UITP is the international public transport sector congress, with 280 exhibitors that offer together the different areas of public transport, railways, metros, buses, and personal mobility such as bicycles and scooters. The competition was held from 4 to 7 June at Fira de Barcelona and more than 15,000 visitors passed through.
The importance of the competition was mainly aimed at the electrification of bus fleets, given that the railway and metro have been electrified since the beginning. This electrification of buses seeks their sustainability and zero emissions, making them aligned with the SDGs, 2030 objectives.
It was also possible to see the recovery of public transport in cities such as Barcelona, where the metro has reached higher numbers of passengers than before the pandemic.
Another of the pillars in which it was present were the different companies that presented solutions for the mobility of people with disabilities, such as bus access ramps.
As we mentioned, almost all manufacturers like Car-Bus. net, Castrosua, Daimler Buses, Indcar, King Long, Mobility Bus, Sacania, Temsa, MAN, presented electrified bus models.
In recent years they have noticed that the administrations are asking for more and more ECO vehicles, especially electric ones. The different models, with various passenger capacities and engines with batteries from 320kWh to 640kWh. Some manufacturers offer vehicles with a pantograph for fast recharging from the MV network.
As we said, the other strong point was inclusive and accessible mobility, with platforms, braille signs, acoustic warnings. The new units come equipped with access platforms that support up to 350 Kg. for wheelchairs with motorized wheels. The platforms must be made of materials that do not weigh too much so as not to decrease the efficiency of the bus unit.
In the field of railways and metro, FGC presented the project of uniting Catalonia with the French Roussillon through the TGV lines with its own units. Other FGC projects are the TRAM CAMP tramway in Camp de Tarragona, and the connection between the center of Barcelona and the airport. ALSTOM presented the new Barcelona Metro units for the coming years.
Article by Martí Plana / Images by Albert Loaso
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