UITP 2023 highlights from Trapeze Group

Barcelona’s stunning architecture, culture, and cuisine provided the perfect setting for the UITP Global Public Transport Summit from 4 to 7 June 2023.

The Trapeze Group’s experts from ANZ, the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa joined public transport executives from around the world who gathered in the Catalan capital for the year’s most prestigious industry event.

Our team relished connecting face-to-face with international peers, colleagues, and transport industry leaders. The global gathering was a tremendous success, enabling us to build upon our established partnerships and develop new relationships which will grow in the future.

The Trapeze Group and Modaxo stand was a vibrant hub of activity, as we hosted a series of networking events, presentations, demonstrations, panel discussions, and casual conversations. Trapeze Rail and TTG representatives focused on demonstrating the value of DAS and C-DAS technology, while Trapeze ANZ Bus showcased our latest AVLC, RTPI, and ITS solutions.

To benefit those who couldn’t attend the UITP Summit in person, we’ve shared some highlights of presentations and learnings that were particularly relevant to our partners and colleagues.

Contract management and PPP in the new economic environment

An issue that all UITP delegates had in common was how to successfully navigate the post-Covid economic climate, as increased inflationary pressures and the ongoing supply chain crisis contribute to global financial uncertainty.

This made the discussion on contract management and PPP in the new economic environment one of the conference’s most highly anticipated sessions.

The panel analysing the post-Covid landscape’s effect on public transport business models featured the World Bank’s Global Director for Transport, Nicolas Peltier-Thiberge, along with Transdev CEO Europe, Antoine Grange, and RATP Dev Executive Director of Customers and Engagement, Cecile Tuil.

Mr Peltier-Thiberge shared his insights into the sector’s ongoing global recovery from both Covid and the supply chain crisis, with ridership yet to regain former levels in many places and some evidence of a shift to non-motorised forms of transport. He explained that the World Bank has so far not seen a radical restructuring of existing contracts.

From Transdev’s perspective, Mr Grange suggested adapting existing contracts to suit the current inflationary environment. This included increasing the frequency of inflation reviews and the need for transport authorities and operators alike to ensure service viability by taking an adaptable approach.

Ms Tuil called for new business models which account for variations in fixed contractual risks, particularly relating to force majeure, indexation, exit clauses, governance, and payment schedules. She emphasised the need to take ridership out of the picture when contracting service delivery.

Accelerating zero-emission bus deployment

The transition to Net Zero was a recurring theme of the summit, with a series of speakers sharing their strategies and experiences in the deployment of ZEBs.

The Infrastructure Director of EMT Madrid, Gonzalo Fernandez, described his organisation’s detailed evaluation of a range of charging technologies including opportunity charging, wired charging, inverted pantographs, and smart charging. Madrid’s network is now diesel-free and targeting a 100% electric future.

Peter Bijvelds, the CEO of Dutch electric bus and charging infrastructure manufacturer Ebusco, highlighted the important role of materials in maximising the range and capacity of ZEB designs.

By shifting from steel to aluminium and then finally a composite construction, Ebusco created a massive 4,000kg saving in vehicle weight. The outcome was an improved range of more than 300km, a passenger capacity of more than 130 people, safer electrical isolation, and a viable total cost of ownership.

The Managing Director of BYD Europe, Isbrand Ho, shared how clean energy vehicle leader BYD leveraged its battery, electric motor, and electronic control technologies in partnership with the UK’s largest bus manufacturer, Alexander Dennis Ltd, to help London’s network achieve more than 70% electrification.

DAS presentation by Antony Chilton-Murphy

The second day featured a presentation by TTG Europe’s Head of Operations, Antony Chilton-Murphy. This attracted an impressive group of senior executives to the Trapeze and Modaxo stand.

Antony’s theme was that train operators and authorities should expect more from their fleets by leveraging the energy-saving benefits created by Trapeze Rail and TTG’s Driving Advice System (DAS) technology. He discussed the value of the ‘Golden Report’ which uses DAS data to give executives insights into where energy can be saved, as well as the monetary and carbon footprint savings achieved in the past month.

Antony also explained how DAS delivers additional benefits in right time running, improved customer experience, additional safety, and lower maintenance costs as well as highlighting the monetary impact of running trains on time.

He mentioned that UK trials with TTG’s partners, including Network Rail and Great Western Railway, have successfully demonstrated how Connected Driving Advice Systems (C-DAS) can add an enhanced level of connectivity to the core DAS platform.

The technology constantly re-plans connected train movements across the network to minimise delays at an individual junction, or a network of junctions. It does this by resolving conflicts in real-time while also considering energy use, so opportunities for moving large amounts of traffic through the most complex locations can become much more sophisticated.

Antony concluded with a reference to SNCF in France which saves millions of euros in energy costs every month by using DAS on its TGV fleet.

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Did you make it to the UITP Summit? Let’s continue the conversation!

If you couldn’t attend, our team would be delighted to share their personal insights from Barcelona about the issues that were trending in presentations and on the conference floor.

We love to talk about technology solutions that support sustainability, accessibility, and enhanced connected journeys so get in touch with us today.