According to the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) and its latest report, corresponding to the period prior to the pandemic, (2018-2019), the metro and suburban metro systems, which are operating in 180 cities around the world, moved a total of 5,3 billion passengers per year, along more than 15,000 kilometres of tracks, in 56 countries. The UITP estimates that by 2025 the metro and suburban metro lines will multiply by five.
In the case of light rail and trams, as well as tram-trains, the combined figures offered by UITP point to a presence in 388 cities, and an annual pre-pandemic average of 296 million users. With special emphasis, as a solution in 206 populations in Europe and a wide development, in which the Spanish companies associated with Mafex have intervened and continue to do so, in Latin American countries, fundamentally, as well as the United States or Canada and the Eurasian region.
In the case of Spain, light rail transport, trams, and Tram-Train, which moved more than 526 million passengers in 2022 operate in six urban and peripheral areas: Zaragoza, Alicante, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville; whereas in metro or classic suburban metro, the traffic reached in that same year, a total of 952 million passengers in the seven cities where this type of service exists: Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Seville and Valencia, according to figures provided by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).
Tailor-made solutions for each city
The Spanish railway industry has become the main ally of these projects in countries on the five continents. A position endorsed by its work in the implementation of the numerous and diverse systems that have been established in the main cities of Spain. The technological solutions and services of these companies have crossed thousands of borders and are located in urban centres on all continents. The commitment to its guidance and execution of urban transport networks is based on the great ability they have shown in recent years. Proof of this are projects such as the Riyadh Metro, which has been characterised by its great complexity from the technical point of view; also the Lima Metro or the Toronto Subway, among others.
In addition, it has been present in the mobility programmes of large cities such as the Muscat Public Transport Master Plan (Oman), the Kuwait City Metro Master Plan (Kuwait), or in the use of automatic driving systems in the Sydney, Singapore or Amsterdam Metros, among others.
In fact, more than 37 percent of the metro network in South America and about 25 percent of that existing in Europe have Spanish technology. And at a national level, an extension of metro lines is being developed in certain cities, such as Madrid, where in the next three years there will be more track length and more stations to connect the new emerging neighbourhoods. There is also presence in the tram-train solutions that are increasingly in demand from the cities of different countries, which means that the Spanish industry is at the top of the list as advisor of metro and tram systems.
The model is constantly changing, sustainable mobility forces the industry to face new challenges. If until now it was the infrastructure or the vehicle, that transport companies and railway operators focussed the most on, it is becoming increasingly important the design of a personalised proposal, according to the individual needs of the traveller, with real-time information, variety in the payment methods and additional service proposals that make the trip a complete experience, with a process that is pleasant, simple, intuitive and fast from the point of departure to the final destination. And the railway has a lot to say about it, because it can manage to become in the next few years the backbone of transport in the cities due to its flexibility, efficiency and sustainability. For that purpose, the Spanish railway industry channels all its efforts towards R+D investments, and the incorporation of the most avant-garde technology.
“The Spanish railway industry, the main ally of tailor-made solutions for urban transport”