Skip to main content

EU public transport use at highest level since 2000

Public transport usage in the European Union is at its highest level since 2000, with almost 57 billion journeys made throughout the EU in 2012 according to a new study carried out by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP). UITP’s first annual publication tracking and analysing public transport demand trends in the EU member states studied the pace of growth in public transport journeys since 2000, reflecting fluctuations in the economic situation, the growth in urban population and emerg
June 20, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Public transport usage in the European Union is at its highest level since 2000, with almost 57 billion journeys made throughout the EU in 2012 according to a new study carried out by the 3833 International Association of Public Transport (UITP). 

UITP’s First annual publication tracking and analysing public transport demand trends in the EU member states studied the pace of growth in public transport journeys since 2000, reflecting fluctuations in the economic situation, the growth in urban population and emerging changes in urban mobility patterns.

The publication also reveals the breakdown of journeys by public transport modes in urban and suburban areas, with buses carrying some 56 per cent of the total passengers, followed by metros, tramways and suburban railways with 16 per cent, 14 per cent and 14 per cent respectively.  

“What we can clearly see from this study is that public transport plays a considerable role in managing and delivering sustainable urban mobility in the EU,” explained UITP secretary general, Alain Flausch. “There are approximately 182 million journeys being made on an average working day in the bloc with this figure showing no signs of slowing down”.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • European car manufacturers face world’s toughest CO2 targets
    July 12, 2012
    Following the adoption yesterday of the European Commission's proposals to reduce CO2 emissions from cars and vans, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) says it will now work with its members to conduct a full analysis of how the proposed targets should be reached as well as their feasibility, and what this means in practice for the industry as a whole.
  • Air quality tops transportation agendas
    November 17, 2014
    Colin Sowman catches up on some of the latest research around outdoor pollution and looks at options available to authorities in areas of poor air quality. Iair quality hasn’t already reached the top of the agenda in transportation department meetings in your area, it probably soon will with national, trans-national and even global bodies calling for authorities to reduce pollution levels.
  • The bottom line - US surface transportation system needs major investment
    December 12, 2014
    The 2015 Bottom Line Report on transportation investment needs, released by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the American Public Transportation Association, estimates that to meet current demand it will require an annual capital investment over six years by all levels of government in the amount of $120 billion in the nation’s highway and bridge network and US$43 billion in America’s public transportation infrastructure. To meet the combined surface transportation
  • EU approves US$660 billion to transform Europe's transport network
    March 23, 2012
    The EU's Council of transport ministers met in Brussels yesterday and approved a proposal for a new regulation of Trans European Transport – Network (TEN-T) guidelines, in a package for a Connecting Europe Facility. The proposal approved yesterday, and which will cost US$660 billion by 2020 if fully implemented, is aimed at establishing and developing a complete TEN-T, consisting of infrastructure for roads, railways, inland waterways, shipping ports and airports. It also defined a comprehensive network and