UITP Barcelona: Key sessions not to be missed!

With 85 sessions and 300 speakers to choose from, here are our top picks!

Marketed as the defining event in public transport, the four-day event in June is the event not to be missed, especially after a 4-year hiatus. As our partners, we want to ensure you get the most out of the event.

Which is why we’ve put together our shortlist of talks that will help tackle the industry's challenges in 2023:

1. Are emission reduction challenges keeping you up at night?
2. Are your hands tied, with little opportunity to test out new fare models?
3. Are you struggling to recruit fresh talent?
4. Are you looking for new ways to connect with your passengers?
5. User Experience (UX): Are you putting your passengers’ needs first?

Bonus! Find us for a chat at UITP, we’ll be at Stand 6B210

1. Are emission reduction challenges keeping you up at night?

Switching to electric vehicles is bringing a host of new challenges to all communities, and the public transport sector is no exception. Patricia Solioz-Mathys, General Director of TL in Lausanne (Switzerland) will be discussing the impact made by transitioning to e-buses, including on the workforce.

(Information correct at the time of publishing, please check here for any schedule changes)

2. Are your hands tied, with little opportunity to test out new fare models?

Mobility is often the second highest household expense after housing, and inflation is putting increasing pressure on budgets. This session focuses on the benefits of implementing social fares with the support of local governments. Takeaways include concrete examples of recent initiatives and the benefits of bringing more accessible fares to passengers. Brought to you by Stephanie Wiggins, Chief Executive Officer, LA Metro, Los Angeles (United States)

(Information correct at the time of publishing, please check here for any schedule changes)

How the Région Occitanie and SNCF Voyageurs Occitanie meet this challenge
Discover in this case study how the «+ = 0» offer gives young people in Occitanie, France, the flexibility they want without putting extra strain on their often tight budgets.

3. Are you struggling to recruit fresh talent?

In this session, Alexandra Reinagl, CEO, Wiener Linien GmbH & Co KG, Vienna (Austria) will share some thoughts on how the public transport sector can evolve into a highly attractive employer in today’s competitive job market. As staff shortages loom across industries and geographies, attracting the current and next generation with new skills and talents is a must-do for any successful company.

(Information correct at the time of publishing, please check here for any schedule changes)

4. Are you looking for new ways to connect with your passengers?

Passenger needs and interests are constantly evolving. Now, more than ever before, customers are holding businesses accountable for their interests and actions. With a focus on sustainability and good environmental practices now a mainstream concern, this provides a perfect opportunity to connect with your passengers over your sustainable practices and encourage them to keep coming back. This session is led by Annelise Avril, Senior Executive Vice-President for Marketing, Innovation and New Mobility Services, Keolis Group, Paris (France).

(Information correct at the time of publishing, please check here for any schedule changes)

How FAIRTIQ helps its partners to win back customers
Discover in this blog post what the FAIRTIQ marketing team can do to help FAIRTIQ partners boost passenger numbers.

5. User Experience (UX): Are you putting your passengers’ needs first?

Understanding the passenger experience is a core part of our business. Using this knowledge to drive innovation creates new design-led solutions and a happier passenger experience. Join this session to learn how to better understand your passengers’ needs, and how this will impact each stage of the solutions process through case studies. This session will be led by:

• Annie Leung, General Manager - Marketing & Customer Experience, MTR Corporation Limited, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
• Anne Bigand, Passenger Experience Director, ALSTOM, Saint-Ouen Cedex, France

(Information correct at the time of publishing, please check here for any schedule changes)

The FAIRTIQ User Experience (UX)
Urban mobility is changing and FAIRTIQ is part of the change. What do passengers want the future of public transport to look like? Watch the video and see for yourself. A series presented by UITP (International Association of Public Transport) and produced by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions.