The State of Public Transport – UITP Policy Board, Delhi
In an atmosphere of cautious optimism in front of global uncertainty, the public transport sector embraces AI and emphasises the role of human centricity at its core at the latest UITP policy board in Delhi.
The meeting took place in Delhi, a city at the forefront of urban rail growth and the energy transition. Ridership on Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC) has jumped by over 50% in the two years to 2024, reaching over 6 billion annual journeys. Meanwhile, the city’s metro system was the world’s first to earn carbon credits under the United Nations Framework.
Furthermore, 35% of its total electricity demand is met through renewables, with an objective to reach 50% by 2030 before becoming carbon neutral by 2070.
Find out more in our recent publication on this urban rail growth in India with case studies from Delhi and other cities across the country.
The Economic Outlook for Public Transport
The outlook for public transport is broadly positive, with ridership and service levels expected to grow. At the same time, economic conditions continue to create uncertainty. Energy prices are the main driver of near-term cost pressures, while fleet renewal is a leading capital expenditure priority for most respondents.
These are some of the takeaways shared with participants in a sneak peak of the upcoming UITP Global Economic Outlook publication.
The publication aims to give a fuller picture of the sector’s prospects and finances and assess expectations for ridership, service levels, costs and budgets. It considers for instance the evolution of the balance between fare revenue, public subsidy and sustainable financing options, as well as the cost pressures shaping budget decisions.
A further focus is uncertainty: how organisations experience and measure it, how they manage risk and plan for contingencies, and what lessons can be shared across the sector.
The latest edition of the Global Economic Outlook is based on a survey of more than 100 public transport operators and authorities around and will be published later this year.
AI in Public Transport: The New AIxPT Forum
Also high on the agenda was AI and its role in the public transport sector. As the sector embraces AI and its opportunities, UITP is strengthening its work in the area and its support to members by transforming the AI Working Group into the AIxPT Forum.
The new Forum will position UITP as a global platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange and thought leadership on AI in public transport.
It will be a place to share practical experiences, case studies and lessons learned and act as a venue to support responsible AI adoption across operational excellence, workforce empowerment, customer experience, sustainability, safety and strategic decision making.
The AIxPT Forum will provide an inclusive, member-driven platform bringing together operators, authorities, industry, academia and AI experts across UITP. Stay tuned for more on this in the coming months.
New Positions Putting People at the Heart of Public Transport
The Policy Board also approved two new positions of UITP on human-centric by design and on paratransit.
For policymakers and public transport leaders, the Human-Centric by Design position makes clear that design quality is neither cosmetic nor discretionary: it helps deliver system performance. Human-centric design connects the passenger experience to the operational, social and economic outcomes agencies seek.
The position also recognises that public transport facilities and vehicles do more than provide infrastructure: they shape people’s daily experiences, including their safety, confidence, autonomy, and trust in public spaces. It is therefore central to effective governance, operational performance, and long-term stewardship.
Also approved by the Policy Board is a position on paratransit, which forms the backbone of urban, regional, and rural mobility in many parts of the world. The position looks further into integration of paratransit and presents successful case studies from around the world.
UITP Policy Board
The UITP Policy Board comes together twice per year to discuss the most important issues facing the sector and exchange ideas on how to move forward.
Kindly hosted by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC), the Policy Board gathered for two days of these discussions on some of the biggest topics facing the public transport sector, from the economic outlook and biggest challenges, to Artificial Intelligence and how to ensure we have a human-centered approach to public transport and design.
The next Policy Board meets in April 2027 in Oslo.