In less than a year, the city of Geneva and Geneva Public Transport (TPG) will welcome the 60th UITP World Congress and Exhibition, from May 26th-30th. Geneva and Switzerland boast a large public transport network based on a long tradition of standards and excellence. It’s the ideal place to come and discuss future business models which, in a globalised world with uncertain economic perspectives, will have to prioritise sustainable development in general and public transport in particular.

The reputation of Swiss public transport is based on a long tradition. For example, in June 2012, Geneva will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its tramway which, inaugurated on 19th June 1862, is the oldest European tramline still in service. But Geneva itself is just a gateway for the many other cities and the 26 cantons which together make up the Swiss Confederation. There is a rich transport culture throughout Switzerland. The railways in particular, have a long and prestigious history. The federal railways and the numerous regional and mountain train companies are world-renowned for their punctuality, their synchronised timetables and the quality of service offered to passengers.

In addition to its railways, Switzerland has an incredibly rich and diverse public transport network. The three-tone horns of the post buses ring out in the mountains and the countryside. Funiculars and cable-cars can be found on almost every mountainside whilst boats – some of the Belle-Epoque – navigate the country’s lakes. In short, each city has its own well-functioning and specialised urban public transport system.

To fully sign up to the UITP’s PTx2 strategy, key public transport players in Switzerland, as elsewhere, are looking for original action plans as well as business and financial models. The theme of the 60th UITP World Congress and Exhibition in Geneva – i-MOVE 2.0 (see below) – will allow for an evaluation of the progress of the research made on this topic so far. In looking for the economic model of the future, public transport authorities around the world are working on a multitude of 

ideas: each of these will have to be implemented in their respective markets within their individual cultural, financial and institutional frameworks and considerations.    

i-MOVE 2.0 – the economic model of the future? 

Without a radical change towards less car dependency, cities will no longer be able to live, breathe and grow and territories will lose out on competitiveness and wealth creation. If people are really to be convinced to move around sustainably, they have to be offered a wide range of comfortable and easily available mobility options that fit with their own lifestyle values. 

Alongside improving the quality of service and increasing capacity for public transport, this requires a comprehensive review of the service portfolio and retail facilities: the generalised use of web-based applications, including for payment or getting information, will facilitate the use of buses, trains, bikes taxis or car-sharing – which explains- the acronym  i-MOVE 2.0.

Such a radical move will generate a healthier turnover and optimise the yield of customers. For urban mobility to be a lasting business, it needs to be more self-sustaining and reduce its dependency on public resources, while continuing to be affordable. This revolution requires careful organisation and the Congress will highlight the solutions to accomplish this objective. 

www.uitpgeneva2013.org

Contact:

TPG – Philippe Anhorn, +41 79 212 83 89 / anhorn.philippe@tpg.ch

Geneva Public Transport (TPG) is the benchmark public transport operator in the Geneva region. Its objective is to contribute to the management of mobility in the region, proposing a quality service with respect for sustainable development. In serving the community, TPG aims for excellence in all of its activities. TPG works within the framework of a contract allowance, negotiated every four years with the State of Geneva. 

UITP – Andrew Canning, +32 2 663 66 38 / andrew.canning@uitp.org 

The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) is the international network for public transportauthorities and operators, policy decision-makers, scientific institutes and the public transport supply and service industry. It is a platform for worldwide cooperation, business development and the sharing of know-how between its 3,400 members from 92 countries. UITP is the global advocate of public transport and sustainable mobility, and the promoter of innovations in the sector. Visit our website www.uitp.org