BOLTS met in Brussels, Belgium on the 16th-18th October 2024. The meeting was hosted by STIB-MIVB, and we welcomed new member Rio de Janeiro Light Rail (VLT Carioca) to the group.
The meeting included a number of insightful presentations, organisational updates, and discussions. Focused sessions on key topics of interest for the group, such as driver dispatching processes and commercial speed, were held, and members shared their experiences on the topics. STIB-MIVB welcomed attendees to their Operational Control Centre, and organised a trip on their new tram to see the network’s new line 10.
Thank you to STIB-MIVB and the BOLTS group for coming together to exchange knowledge and best practice ideas!
In September 2024, BOLTS members virtually met for a two-part workshop on heavy maintenance and mid-life refurbishment. It was the first opportunity for members to discuss in-depth maintenance-related topics with experts in the field from across the BOLTS organisations.
The meeting provided a detailed discussion on mid-life refurbishment and heavy maintenance of vehicle fleets, covering both technical and operational aspects. It examined legal and contractual requirements, the scope and timing of maintenance activities, and how maintenance cycles were determined and managed. Participants shared experiences with refurbishment tasks, including which components were repaired or replaced, and discussed the balance between in-house and outsourced work, organisational structures, and the facilities used for maintenance.
The workshop also focused on resource management and staff allocation, exploring the number of personnel involved, specialist skills required, shift patterns, and strategies for managing increased workloads. Participants discussed challenges related to staffing and how these had been addressed. Additionally, the session addressed the impact of mid-life refurbishment on vehicle availability, including downtime, variations by fleet type, and strategies used to mitigate service disruption. Best practices for minimising downtime and ensuring timely maintenance completion were shared. Overall, the meeting facilitated knowledge exchange, identified effective practices, and explored ways to improve the efficiency and reliability of maintenance operations.
The Transport Strategy Centre is very pleased to announce that Rio de Janeiro Light Rail, “VLT Carioca”, has now officially joined BOLTS and we would like to warmly welcome them to the community.
VLT Carioca commenced operations in June 2016, ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the city. The network currently features 4 lines, spanning 12 km and 30 stops. The fleet consists of 32 Alstom Citadis (44m) tram vehicles, which primarily use a ground-level power supply system (APS, 80% of the network), and an on-board supercapacitor-based energy storage system (20% of the network). Grupo CCR is the concessionaire with a long-term operating contract for the system.
We look forward to working with VLT/Grupo CCR, integrating them into BOLTS, meeting them at upcoming events and learning more about Rio’s light rail system!
While tram operators in BOLTS typically meet customer expectations for cleanliness and comfort, they may face significant challenges in managing vehicle cleaning operations. Infrastructural inadequacies, such as unreliable or unavailable water and power supplies, limited depot space, and the deterioration of aging assets, contribute to perceptions of uncleanliness. Budget constraints severely limit the adoption of innovative cleaning solutions and impede accurate measurement of cleaning effectiveness.
Moreover, the restricted non-revenue hours available for cleaning result in limited vehicle availability, complicating maintenance scheduling. The rising expectations for cleanliness in the post-pandemic landscape, alongside security concerns in depots, shifting customer behaviours, and vandalism, have necessitated a marked increase in cleaning frequency and associated costs. Additionally, seasonal weather variations demand intensified cleaning efforts at specific times of the year, highlighting the need for tram operators to adapt their cleaning strategies to meet these escalating demands.
Process to Manage Cleaning Performance
The BOLTS study on tram vehicle cleaning supports members in assessing current practices and improving the efficiency of their cleaning processes. It begins with a quantitative overview of cleaning benchmarks, including hours, costs, and related KPIs to provide operational context. The study then compares members’ cleaning approaches, frequencies, and responses to incidents requiring vehicle withdrawal from service. It also examines cleanliness standards, covering expectations for in-house and outsourced staff, along with monitoring and evaluation methods. The study concludes with a summary of identified good practices.
The International Light Rail and Tram Benchmarking Group (BOLTS) met for the first meeting of the year in Oslo, Norway, hosted by founding group member Sporveien.
The main aims of the meeting were to present initial insights on Key Performance Indicators data, including discussions on development opportunities and an update on ESG benchmarking. The TSC team also presented initial findings on the case study on vehicle cleaning and facilitated discussions on member updates with the theme of internal career paths, as well as a structured discussion on technology and automation and benefits of trams as a mode in the city. The meeting also included a technical visit to the Grefsen depot.
Trial of the CAF Urbos 100 simulator
Thank you to Sporveien for hosting this successful meeting. BOLTS is actively growing its membership – if your organisation wants further information about BOLTS or the TSC, please get in touch using the Contacts page.
Environmental Social Governance (ESG) has increased in priority and visibility to public transport organisations in a relatively brief span of time. It could be seen as an evolution of and/or a complement to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The growing awareness of ESG in public transport is driven by broader policy goals such as Net Zero, evolving organisational strategies and cultural expectations around sustainability, and the need to improve performance, transparency, and risk management. Reputation, workforce expectations, and regulatory requirements also play a key role in shaping how organisations adopt and report on ESG practices.
Benchmarking ESG in BOLTS – Guiding Development of the Success Dimension
BOLTS is the first group within TSC aiming to transform the Environment success dimension within the KPI Balanced Scorecard to Environmental Social Governance (ESG). In this context, a virtual workshop was held to bring together ESG subject matter experts within BOLTS to begin building a network, review responses to the ESG Survey covering reporting, priorities, and benchmarking, and examine findings from desktop research on ESG benchmarking practices. Members also discussed, and agreed on a set of ESG KPIs to pilot during 2024, followed by an open discussion and questions among attendees.
Driver recruitment and training are two of the most pressing strategic and technical challenges facing BOLTS members, directly impacting the service that organisations can provide to their customers. These two challenges are further compounded by several overarching societal trends that are reshaping the landscape of the workforce, such as the stronger emphasis on work-life balance, remote work options, and personalised career development paths. Moreover, the competitive nature of today’s labour market makes it more difficult to attract and retain skilled drivers and requires more innovative approaches and incentives.
Schematic overview of driver workforce benchmarking
In this context, the BOLTS study on driver recruitment and training aims to provide valuable benchmarks for the members on the topic. This study begins with an overview of the BOLTS driver workforce, presenting data and trends on total headcount, the share of female drivers, and wage levels. It then examines driver recruitment processes, analysing workforce evolution, including new recruits, retention, and departures, as well as key recruitment practices. The following section explores driver training, outlining approaches, programme effectiveness, and assessment methods. The study concludes with a summary of the main good practices identified.
The International Light Rail and Tram Benchmarking Group (BOLTS) met for its second meeting of the year in Hong Kong, hosted by founding group member Mass Transit Railway (MTR), which also coincided with the MTR Light Rail’s 35th anniversary.
The primary objectives of the meeting were to advance the ongoing development of the BOLTS strategy, the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) framework and analysis, and the associated work programme.
The meeting also provided members with opportunities for structured discussions and insights into driver recruitment and training. In addition, participants reviewed the results of the 2023 BOLTS Customer Satisfaction Survey (CSS), networked with peers, and took part in technical visits to the Light Rail Depot.
Many thanks to MTR for hosting this successful in-person meeting!
The inherent characteristics of tram vehicles, such as size and weight, may lead to a perception that trams are more difficult to manoeuvre and control safely, particularly as they operate in close proximity to pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. Thus, ensuring tramway safety and minimising risk are crucial to prevent accidents, injuries and fatalities from collisions.
Collision between a TTC Streetcar and a police car
This study sets out to investigate how light rail and tram operators address challenges related to collisions on their networks, and the measures and strategies that are being implemented or developed to minimise the risk of collisions. Specifically, this study focuses on aspects relating to:
the collation and review/analysis of collision statistics and contributing factors;
the review of different measures and practices (vehicle technology and design, infrastructure design) that members are using or developing to reduce collision incidents on their networks; and
the review of driver training programmes and what operators’ approaches are for addressing and managing drivers involved in collisions.
GOAL (the Benchmarking Group of North American Light Rail Systems) had its Annual Meeting on 14-16th August in Norfolk, Virginia hosted by Hampton Roads Transit. GOAL was the first group facilitated by the Transport Strategy Centre (TSC) at Imperial College London to benchmark performance of light rail systems, focusing on North America. BOLTS has been established as a separate group for international members, building on the experience of GOAL and the other benchmarking groups at the TSC including COMET (metros).
The meeting included a number of presentations, organisational updates and discussions. Particularly interesting discussions to apply to the BOLTS international group when it meets in September include best practices in benchmarking labour availability, maintenance efforts and security. Thank you to Hampton Roads Transit and to the GOAL group.
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