On the Road to Barcelona, by train: The UITP delegation commits to #StayontheGround

Is it a bird? (not big enough to carry our luggage!) Is it a plane? (certainly not!), is it a train carrying the UITP team from Brussels to Barcelona (via France) for the UITP Global Summit?

You bet it is!

Walk the talk. Practice what we preach. Commit to change.

UITP is dedicated to advancing the message of sustainable urban mobility, and we know that alongside our international membership there is so much to be achieved.

By continuously promoting public transport at every turn, we know the power of great messaging. And we also know the power of a high-speed train or two!

With this in mind, we’re delighted to announce that more than 50 of our HQ team members will be making the journey from Brussels to Barcelona for the 2023 UITP Global Public Transport Summit!

We’re here to make any contribution that we can, and by showing how easy it can be to take a trip with a difference – we can make a literal difference.

We can drastically reduce our collective emissions, and collectively increase our own credibility.

The environmental impact of a trip like this is not to be underestimated (more on our carbon footprint reduction later!), but this is not a trip just for a moment in the spotlight…

Taking public transport is easy. It’s convenient. It’s a shared experience.

It may not be the right choice for everyone making their way to our Global Summit (with UITP colleagues all around the world)…but for us here in Brussels, it’s our shared mode of choice.

And we’re very happy to shout loud and proud about our journey to Stay on the Ground.

For any and all avid followers of the activities of UITP Secretary General Mohamed Mezghani, you’ll know that a train journey (short or long) is a regular occurrence. In fact, it’s his first, and favourite mode of travel.

Whether attending an event, a speech, an opening, or even making his way between Paris and Brussels, you’ll see many social media posts and blogs on how easy and enjoyable those experiences are.

But this is not a moment to grab attention and then move on…we’re committed to more public transport, more of the time. And creating a fun, collegiate experience along the way!

There’s great times to be had on a beautiful train journey through Belgium, across France and right down into Spain.

But there’s an important message to showcase as we proudly wave the flag for PT (a literal flag in this case, as we decorate our train with UITP imagery!)

We’re creating an experience, and raising visibility for our members and the public transport sector along the way.

A huge thank you to our member SNCF, for their kind collaboration on this journey across Europe. Their partnership has been a vital component in making this trip possible.

And also a massive thank you to our 2023 Summit local partners FGC, TMB and Renfe, for what we know will be a platform arrival welcome to be remembered!

We’re delighted to pledge our commitment to public transport! Are you joining us?

You can follow our journey across UITP’s corporate social media channels #UITP2023 #StayontheGround

Join us at the UITP Global Summit in Barcelona

In traveling by train, UITP staff emit 219 kg of CO2 less per person. In total, the journey saves 10 tons of CO2 compared to flying.