobiquity | Co(mplex)city – User as urban sensor and accessible mobility in the Mobiquity project”, in Agathón | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, vol. 16, pp. 88-97. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.19229/2464-9309/1672024 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Cangelli, E. (2025), “Rigenerazione urbana e SDG – Approcci progettuali per la riduzione delle disuguaglianze urbane | Urban regeneration and SDGs – Design approaches for reducing urban inequalities”, in Agathón | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, vol. 17, pp. 28-41. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.69143/2464-9309/1712025 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Cervero, R. (1998), The transit metropolis – A global inquiry, Island Press, Washington.
Conticelli, E. (2011), “Assessing the potential of railway station redevelopment in urban regeneration policies – An Italian case study”, in Procedia Engineering, vol. 21, pp. 1096-1103. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2011.11.2116 [Accessed 22 March 2026].
Cornolò, G. (2006), Ferrovie Nord Milano in tre secoli, Maggioni, Milano.
European Commission (2011), White Paper – Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a Competitive and Resource Efficient Transport System, document 52011DC0144, COM(2011) 144 final. [Online] Available at: eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52011DC0144 [Accessed 12 April 2026].
Fabbri, I. (2023), “Smart Hubs – Una rete di oggetti urbani multifunzionali a supporto della micromobilità a Ferrara | Smart Hubs – A network of multifunctional urban objects to support micromobility in Ferrara”, in Agathón | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, vol. 14, pp. 304-315. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.19229/2464-9309/14262023 [Accessed 12 April 2026].
Fiorini, L., Saganeiti, L., Perazzini, M., Bontempo, D., Bucci, M., Giancola, M. and Perilli, E. (2025), “L’impatto dei modelli urbani sul supporto sociale – Tra giustizia spaziale e sviluppo sostenibile | The impact of urban models on social support – Between spatial justice and sustainable development”, in Agathón | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, vol. 17, pp. 196-207. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.69143/2464-9309/17132025 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
FNM – Ferrovie Nord Milano (2024a), FNM Group Strategic Plan 2024-2029. [Online] Available at: fnmgroup.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Piano-Strategico-Gruppo-FNM-2024-2029_errata-corrige.pdf [Accessed 2 April 2026].
FNM – Ferrovie Nord Milano (2024b), Progetto FILI. [Online] Available at: fnmgroup.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Progetto-Fili-1.pdf [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Griffin, G. P. and Sener, I. N. (2016), “Planning for bike share connectivity to rail transit”, in Journal of Public Transportation, vol. 19, issue 2, pp. 1-22. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.5038/2375-0901.19.2.1 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
ITF – International Transport Forum (2015), Urban Mobility System Upgrade – How shared self‑driving cars could change city traffic. [Online] Available at: itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/15cpb_self-drivingcars.pdf [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Mantziaras, P. (2024), “La previsione strategica urbana nel contesto europeo – Le lezioni di Ginevra e Lussemburgo | Urban strategic foresight in European territories – Lessons from Geneva and Luxembourg”, in Agathón | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, vol. 15, pp. 30-47. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.19229/2464-9309/1522024 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Meeks, C. L. V. (1995), The railway station – An architectural history, Dover Publications, New York.
Nederlandse Spoorwegen (2025), Vervoerplan NS 2025. [Online] Available at: ns.nl/binaries/_ht_1735549343739/content/assets/ns-nl/over-ons/vervoerplan-ns-2025.pdf [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Nederlandse Spoorwegen (2024), NS Annual Report 2024. [Online] Available at: nsannualreport.nl/external/asset/download/project/f9822a0a-03ee-0000-1d58-bb5f7bb302a1/name/NS_annualreport_2024.pdf [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Otsuka, N. and Reeve, A. (2024), “Railway stations as public space – How to promote rail journeys via multi‑functional railway stations”, in European Planning Studies, vol. 32, issue 5, pp. 973-1009. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2023.2246508 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Paone, S. (2023), “The Renovation of Italian Railway Stations – From the Journey to the Consumption of the Journey”, in Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, vol. 12, issue 1, pp. 24-33. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.36941/ajis-2023-0003 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Peek, G.-J., Bertolini, L. and De Jonge, H. (2006), “Gaining insight in the development potential of station areas – A decade of node-place modelling in The Netherlands”, in Planning Practice and Research, vol. 21, issue 4, pp. 443-462. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.1080/02697450701296247 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Peters, D. and Novy, J. (2012), “Train Station Area Development Mega-Projects in Europe – Towards a Typology”, in Built Environment, vol. 38, issue 1, pp. 12-30. [Online] Available at: jstor.org/stable/23289698 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
RFI – Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (2022), Stazioni Impresenziate – Un riuso sociale del patrimonio ferroviario. [Online] Available at: rfi.it/content/dam/rfi/stazioni/spazi-in-stazione/RFI_Stazioni_impresenziate.pdf [Accessed 2 April 2026].
RFI –Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (2015), Stazioni ferroviarie – Come rigenerare un patrimonio. [Online] Available at: rfi.it/content/dam/rfi/stazioni/spazi-in-stazione/stazioni-ad-uso-sociale/Stazioni_Ferroviarie_come_riqualificare_un_patrimonio_RFI_2015.pdf [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Ricci, L., Poli, I. and Marino, M. (2025), “Welfare urbano e rigenerazione – Sostenibilità e inclusione sociale per il raggiungimento degli SDG | Urban welfare and regeneration – Sustainability and social inclusion for achieving the SDGs”, in Agathón | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, vol. 17, pp. 94-107. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.69143/2464-9309/1752025 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Setola, N. and Borgianni, S. (2025), “Promuovere salute e benessere – Strumenti per il progetto di Case della Comunità e quartieri sani | Promoting health and well-being – Tools for designing community health centres and healthy neighbourhoods”, in Agathón | International Journal of Architecture, Art and Design, vol. 17, pp. 226-241. [Online] Available at: doi.org/10.69143/2464-9309/17152025 [Accessed 2 April 2026].
SINLOC (2023), Sviluppo e valorizzazione del sistema delle stazioni ferroviarie impresidiate di Regione Lombardia. [Online] Available at: sinloc.com/progetti/sviluppo-e-valorizzazione-del-sistema-delle-stazioni-ferroviarie-impresidiate-di-regione-lombardia/ [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Trenord (2024), Bilancio di Sostenibilità 2024. [Online] Available at: trenord.it/fileadmin/contenuti/TRENORD/Pagine_di_servizio/Chi_siamo/ Bilancio_di_sostenibilita/bilancio_di_sostenibilita_2024.pdf [Accessed 2 April 2026].
UIC (2023), A classification and categorization system for tourist-friendly Railway services and experiences. [Online] Available at: toprail.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2023_TopRail_Report_v13_complet-1_compressed.pdf [Accessed 2 April 2026].
UIC (2020), Guidelines on how to increase attractiveness for rail tourism. [Online] Available at: toprail.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/20200331_guidelines_on_how_to_increase_ attractiveness_for_rail_tourism-1.pdf [Accessed 2 April 2026].
UIC (2017), Railway Handbook – Energy Consumption and CO2 Emissions – Focus on passenger rail services. [Online] Available at: uic.org/IMG/pdf/handbook_iea-uic_2017_web3.pdf [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Zandonai, F. (2015), Il riuso di strutture ferroviarie a scopo sociale – Casi studio e indicazioni per la gestione. [Online] Available at: euricse.eu/it/publications/il-riuso-di-strutture-ferroviarie-a-scopo-sociale-casi-studio-e-indicazioni-per-la-gestione/ [Accessed 2 April 2026].
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Maria Pilar Vettori, Silvia Battaglia, Francesca Daprà, Andrea Dechamps
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This Journal is published under Creative Commons Attribution Licence 4.0 (CC-BY).
License scheme | Legal code
This License allows anyone to:
Share: copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
Adapt: remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Under the following terms
Attribution: Users must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made; users may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses them or their use.
No additional restrictions: Users may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices
Users do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
No warranties are given. The license may not give users all of the permissions necessary for their intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.
