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Issue n° 48 November 2008
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From
the Secretary General's Desk |
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Dear UITP members
Members of UITP’s Policy Board met in Lisbon, Portugal, in early November with a busy agenda. The Portuguese State Secretary for Transport, Ana Paula Vitorino, gave a keynote speech on the government’s transport policy, followed by an exchange of views with the members of the Policy Board.
The Policy Board agenda also included a special session to address the current crises on the financial and the energy markets, in order to highlight threats and opportunities for the public transport sector.
Entitled ‘How should the public transport sector respond to the volatility of the energy and financial markets?’, the session was introduced with a keynote speech by Vítor Manuel Ribeiro Constâncio, Governor of the Bank of Portugal and Member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank. Members of the Policy Board called for recognition of public transport as part of the solution to the current crises, and to ensure sufficient levels of investment in the sector in the future.
You will find more information about this important meeting in our December issue. In the meantime I invite you to read the latest news about UITP activities in many different parts of the world in this issue.
Regards
Hans Rat |
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International Urban Electric Transport Conference |
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Hans Rat presented Ruslan Kramarenko, Deputy Minister of Housing and Municipal Services of Ukraine, with UITP's Dresden Declaration on the importance of keeping and upgrading long established tramway systems. |
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AN INTERNATIONAL conference on problems of modernisation and sustainable development of city electric transport systems was held in Yalta, Ukraine on 7-11 October. The conference was co-organised by the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Services of Ukraine and UITP’s Eurasian Division, and was accompanied by an exhibition of Ukrainian manufacturers and service providers.
The event brought together some 150 participants mainly from Ukraine but also from Germany, Austria, Russia, the United Kingdom, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Czech Republic, South Korea, Kazakhstan and Poland.
UITP Secretary General Hans Rat focused his speech on the need to maintain and develop the existing electric transport systems in cities, and gave convincing examples on how the local transport systems in London, Barcelona, Seoul and Bogota were recently modernised.
The conference programme included presentations of public transport operators, suppliers and manufacturers as well as authorities from national and local levels.
CONTACT: Yusup Khassiev, yusup.khassiev@uitp.org |
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Participants from Europe and Canada joined the 4th Security Study Tour organised in California. Read more here. |
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 58th World Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition
Vienna 7>11 June 2009
Public transport: making the right mobility choices.
Visit www.uitp.org/vienna2009
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Security and safety are major concerns for our sector, and their perception among users is particularly important.
Ezio Castagna, Chairman of the Bus Committee and General Director of CTM SpA.
Read more in
' Face to Face'
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Public Transport Modes |
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Bus
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RATP hosted the Bus Committee meeting in Paris. |
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CHAIRED by Ezio Castagna, the Bus Committee met in Paris, France, in early October at the invitation of RATP. Members looked at the progress of the working groups on quality time, aggression and fraud, interaction buses, SORT, as well as the Observatory on Fuels and Traction Systems. Conclusions of the report on ‘Life cycle cost for CNG bus operations’ were presented and the final report will be available in MOBI+. The recently published ‘Manual for the development of bus transport system safety management’ elaborated in cooperation with the Security Commission was also presented (read more in ‘Face to Face’). Members welcomed the collaboration of the Committee with other UITP working bodies and the implication of the industry in many of its current studies. The new research and demonstration project European Bus System of the Future was also on the agenda.
The meeting was followed by a technical visit of the fully automated metro line 14 and RATP Bus Security PC 2000. All documents can be found in MOBI+.
CONTACT: Arno Kerkhof, arno.kerkhof@uitp.org
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Public Transport Themes |
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Human Resources
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Members of UITP Human Resources Commission at their meeting in Torino. |
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THE HUMAN Resources Commission met in Torino, Italy, in October at the kind invitation of GTT, the city’s operator. Participants pursued the work on aggressions started in 2007 with the Bus Committee, transfer of knowledge from seniors to juniors, and the fight against addictions on the basis of a report produced by a Metro sub-Committee. Members are actively answering different questionnaires which will help identify good practices and recommend solutions. Also on the agenda was the presentation of recommendations elaborated within the social dialogue framework.
The two next important events for the Commission are the conference on the Change of Culture (Bremen, 5-6 March 2009) with the organisation of a photo competition, and the preparation of a session for the 58th World Congress. All UITP members concerned by human resources are warmly invited to take part in these events.
CONTACT: Cécile Sadoux, cecile.sadoux@uitp.org
Transport Economics
THE TRANSPORT Economics Commission met in Bern, Switzerland, to discuss among other things, financing methods, the impact of smart card technology on fare policy, and future developments in the sector. UITP Secretary General Hans Rat attended the meeting and provided impetus for the discussions, especially relating to the strategic development and long-term objectives for the sector. Furthermore, the meeting was an opportunity to discuss the UITP international conference on transport financing, which is planned for 2010. These issues will be developed further at the next Commission meeting in Belluno, Italy on 27-28 April.
CONTACT: Janis Umblijs, janis.umblijs@uitp.org
Marketing and Product Development
ATAF welcomed the Commission on Marketing and Product Development in Florence, Italy, on 25 September. Participants exchanged information on marketing strategies that create an emotional link between the company and customers with the ultimate objective of changing the behaviour of citizens towards public transport.
Following a presentation from RATP on measurement of marketing actions and return on investment, members discussed the need to determine the impact of marketing and to elaborate a common definition of marketing by listing the different activities it encompasses. One of the objectives will be to conduct a benchmarking of the performance of marketing measures. Next events in the pipeline are the study tour to Japan on 24-29 November and the 5th Marketing Conference on 7-9 October 2009 in Lisbon, Portugal. UITP members are encouraged to respond to the calls for papers and material, find them at www.uitp.org/lisbon2009.
CONTACT: Cécile Sadoux, cecile.sadoux@uitp.org
Workshop on Internal Marketing and Internal Communication
FOR the first time, three UITP Commissions succeeded in organising a joint event involving speakers from corporate management, human resources, and marketing and operations departments. The workshop was hosted by ATAF, Florence, Italy, on 26 September.
This transversal approach underlined that the success of internal marketing and internal communication relies precisely in an integrated and cross-disciplinary management. Angelo Caragiuli, Senior Manager Head of Training, BSAG, Germany, explained that all operators are facing the same challenge of having to improve quality and reduce costs. Quality at work, competence and motivation are the necessary conditions for improving customer care and delivering high-quality services. “Operations, marketing and human resources represent the triangle of success for customer care,” concluded Paul Amlani-Hatcher, Head of Market Planning, Transport for London, UK.
All presentations can be downloaded from Mobi+ on our website at www.uitp.org/mobi .
CONTACT: Cécile Sadoux, cecile.sadoux@uitp.org
Information Technology and Innovation
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The Information Technology and Innovation Commission in front of the impressive solar power plant of TUSSAM in Seville, Spain. |
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THE INFORMATION Technology and Innovation Commission met in Seville, Spain, on 9-10 October at the premises of the bus operator TUSSAM. This professional setting proved to be very inspiring. One full day was dedicated to lively discussions on global developments in the travel information market and on the opportunities and obstacles concerning interoperable fare management for the greater region of Europe.
TUSSAM explained ongoing efforts to provide modern and sustainable transport in Seville. Plans include expanding the existing extensive bicycle network and bus lane concept. Especially impressive is the enormous 1.8 MW solar power plant that also provides shade for some 320 parked buses.
The next meeting will be held in Prague on 7-8 May 2009.
CONTACT: Johan van Ieperen, johan.van.ieperen@uitp.org
Security Study Tour
ON 28 SEPTEMBER UITP members from Europe and Canada gathered in California, USA, for the 4th Security Study Tour. The week long tour involved visits to public transport operators and authorities in San Francisco and the surrounding area, Los Angeles and Orange County. The tour was an opportunity to learn about priorities and initiatives in the USA and California, including explosive detection capabilities and work to reduce suicides. Southern California’s experience with natural disasters meant that local hosts were able to share their vast experience and advanced planning for all serious incidents. Read a full article on the study tour in the November/December edition of Public Transport International.
CONTACT: Lindsey Barr, lindsey.barr@uitp.org
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Public Transport Sectors |
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VOR hosted the meeting of UITP Organising Authorities Committee in the Austrian capital in October. |
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Organising Authorities
THE ORGANISING Authorities Committee met in Vienna, Austria, on 12-13 October at the invitation of VOR. Members discussed a number of important topics including contracting of public transport services in different regulatory frameworks, public transport quality and financing, the mission of organising authorities, and their evolving role encompassing more responsibilities as comprehensive mobility organisers. The Committee decided to launch a survey amongst all authority members of UITP to better know their responsibilities and tasks in order to define targeted studies and services. Results of the survey will be presented at the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Organising Authorities Division to be celebrated in Vienna on 7 June during the 58th World Congress, which will also dedicate a session to organising authorities.
CONTACT: Mohamed Mezghani, mohamed.mezghani@uitp.org
Vehicles and Equipment Industry
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Skoda Transportation welcomed the Vehicles and Equipment Industry Committee in Prague. |
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THE VEHICLES and Equipment Industry Committee met in Prague, Czech Republic, on 9-10 October at the invitation of Skoda Transportation, the Czech manufacturer of light rail and metros. Members visited the brand new factory of Skoda Transportation in Plzen and held their meeting in the museum of tramcars in Prague.
The Committee discussed the ongoing working topics of obsolescence management of electronic components, improving commissioning for light rail vehicles, bus tender structure recommendations and the European Bus System of the Future research project. Besides, the meeting focused on global warming, fuel consumption, and the participation of the industry in different UITP working bodies.
Members welcomed the participation of Wolfgang Presinger from Solaris Bus & Coach in the group. The minutes and other documents can be downloaded from MOBI+ at www.uitp.org/mobi .
CONTACT: Arno Kerkhof, arno.kerkhof@uitp.org
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Projects, Training and Initiatives |
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MODSAFE project
THE EUROPEAN urban guided transport sector (light rail, metro, and also tramways and regional commuter trains) is still characterised by a highly diversified landscape of safety requirements, safety models, responsibilities and roles and safety approval, acceptance and certification schemes.
The MODSAFE project aims to help streamline and bring some degree of voluntary standardisation within this sector by building a safety analysis and model reference for the future for urban guided transport projects.
UITP is also establishing an operator network to offer an opportunity to operators who are not project consortium members to support, provide input into and utilise the results of the project. Interested operators are invited to contact us.
CONTACT: Sebastian Emig, sebastian.emig@uitp.org
 European Mobility Week 2008: Another successful year!
FROM 16 to 22 September the European Union celebrated the 7th European Mobility Week, the biggest global event dedicated to sustainable urban travel. Over 2,000 cities in 39 countries all over Europe - but also in other parts of the world including Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Japan and South Korea - participated in the event. The participating cities invited their citizens to take part in a wide range of activities dedicated to the promotion of sustainable mobility around the theme ‘Clean Air for All’. In many cities, the highlight of the Week was a car-free day. Local authorities all over Europe and beyond have tested new sustainable transport measures which, if successful, often become permanent once the Week is over. The implementation of these permanent measures ensures that year after year and step-by-step, sustainable mobility will secure its place in cities and towns.
CONTACT: Stéphanie Loozen, stephanie.loozen@uitp.org
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UITP Worldwide |
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Africa
Workshop in Ghana
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UATP's regional workshop in Accra attracted experts in technical maintenance and industry representatives. |
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HOW to keep the vehicles of urban and interurban transport in Africa in good condition? What are the characteristics of a vehicle adapted to the realities of African countries? To give practical answers to these questions, the African Association of Public Transport (UATP) organised a regional workshop on ‘Technical maintenance of African public transport vehicles’ in Accra, Ghana, on 14-17 September.
Attended by the Transport Minister of Ghana and other officials, the event attracted 26 high-level technicians, mostly managers and engineers in technical maintenance from various African public transport companies as well as representatives of Tata and Voith manufacturers. Participants exchanged their experiences and made useful recommendations for better maintained and more reliable vehicles for a sustainable mobility in Africa.
The workshop was closed with the release of a memorandum for manufacturers in a first approach to define technical specifications for a bus adapted to the African context.
We warmly thank our local host, Metro Mass Transit (MMT) - the Ghanaian transport company - for its invaluable support in the good organisation of this event.
CONTACT: Assafoua Aka, uatp@uitp.org; Eric Kouakou, eric.kouakou@uitp.org
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Event News |
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Workshop on Regional Transport
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The Transport and Investments Department of Banska Bystrica Region became member of UITP on the occasion of the workshop in Zvolen. |
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FOR the first time, Slovakia welcomed a UITP workshop on ‘Financing and organising passenger-friendly transport services’ on 13 October in Zvolen.
Hosted by SAD Zvolen, the event gathered more than 100 participants and offered a dense programme with 20 speakers from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Belgium. The presentations showed how important the organisation and the financing of public transport are in the different regions of Europe in the development of more effective and attractive systems for passengers.
The Transport and Investments Department of Banska Bystrica Region represented by Albert Andrejko took this occasion to become member of UITP.
The workshop was followed by the meeting of the Regional Transport Committee who discussed its future working programme and activities. The next meeting will take place in Cagliari, Italy on 24 April. UITP members can access the presentations of the workshop in Mobi+.
CONTACT: Agnès Peter, agnes.peter@uitp.org
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PTI Editorial Council set 2009 agenda
Hosted by TMB at their new offices at Montjuïc, the Editorial Council of PTI held its latest meeting on 16-17 October in Barcelona, Spain. In this dynamic, densely populated city where public transport is 71% self-funded, Council members had the opportunity to ride on TMB’s panoramic, state-of-the-art 2000 persons per hour per direction (pphpd) cable car, which re-opened last year.
As a result of the meeting, in 2009 PTI readers can look forward to issues of the magazine covering the whole journey experience, strategy, organisational culture, hot topics in the bus sector, Austrian public transport and ticketing and fare collection.
CONTACT: Catherine Furzer, catherine.furzer@uitp.org
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EU Policy |
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Seminar on the future EU Directive on the procurement of clean road vehicles
IN October, the European Council and the Parliament adopted the new Directive on the Promotion of Clean and Energy Efficient Road Transport Vehicles. This Directive will introduce environmental aspects into the public procurement/purchase of road vehicles. When procuring/purchasing vehicles, public authorities and operators providing public transport services will be obliged to take into account lifetime costs for energy consumption, CO2 and pollutant emissions as award criteria.
UITP’s EU Committee will organise a seminar to give information on the final outcome of the European legislation process and on how to interpret the criteria mentioned in the new proposal for the purchase/procurement of buses and other road vehicles used in public transport. Entitled ‘The future EU Directive on the procurement of clean road vehicles - What does it mean for the public transport sector?’, the event will take place on 29 January 2009 in Brussels.
Find all information on our website at www.uitp.org/brussels2009
CONTACT: Ariane de Viron, ariane.deviron@uitp.org
Recent reports
THE FOLLOWING EU policy monitoring reports are available in the ‘Members only’ section of the website at www.uitp.org/mos:
- No. 580 - Conventional Rail Rolling Stock Technical Specifications for Interoperability: Exchange of letters between UITP and ERA
- No.581 - The European Railway Agency asks UITP and UITP members to answer a questionnaire on the Technical Specifications for Interoperability
- No. 582 - Directive on Clean Vehicles – near-finalised text available
- No. 583 - UITP EU Committee positions answering the Public consultations on ‘Development of Integrated Ticketing for Air and Rail Transport’ and ‘Progress in developing an integrated safe and interoperable European Railway Area’
- No. 584 - Directive concerning the posting of workers: Three judgments from the European Court of Justice
www.uitp.org/eupolicy
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UITP Direct welcomes Ezio Castagna,
Chairman of the Bus Committee and General Director of CTM SpA.
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Could you highlight one of your top priorities for the Bus Committee since your election in May 2007?
- One of my main priorities has been to enhance the collaboration with other UITP working bodies and to develop transversal activities. The Bus Committee has for example launched a new working group on aggression and fraud together with the Commission on Human Resources. I have also introduced a broader perimeter of the Committee’s working programme in order to favour knowledge development not only on the bus vehicle, but on urban bus infrastructure and operations as well.
In this context, we set up the ‘Quality’ working group that involves representatives of more than 25 cities from all over the word including New York, Paris, Melbourne, Berlin and London.
Speaking of cooperation, the new ‘Manual for the development of bus transport system safety management’ is the result of coordinated work between UITP’s Bus Committee and Security Commission and the American Public Transport Association (APTA). Can you tell us for whom it is intended?
- Its primary purpose is to help bus operators to achieve the safest possible bus transport system by setting up and managing a System Safety Plan. This practical manual provides information on safety management and how related technologies available on the market can be used with maximum efficiency, but it may also be used as an evaluation tool for existing System Safety Plans.
The main focus is on ‘safety’ management which in UITP terminology refers to all risks that are inherent to the system itself, whereas ‘security’ relates to intentional acts like aggressions and crimes against the transport system. Security and safety are major concerns for our sector, and their perception among users is particularly important. This is why we need to establish transversal links in our work with other ongoing activities in UITP.
Mr Castagna, thank you very much.
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Security and safety are major concerns for our sector, and their perception among users is particularly important. |
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