UITP Seoul 2024 meetings

From 3-5 June 2024, the UITP Seoul Meetings 2024 brought together an assembly of top-level experts, world-class authorities, operators, and professionals not only from Asia-Pacific but also from around the globe.

The meeting was graciously hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) at the iconic Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), this event included the 47th UITP Asia-Pacific Executive Committee (APC) meeting, the 22nd AP Urban Rail Platform (APURP) meeting, the 14th AP Organising Authorities Platform (APOAP) meeting, the 13th Authorities Division (AD) meetings, and the Young Rail Professional Workshop.

Under the hospitality of SMG, the event kicked off on 3 June with the 13th UITP Authorities Division (hybrid) meeting. This meeting focused on topic of enhancing regional rail services to better serve communities and economic stakeholders in metropolitan and regional areas. Conducted in two sessions to accommodate global participants, the discussions delved into the railway system’s constraints and opportunities, highlighting best practices from Asia, Europe, and the USA.

The evening of 3 June marked the official start of the event with a welcome reception. Attendees enjoyed a Korean performance and welcoming speeches from distinguished delegates such as Mr. Kim Sanghan, Vice Mayor of Seoul Metropolitan Government, Mr. Jeremy Yap, UITP Asia-Pacific Committee President and Deputy Chief Executive of Public Transport, Policy & Planning at Singapore’s Land Transport Authority, Mr Joan M. Bigas, Chair of the Organising Authorities Division and Head of the Mobility Department at AMB (Barcelona Metropolitan Government), Spain, and Mr. Jaspal Singh, Senior Director of Membership & Global Operations at UITP.

Day two, 4 June, was packed with intensive meetings and a workshop. The day began with the 47th Asia-Pacific Executive Committee (APC) meeting and the Young Rail Professional Workshop, where participants discussed public transport sustainability and the attraction and retention of young talent in the rail industry. The afternoon sessions featured the 14th AP Organising Authorities Platform (AP OAP) and the 22nd AP Urban Rail Platform (APURP) meetings. These sessions addressed topics such as inclusivity, affordability, and accessibility of public transport, as well as enhancing workplace safety and security through technology and collaboration.

On day 3, 5 June, delegates participated in insightful technical visits to Seoul’s cutting-edge technology and transport facilities, including:

• Seoul Future Mobility Center: The control center for a testbed for autonomous vehicles in Sangam, providing firsthand experience with autonomous vehicle operations.
• T-Money Limited: Seoul’s smart card company, showcasing the latest tagless payment technology and testing validation labs.
• Seoul Metro: Operators of subway lines 1 to 8 and part of line 9, where delegates visited the operation control center and a depot.
• TOPIS: Seoul’s control center responsible for the overall management of the city’s transportation, disaster response, and security-related events, demonstrating advanced metropolitan city management.

In the Seoul Meetings Vice-Mayor of Seoul Mr YOON Jong-jang, Chair of the UITP Asia-Pacific Organising Authorities Platform, presented Korea’s recent policy developments and the Seoul Climate Card, a new comprehensive public transport pass. Mr. Jeremy Yap, Chair of the Asia Pacific Committee (from LTA Singapore), expressed his gratitude to the host and to the participants for the rich and relevant discussions for the benefit of the whole industry. And Mr. Joan Bigas, Chair of the UITP Authorities Division (from AMB Barcelona), stressed how much SMG has shared over the past 5 years with the community of Authorities, fostering inspiration among members. The Seoul meeting also provided an opportunity to promote LTA-UITP Singapore International Transport Congress & Exhibition (SITCE 2024), 6-8 November in Singapore and Update on UITP Summit.

The UITP Seoul 2024 Meetings not only fostered invaluable discussions and knowledge sharing but also highlighted Asia-Pacific public transport innovative contributions to the future of public transport. The event’s success is a testament to the collaborative spirit and forward-thinking vision of the UITP community.