Geneva: guest of honour at the 2012 European Mobility Exhibition

Transports Publics Genevois (TPG) will be one of the guests of honour at Transports Publics 2012, the European Mobility Exhibition, to take place in Paris from June 5-7, 2012. Here’s a look at a dynamic player in public transport and how it finds innovative solutions to the challenges of rapidly-increasing mobility, not only within its national territory, but also across the border in France.

TPG is continually seeking innovations to improve the day-to-day experience of its clients. The result is that Geneva has a network of considerable interest in the world of public transport, with innovations in ticketing, passenger information, and rolling stock – as well as solutions for coping with a considerable increase in demand.

One notable example is an innovation dating back to 2002, when TPG set up the “unireso” common fare scheme in conjunction with other public transport operators in the Geneva region. The “Tout Genève” offer thus makes it possible to benefit from the full range of transport available with a single ticket: trains, tramways, buses, trolleybusses, lake shuttles, and so on. The regional card includes the possibility of travelling to and from France: a clear demonstration of the efforts made by cross-border bodies to promote sustainable mobility across the whole of the city district, which covers two Swiss cantons (Vaud and Genève) and two French departments (Ain and Haute-Savoie).

Today, 80,000 people cross the local border between France and Switzerland every day. By 2020, this number will rise to around 100,000. However, only 10% of these journeys are currently made on public transport. One of the major challenges for Transports Publics Genevois is thus to develop offers for this customer segment, thereby cutting CO₂ emissions from cross-border vehicle traffic.

Proposing attractive offers to address mobility requirements

The canton of Geneva offers an illustration of how TPG has dealt with both issues of sustainable mobility and growing mobility needs at the same time. By 2020, the number of commuter journeys is expected to increase by 40% - and by 65% for public transport. Residents of Geneva are no longer diehard car users. Indeed, TPG is working hard to develop an attractive offer encouraging locals to use public transport: an effective way of cutting pollution and urban congestion, whilst also helping households to make savings on their travel budgets.

Preparing the green mobility of the future

Together, Geneva State Council and TPG have set themselves an ambitious goal for 2011-2014: increasing their public transport offer by 35%. This growth will involve extending the tramway network (now structured into proper routes); an expanded, redeveloped bus and trolleybus offering; improved signage and passenger information; the development of new automatic ticket dispensers; the introduction of self-service bikes; the recruitment of some 200 extra staff; and the creation of a new depot for vehicle storage and maintenance.

There are thus many reasons for Geneva being one of the guests of honour at the European Mobility Exhibition in June 2012 in Paris, before it hosts the UITP’s 60th World Congress and Exhibition in May 2013.

For more details, visit

www.tpg.ch

www.unireso.ch

www.geneva2013.org