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By 2027, it is estimated1 that 4.5 billion people per year will use public transport including buses, trains, metros, trams and ferries. In developing nations with rapidly growing populations and low car ownership, tens of millions rely on public transport in their daily lives. The same is true of industrialized and developed nations, many of which have extensive national and regional rail networks and which count annual users of their metro systems in the billions2.
Well-functioning public transport systems offer many benefits over private vehicles, notably cleaner air and lower carbon emissions: road vehicles are the biggest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and of particulate matter, which pose serious health risks to urban residents. For example, after decades of decline, night trains are experiencing a revival across Europe, offering travelers a more sustainable option for traversing the continent as they seek alternatives to air travel3.
Leading cities focus on expanding infrastructure, making mass transit affordable, accessible and efficient, and encouraging electric vehicle (EV) adoption by incentivizing purchases and increasing access to charging stations. Public transport therefore represents a burgeoning opportunity for decarbonization, within a wider transport sector that accounts for nearly 25 percent of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Low-carbon power sources for vehicles are being adopted more widely – in line with city, regional and state governments striving to reach climate goals through cleaner transport solutions. The French capital Paris, for example, has had a dedicated climate plan since 20074.
Further benefits are reduced congestion – public transport is an efficient use of scarce road space and the economic boost of allowing urban populations to move around cities affordably. Productivity can also improve as commuters take advantage of the ability to work while travelling.
Despite the benefits, the challenges to more widespread adoption of public transport are numerous:
ABB contributes a full suite of technologies and solutions to meet many of these challenges and support innovative, resilient, electrified and decarbonized public transport networks.
These are some of our key technologies and projects in use across the sector:
In cities, electric buses are an important contributor to more sustainable urban transport – they improve air quality, lower emissions and reduce noise pollution.
Globally, almost 50,000 electric buses were sold in 2023, equating to 3 percent of total bus sales and bringing the global stock to approximately 635,000 in total.
Hamburg was one of the first cities in Germany to commit to emission-free local transport by 2030 and Hamburger Hochbahn partnered with ABB to deliver the country’s first fully electrified bus terminal, which serves 467 million passengers per year. To complete the transition, ABB delivered the planning and implementation of the electric infrastructure and the connection of the bus depot to the grid. Now, the 44 buses, each with a range of up to 260 km when fully charged, can be simultaneously recharged in the central bus depot.
In the Côte d’Azur region, ABB has played a crucial role in the introduction of electric buses by supplying approximately 150 Terra DC monoblock chargers for overnight charging. The installation of 15 pantographs at bus terminals enables rapid charging in just 5 to 6 minutes. A collaboration with Transdev has led to ABB equipping the busy bus lines connecting Nice, Monaco, and Menton with three pantographs. More than 100 bus journeys are made on this vital route each day, serving an average of 2 million passengers every year.
According to the strategy of the Swiss Association for Public Transport, by 2050 trains and buses in Switzerland must be around 30 percent more energy efficient and run without the slightest CO2 emissions. Electric buses equipped with ABB electric drivetrain technology are already used on line 83 of the Zurich public transport company (VBZ). The switching to electric operation on this line alone allows for savings of more than 200,000 liters of diesel and 540 tons of CO2 per year.
One of the most effective ways to reduce transport emissions is to move passenger traffic from road to rail, where alternative fuels and infrastructure upgradation play a crucial role.
ABB is long-standing partner of Spain’s rail manufacturers and operators, supplying technologies and solutions that enable them to remain at the forefront of the sustainable transport sector.
In 2022 ABB was awarded a $170m contract to supply traction systems for more than 300 new Spanish-built Stadler trains destined for the UK, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Austria.
We are also working with manufacturer Alstom, which has built trains in Spain for more than 150 years, to supply cabling and conduit solutions for the roofs of its Citadis trams.
In a recent project, ABB enabled the conversion of the Adelaide Metro fleet into Australia’s first diesel-hybrid train system helping to achieve up to a 35% improvement in energy efficiency. Each of the 50 newly upgraded trains will deliver a CO2 reduction in emissions of 54 tons annually. These retrofits are setting a new standard in the region and demonstrate how existing rail infrastructure can be transformed to meet modern sustainability goals.
The expansion of rail services in South Korea has increased pressure on existing track infrastructure. ABB has helped state rail operator, KORAIL, to upgrade safety-critical electrical and electronic track-switching components with PMA products. Meanwhile in Bulgaria, the installation of ABB components by the state railway company in traction substations has resulted in higher reliability and improved energy efficiency.
Ferries are ideally suited for electrification: they can refuel using shore-to-ship charging, eliminating exhaust fumes, engine noise and vibrations. Electrification and digital solutions for the maritime industry, including navigation and support systems, help with more efficient operation.
ABB has supplied electric, digital and connected solutions for P&O Ferries’ two latest vessels operating on the Dover to Calais crossing, Europe’s busiest short sea route. The world's largest hybrid and double-ended ferries feature a pair of Azipod® electric propulsion units and a bridge at each end, meaning that there is no need to turn the ships in port. Officers simply walk to the opposite bridge, saving seven minutes on each outbound and return journey in the process, and one ton of fuel – a sixth of the fuel used on the 21-mile crossing.
ABB has been selected as the single source propulsion system vendor to Washington State Ferries – the largest ferry system in the US. Five new vessels will leverage ABB’s technologies including Onboard DC Grid™ power distribution solution, energy storage, advanced energy management, and integrated marine automation. The innovative propulsion package is designed to enhance operational efficiency, help reduce emissions and ensure reliable performance for the new vessels.
In the US state of Maine, one of the country’s longest-established ferry routes is to benefit from hybrid-electric propulsion fitted to a new passenger vessel. The new ferry is due to be delivered to operator Casco Bay Lines in 2025, with the promise of cutting up to 800 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, significantly improving air quality in Portland, Maine.
Every $1 billion invested in public transport generates economic returns five times as great and creates 50,000 jobs according to C40, a coalition of 96 cities that advocate for climate action. Fortunately, policies that keep mobility sustainable, accessible and efficient also contribute to a city’s strength and vitality and our technologies have been instrumental in helping this industry outrun.