In the frame of UITP’s strategy for the sector setting the challenge of doubling the public transport market share worldwide by 2025, we are pleased to launch a series of interviews with UITP members who have already set themselves such ambitious targets.
UITP Direct welcomes Charlotte Wäreborn Schultz, Managing Director of Svensk Kollektivtrafik, the Swedish Public Transport Association.
National public transport actors in Sweden set the target of doubling the public transport market share and the volume of passengers by 2020. How did this ambitious project start and what are the main areas of action?
- In order to develop a more customer-oriented business, my first priority was to unite all public transport partners and try to work closer together across the borders. Second, I wanted us to define a joint vision and goals which we could struggle for together. As a result, the ‘Doubling Project’ was launched at the beginning of 2008, conducted by the Swedish Public Transport Association together with the Swedish Bus and Coach Federation (BR), the Swedish Taxi Association, the Association of Swedish Train Operating Companies and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR).
In Sweden, only 14 % of the population chooses public transport for their daily travel so we set the objective to double the market share and the volume of passengers by 2020.
This doubling goal is the main step towards our vision: ‘Public transport is a natural part of travel in a sustainable society’. This means that our services need to be sufficiently attractive and competitive for people to choose public transport over their own car. It also encapsulates the sector’s contribution to a better environment. The third priority was to challenge and engage the Swedish government in reaching this objective. We told the Minister for Communications: “We can´t do this alone, you must participate in creating the right preconditions with respect to infrastructure, urban planning, tax issues, legislation, research and development”.
There will be a new legislation in Sweden regarding public transport based on deregulation and free competition. Can you comment on that?
- An official report handed over to the government in April outlines that customers should have the opportunity to choose among more transport companies in the market. I support this idea but, in my opinion, the report’s suggestions go too far. I want a development in more orderly conditions; therefore I asked a special expert group from the sector to outline a new common business model for the doubling of public transport in Sweden including the necessary legislation changes to promote more customer orientation and increased efficiency. The next step is to discuss this matter with the Swedish government in the months to come and I hope we will find an acceptable solution together
Ms Wäreborn Schultz, thank you very much.
You will find the full UITP’s strategy for the public transport sector including examples from your peers around the world at www.uitp.org/advocacy
Our vision ´Public transport is a natural part of travel in a sustainable society´ means that our services need to be sufficiently attractive and competitive for people to choose public transport over their own car.
Published in UITP Direct, august 2009.