The Community of Metros (COMET) benchmarks worldwide urban railway performance
It consists of 45 metro systems from 42 cities around the world.
COMET’s Objectives
COMET (the Community of Metros) has four main objectives as highlighted below. These are achieved through a framework of confidentiality to ensure open and honest information exchange among the member metros. Any information released externally is, therefore, anonymised.
Share Knowledge and Identify Best Practices
To share experiences, identify best practices, and learn from one another in a confidential environment.
Support Operational and Strategic Goals
To support members in achieving their operational and strategic goals – focusing on improvements and defining “world class” performance.
Measure Performance
To build systems of measures to compare long-term performance across a number of dimensions relevant to metro management and operations, and establish best practices in public transport.
Prioritise and Support Decision Making
To prioritise areas for improvement and support metros in their internal decision-making as well as external engagement with boards, government, and other stakeholders.
Ownership and Management
The groups are jointly owned and steered by the members, with project management, administration, and research carried out by the Transport Strategy Centre (TSC), at Imperial College London.
Other Benchmarking Groups
The Community of Metros is one of a family of benchmarking groups facilitated by the Transport Strategy Centre. These include both North American and international benchmarking groups for the bus, commuter rail, light rail, and airport sectors. All combined, they represent more than 100 transport organisations. The current groups are the:
- International Suburban Rail Benchmarking Group (ISBeRG)
- International Bus Benchmarking Group (IBBG)
- American Bus Benchmarking Group (ABBG)
- Benchmarking Group of North American Light Rail Systems (GOAL)
- International Mainline Rail Benchmarking Group (IMRBG)
- Railway Infrastructure Asset Management Benchmarking Group (RIAMBiG)
- Airport Benchmarking Group (ABG)
- International Light Rail and Tram Benchmarking Group (BOLTS)
