Advancing Public Transport at SITCE 2024: Insights from Asia’s Leading Mobility Hub

Key Takeaways from SITCE

SITCE 2024 brought together public transport leaders from around the world in Singapore, bringing together experts, innovators, and policymakers to discuss the future of urban mobility and explore solutions for smarter, more sustainable cities. Hosted by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) and UITP, the event showcased innovative solutions for sustainable, passenger-focused transport systems. Discussions at SITCE, along with activities led by Trapeze, highlighted transformative ideas driving the industry forward. 

Transforming Public Transport in Asia: Trends and Challenges 

The Asia-Pacific region’s public transport landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by technological advancements, economic growth, and the urgent need for sustainable mobility. Despite these advancements, around 1.4 billion people in the region still lack access to quality public transport, according to the Asian Development Bank.  This disparity highlights the need for integrated and resilient transportation systems that bridge these accessibility gaps. 

Alongside the rise of on-demand and shared mobility options, regional efforts toward decarbonisation are advancing, with many cities actively transitioning to electric and low-emission fleets. China’s urban rail boom has inspired similar initiatives across other Asian countries, including metro and rail expansions in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India. According to the Asian Development Bank, urban rail systems in the region will grow more in the period from 2020 to 2030 than in the two previous decades combined, underscoring Asia’s commitment to transformative transit development. 

Singapore has championed these innovations, with LTA’s vision of “20-Minute Towns and a 45-Minute City” integrating advanced data solutions and digitalised transport systems to optimise efficiency and resilience. If there were a country called Public Transport, Singapore would undoubtedly be its capital city! 

Trapeze’s Presence at SITCE 2024: Shaping the Future of
Urban Mobility 

At SITCE, Modaxo, through its company Trapeze, showcased its commitment to enhancing urban transport with an engaging booth presence that featured various activities and discussions. The booth served as a focal point for industry leaders, highlighting Trapeze’s innovative solutions in urban mobility. One of the major events held at the booth was the Mobility Redefined CEO Live Roundtable, where transport leaders explored the role of digital innovation in improving passenger satisfaction and cost efficiency. This session, titled “Enhancing Urban Mobility with Digital Innovation – Improving Passenger Satisfaction and Cost Efficiency,” brought together prominent figures such as Nadine S. Lee of Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Natasha Zulkifli of Women in Rail Malaysia, Abdullah Saleh Naser of Kuwait Public Transport, and Vincent Dewaele of Busworld International. As moderator, I highlighted the critical role of digital innovation in overcoming operational challenges, while the panelists shared their strategies for cost-efficiency and service quality. Watch a recording of this informative CEO panel session today! 

Singapore’s Public Transport Leadership: A Model for
Global Cities 

Singapore’s public transport system, built on a robust governance framework, exemplifies urban mobility at its finest. At Modaxo, we proudly collaborate with LTA through Trapeze, providing a cloud-based Bus Fleet Management System that supports Singapore’s innovative Bus Contracting Model (BCM). This model unifies bus quality standards and performance monitoring across the city’s diverse fleet of 5,800 buses, managed through Trapeze’s LIO ITS system. 

A significant highlight was my interview with Jeremy Yap, Deputy CEO of LTA, at the Trapeze booth. We discussed BCM’s transformative role in Singapore’s transport system, exploring its positive impact on service quality and efficiency. Jeremy shared insights on key KPIs, the technological foundations of the model, and Singapore’s commitment to multimodal integration, making it a benchmark in global public transport. Read our LTA Case Study Today!

Embracing Predictive Maintenance for Asset Longevity 

At the congress, Trapeze’s asset management expert Mika Keskitalo delivered a compelling session titled “Predictive Maintenance and EAM for Improved Reliability.” Mika’s insights on reducing maintenance costs, minimising downtime, and maximising operational efficiency resonated with industry leaders looking to improve asset management. Attendees were especially interested in how Trapeze’s ecosystem of innovative solutions can support cities in optimising their public transport assets and achieving cost-effectiveness. Learn More about Trapeze’s Ecosystem of EAM solutions.

Boosting Public Transport Ridership: We Want Your Ideas! 

At SITCE 2024, we launched an interactive campaign inviting professionals and visitors to share innovative ideas for enhancing public transport experiences. Participants showcased their creativity with bold concepts to improve ridership. A talented local artist brought these ideas to life through dynamic illustrations, creating a vibrant collage that celebrated collaboration and the collective vision for the future of public transport. View the final artwork and all the ideas from the event. 

Key Takeaways: Moving Forward from SITCE 2024 

SITCE 2024 highlighted transformative trends, from AI-enabled commuter safety measures to resilience planning and cross-border rail initiatives, like the Malaysia-Singapore Rapid Transit Link. These advancements, along with robust cybersecurity measures and clean energy commitments, are essential as Asia-Pacific cities face the challenges of rapid urbanisation. Big data also emerged as a central theme, with Singapore’s LTA DataMall illustrating how open data initiatives are vital for fostering innovation and enhancing urban mobility. 

SITCE proved invaluable for Trapeze as we continue leading discussions on digital transformation and sustainability in public transport. The Mobility Redefined Podcast will soon share insights from the CEO Roundtable and my interview with Jeremy Yap, offering further reflections on how Singapore’s public transport system stands as a model of efficiency, sustainability, and forward-thinking mobility. Visit our Mobility Redefined Hub to learn more.

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