AUSTRALASIAN bus industry companies are rallying behind Melbourne’s bid to host the 2021 UITP Global Public Transport Summit – a massive event with only three cities left to battle it out for top honours. The other two final potential-host cities are Hamburg, Germany and Moscow, Russia.
If the bid is successful, it is estimated the Summit will generate $9.4 million in economic contribution to the State of Victoria.
The bid is being led by Public Transport Victoria (PTV), together with the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) and Transport for Victoria (TfV), and most recently Transdev helped during a site visit by UITP aficionados.
The Summit is the largest public transport event in the world and is a not-to-be-missed rendezvous for urban transport professionals. From its inception in 1886, it has served as a unique global platform for the international public transport community, transport ministers, mayors, industry CEOs and urban visionaries to gain insight into the latest solutions, innovations and products in public transport and urban mobility.
Last month, Melbourne played host to seven UITP representatives as part of the official bid process. With the site visit imperative to Melbourne’s success, the representatives were collected from their hotel in a mini Transdev bus boasting a customised destination board welcoming the delegates, before travelling to Government House for dinner.
Transdev is the largest private-sector operator of multiple modes of transport in Australasia, including bus, train, light rail, ferry and on-demand shuttles. Globally, Transdev operates public transport in 19 countries.
HOW’S IT LOOKING?
Jeroen Weimar, CEO of Public Transport Victoria (PTV), recently presented the 2021 case of Melbourne to UITP. When asked what three words qualify the city’s candidacy, he said: “Diversity, opportunity and investment – we’re bidding to host the 2021 Global Public Transport Summit in Melbourne because it’s a chance to show Melbourne’s strong international connections, commitment to diversity and significant pipeline of investment for major public transport projects.”
“The case for Melbourne is three-fold. Firstly we’re a new frontier for UITP with significant investment opportunity for global UITP members. Secondly our industry is a diverse mixture of government and private industry that connects on a global scale especially with the fast-growing Asian market. Finally Melbourne is a global leader in hosting international summits with strong delegate attendance in key UITP regions and world class facilities.
“Melbourne’s public transport network boasts a unique operating model of public ownership and private operation including the world’s largest tram network and a metropolitan network with more than 800km of track. Our city is open for business with the global transport industry and openly engages with international expertise in Europe and Asia to deliver major projects, rolling stock and operate our network. Melbourne is also one of the few cities in the world that runs trains, trams and buses all night on weekends to boost the night-time economy and get passengers home safely.
“As a city with global industry participation, knowledge sharing and partnerships that have grown through our UITP networks are vital to the way we do business in Melbourne. Our bid to host the 2021 Global Public Transport Summit in Melbourne will provide an opportunity for global industry to connect with our city as a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region,” Weimar said.
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https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1407/meeting-of-minds