Global transport influencer Paul Comfort makes local connections with Trapeze

Published January 22, 2025 in Blog

Trapeze’s powerful combination of local market knowledge and global industry expertise was showcased by public transport influencer Paul Comfort’s recent trip to Australia.

Paul is a broadcaster, speaker, and author who presents the popular Transit Unplugged TV and podcast shows. He is also Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer at Modaxo, the international collective of transport technology companies which includes Trapeze Group.

In just ten days Paul connected with Trapeze customers, industry leaders, and government executives during 40 meetings in five cities. He addressed the AusRail and BIC conferences, met Monash University students, drove an electric bus, and visited Trapeze’s Brisbane headquarters.

Here are some of the highlights from his unforgettable trip Down Under.

Zero emission buses and customer-centric innovations

A series of informal discussions, behind-the-scenes tours, and hands-on experiences in bus operations allowed Paul to appreciate Australia’s commitment to decarbonisation and enhanced passenger experiences.

Hydrogen fuel cells and electric bus fleets

During a visit to Transit Systems’ depot in Melbourne, Paul learned about their hydrogen fuel cell bus pilot program and the Sunflower initiative supporting people with hidden disabilities. He also addressed the new class of Bus Captains about their amazing impact upon passengers’ lives. Across town at Kinetic’s new depot, Paul loved test-driving a brand-new electric bus and discussing Kinetic’s vision to roll out more locally built, zero emission vehicles from 2025 onwards.

Bus Industry Confederation Conference

The BIC Conference is the sector’s primary annual gathering, and Paul was a prominent figure at this year’s event. He addressed the conference twice, speaking on zero-fare public transportation and transit trends from the USA. Paul appreciated his warm welcome from the event organisers and also Metro Tasmania’s CEO, Katie Cooper.

Brisbane Metro and the future of BRT

Brisbane City Council’s new hub for its Brisbane Metro fleet was one of the most well-presented depots Paul had ever seen! He was particularly impressed by the bi-articulated, battery electric buses that looked like sleek, modern tram carriages. The GM for Major Projects, Steve Hammer, explained that Brisbane’s new BRT service will run 60 of these vehicles on grade-separated busways, significantly enhancing passenger experience and operational efficiency.

Shared insights and transformative rail projects

Australia’s rail sector is on the rise, and during his visit Paul was introduced to exciting projects and some of the visionary leaders shaping its future.

Yarra Trams and rail technology

Yarra Trams in Melbourne is the world’s largest light rail network, and it was the perfect way for Paul to explore the city. He connected with Melbourne resident and Trapeze Rail Managing Director, Sanket Nayak, to learn more about Yarra Trams and discuss the global potential for rail efficiency technologies that improve operations and sustainability.

Beachfront networking at AusRail

The Gold Coast’s beaches were a stunning backdrop for the AusRail Conference, where Paul presented on synergies between rail sectors in the USA and Australia. The many networking opportunities included discovering how John Holland Group deliver much of Australia’s new rail infrastructure, and Paul was delighted to reconnect with his friend and UGL executive, Magda Robertson.

Cross River Rail in Brisbane

Touring the new Roma Street underground station and learning about the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project was a highlight of Paul’s trip. This transformative infrastructure development includes 5.9km of twin tunnels below the Brisbane River and CBD which will unlock urban connectivity for rail passengers right across South East Queensland.

Collaboration and leadership in public transport

Beyond buses and trains, Paul’s visit celebrated the people behind Australia’s public transport ecosystem and its leadership culture which emphasised mentorship and innovative thinking.

Emerging leaders and collaborative initiatives

At Melbourne’s Monash University, Prof Graham Currie invited Paul to meet students participating in the innovative “Finding the Optimal Mix” public transport planning simulation. His conversation with Jamie-Lee Owen, Chair of PTAANZ Emerging Mobility Leaders, highlighted the influx of young, diverse talent driving Australia’s transport sector into the future.

Global leadership perspective

Another highlight of Paul’s tour was reconnecting with Howard Collins, the Coordinator-General of Transport for New South Wales. This well-respected industry leader updated Paul about developments in Sydney, where the $20 billion Sydney Metro is a transformative project on the scale of London’s Elizabeth Line or Singapore’s MRT network.

Multimodal investments for an Olympic city

Brisbane’s preparations for the 2032 Olympics stood out for its forward-thinking investments into multimodal transport networks. Paul engaged with some of the city’s most influential public and private sector executives who showcased a range of projects including CityCat Ferries, Kangaroo Point Bridge, Cross River Rail, and Brisbane Metro.

Australian conversations continue on Transit Unplugged

Paul’s trip to Australia was also an opportunity to create new content that will be seen and heard around the world. Transit Unplugged is established as the leading podcast for transport executives, and the TV show was viewed more than 2 million times in 2024.

The Trapeze team was delighted to ensure that our Australian customers were featured in many of these interviews and behind-the-scenes tours. Want to watch and listen for yourself? Tap the links below for the episodes created during Paul’s visit, or you can contact us to find out more.

Transit Unplugged TV:

Paul’s Journey Down Under Part 1: Melbourne and Tasmania!

Transit Unplugged podcast: 

Public Transport in Australia: Turning Points, New Trends, and Big Transformations

In conversation with transit legend Howard Collins

Transforming Australia’s Railways with Steve Butcher

Mode of Transport

Community Transport, Public Transport Authorities, Rail, Trams/Light Rail, Bus

Solutions

Bus Planning and Scheduling (Austrics), Community Transport, Workforce Management, Bus Enterprise Resource Planning (TIMS), Driving Advice System (DAS), Intelligent Transport Systems

Meet the author

Trapeze Group

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