Spotlight

Detailed look at a specific topic or area of interest

• Green buses: Demand steadily growing

  July 1, 2016
  While rail-based transport systems such as metros, monorails and trams are popular, most cities still rely on buses as the dominant mode of public transport service. The bus-based systems are cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly buses are fast becoming the preferred choice for transport operators in procurements for fleet expansion and renewal.

• Rail Gen 2.0 Vision: Hong Kong MTR plans to complete extensions by 2021

  June 1, 2016
  In January 2016, the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway Corporation Limited (MTR) unveiled Rail Gen 2.0 vision, which includes ongoing enhancements to the existing metro rail network and the four rail extensions to be delivered by 2021.

• Upcoming rail tenders in the MEA region: Significant opportunities

  May 1, 2016
  The year 2015 witnessed the award of several mass rapid transit (MRT) contracts in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, including the civil works for the Mecca Metro, construction contracts for Cairo Metro, etc.

• UK rail sector: Focus on network expansion and modernisation

  April 1, 2016
  During 2014-19, Network Rail, the owner and operator of UK's rail infrastructure, plans to invest GBP38 billion on operating and expanding the network; the UK government has committed over GBP9 billion to deliver major improvements across the country; and the Scottish Ministers have committed to a GBP5 billion package of funding and investment in Scotland's railways

• STIF projects: System modernisation and expansion

  March 1, 2016
  The Syndicat des transports d'Île-de- France (STIF) is the public transport authority of Paris. Since 2005, it has launched various projects for modernisation, rolling stock acquisition and expansion of the public transport system and improvement of passenger services.

• BRTs in Africa: Existing and upcoming projects

  February 1, 2016
  Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems are fast leading the way as a preferred mode of public transport in the region of Africa. The cities are realising that without a good bus service that is accessible, affordable and attractive to a broad range of people across society, local transport cannot work.

• New York MTA Capital Program 2015-19: Biggest so far

  January 1, 2016
  In October 2015, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board approved the USD29-billion five-year capital programme (2015-19), which is the agency's biggest ever capital programme.

• Mobility needs of the Millenials: The avant-garde for future developments in transit

  December 1, 2015
  With the rapid rate of global urbanisation, most cities in the world are taking steps to establish organised public transport systems. However, analysing which mode of public transport, ranging from metros to buses, would be optimal for a particular city, remains an issue.

• CBTC in Asia: Growing demand

  November 1, 2015
  Communication-based train control (CBTC) systems are a part of the automatic train control (ATC) technology, which is fast gaining popularity as the signalling mode of choice for rail-based urban transport projects in Asia.

• Standards for public transport ticketing: Approaches to deliver interoperable contactless ticketing

  October 1, 2015
  The use of international and open standards facilitates interoperability between different systems and operators, increases competition between suppliers...

• RENFE's AVE plans: Still not financially viable

  September 1, 2015
  Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Españoles (RENFE) is the Spanish national railway operator providing passenger and freight service on infrastructure owned by the Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF).

• Public transport ticketing in India: Current scenario and future outlook

  August 1, 2015
  India's public transport systems are among the most heavily-used in the world. Buses have a modal share of over 90 per cent and are mostly operated by state government-owned transport corporations (such as the Delhi Transport Corporation).

• Transit projects in Los Angeles: Focus on rail

  July 1, 2015
  In May 2015, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board of Directors has approved a USD5.56-billion budget for FY2016 (July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016).

• EU's TEN-T Programme: Investment of EUR500 billion by 2020

  June 1, 2015
  The European Union (EU) has planned major investments in transport infrastructure to promote growth and competiveness in the internal market.

• Riyadh Public Transport Project (RPTP): Mega project to improve regional mobility

  May 1, 2015
  The Riyadh Public Transport Project (RPTP), also known as the King Abdulaziz Public Transport Project, is the largest public transport project in Saudi Arabia.

• IDB and Urban Transport in Latin America: Focus on climate change

  April 1, 2015
  The report, ‘Climate Change and IDB: Building Resilience and Reducing Emissions for the Transport Sector', published by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in November 2014, is based on an evaluation of IDB's intervention in climate-related sectors during the period 2004 to 2014.

• Latin America's Transport Emissions: Recent assessment and strategies

  March 1, 2015
  The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is a major source of multilateral financing in Latin America. It provides loans, grants, guarantees and investments to fund social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

• Helsinki Public Transport: Aiming to reduce car ownership

  February 1, 2015
  The City of Helsinki has announced plans to transform its existing public transport network into a comprehensive, point-to-point, mobility-on-demand system by 2025.

• Denver RTD FasTracks: Accelerated capital programme

  January 1, 2015
  The RTD FasTracks Program is an integrated, multi-modal 12-year programme to build 190.4 km (119 miles) of new commuter rail and light rail, 28.8 km (18 miles) of bus rapid transit, 21,000 new parking spaces at transit stations, and expand bus service in the Denver metropolitan area.

• Multi-service approach in transit fare payment: Systems and processes

  December 1, 2014
  Convenience, accessibility and diversity have increasingly become the key words for transit fare collection. Worldwide, momentum is building towards transit operators and banks allowing riders to use integrated payment option for transit fare and other services such as retail purchase, bank transactions, parking, public services, etc.