The TSC and COMET members had an excellent Eastern meeting in Nanjing last week, bringing together 55 representatives from 13 metros. The discussions were highly insightful, covering key topics of station services, service efficiency, passenger safety, labour costs, and asset lifecycle management.
A special thanks to Nanjing Metro for their warm welcome and for organising excellent technical visits to the Majiayuan Vehicle Base and the Maqun Training Base, where we had the opportunity to see their full-scale replica training facilities. We greatly appreciate our members’ ongoing commitment to innovation and continuous improvement.
Increasingly metros are re-thinking traditional timetable-based operations and adopting more flexible, real-time service models that focus on maintaining even headways rather than adhering strictly to scheduled arrival times.
The study explores the application of headway-based operations across COMET metros. It identifies how metros are using headway-based control in regular service as well as during disruptions, highlighting the key benefits and common use cases. It also examines how metros operating timetable-based models regulate service spacing and maintain regularity in practice.
The study was proposed by New York City Transit and draws on survey responses from 36 participating metros. The report primarily focuses on metros that operate with fully headway-based control or hybrid models. However, it also examined how metros running to a timetable manage real-time service delivery and respond to bunching and irregularity.
The TSC has kicked off 2026 with real momentum, hosting six vibrant virtual events in the first quarter. It is inspiring to see members getting connected and sharing insights through the online discussions.
Study Webinars: The Headway-Based Scheduling and Dispatching Webinar (January) discussed the advantages, challenges, and real-world applications of headway-based operations. In March, the CBTC Operations and Maintenance Structure Webinar reviewed findings of the on-going study encompassing the experience of 34 metros.
Virtual General Meeting (February): Members received the latest COMET data updates and heard presentations from New York NYCT and Hong Kong MTR on their member-led studies.
Virtual Workshops: The Virtual CBTC Workshop (February) built on the success of the 2023 in-person event, featuring updates from 15 metros navigating the complexities of CBTC deployment. The Virtual Metro Automation Workshop (March) energised discussions around GoA3 and GoA4 implementation, with exciting project updates from Sydney Metro, Metro de Madrid, Copenhagen S-Tog, and other metros.
Metro de Madrid ‘Metro of the Future’ Exhibition
Data Collection Clinic (March) equipped members with a clear overview of the 2026 data process and new tools designed to help them harness the value of COMET’s datasets.
Metros worldwide are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but approaches to measuring and reporting vary. This study helps metros quantify emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3, highlighting the importance of consistent reporting and the role of metros in broader regional decarbonisation through mode shift and compact development. It draws on responses from 34 metros and summarises key initiatives to reduce emissions as well as emerging innovations carried out by members.
Washington DC WMATA’s ‘Metro Rewind’ website
Many metros now face increasing requirements to report greenhouse gas emissions. To meet sustainability goals, metros typically adopt emission-reduction or net-zero targets aligned with national timelines, supported by improvements in renewable energy supply and increased metro ridership.
Reducing emissions requires actions across all scopes, including electrifying vehicles, improving energy efficiency, sustainable procurement, and low-carbon construction. Metros also reduce regional emissions through avoided car travel and can leverage carbon credits and trading systems to support net-zero ambitions.
Despite metros being a very safe mode of transport, any incident, however rare, can attract significant public attention and erode trust. The study examines passenger safety incidents within stations, focusing on vertical circulation (escalators and stairs) and platform-train interface gaps. It builds upon findings from COMET’s Safety Performance Indicator (SPI) analysis using additional member contributions to identify trends, underlying causes, and effective strategies for reducing the risk of passenger safety incidents.
Example image of gabo light projection at Sydney Metro
The TSC continues to host virtual events throughout the year ensuring timely sharing of research findings with COMET members. The virtual events are regularly held following the annual work programme.
Virtual General Meetings (VGMs)
Two VGMs were held in 2025, one in February and another in July, each comprising general and business sessions. The February VGM featured updates on supply and demand, with members sharing insights on major projects or strategic priorities for the year. The July VGM provided an overview of COMET activities, membership developments, and future expert workshops.
Case Study Webinars
These webinars showcase key findings from ongoing studies. This year, the TSC has hosted the study webinars on Real-Time Monitoring of Track Equipment (February), Reducing Impact of Major Projects (April), Air Quality (May), Reducing Passenger Safety Incidents (July), Intelligent Video Analytics for Safety Management (July), Decarbonisation (August), and End of Life Management for Metro Assets (December).
Example slide from Reducing Impact of Major Projects Webinar
Data-Oriented Webinars
Three data-related webinars were held this year, covering the Virtual Data Clinic (March), Customer Satisfaction Survey Results (September), and Data Insights Webinar (September).
In the past two decades, metros around the world have been transforming the way they approach safety and security. One key aspect of that is the use of emerging technologies, such as video analytics. The COMET case study brings together responses from 34 member metros and covers the challenges, solutions, and best practices related to video analytics in metros, including a range of examples of using Artificial Intelligence.
Video analytics have specific impacts on different types of incidents and wider impacts on metro systems. The study reviewed areas where video analytics had reported impacts. 71% of the responding metros reported video analytics to be ‘very effective’ in enhancing their safety and security, and identified future opportunities for further development of video analytics in their systems.
Last week, 30 metro organisations gathered in Barcelona for the COMET 2025 Annual Meeting. Hosted by Barcelona TMB in celebration of the metro’s 100th anniversary, the event showcased their initiatives on system modernisation and automation. Attendees had the opportunity to visit the Operations Control Centre, Central Workshop, Driving Simulators, Historical Train Exhibition, and Automatic Line Workshop.
During the CEO/COO Day, the TSC highlighted five key trends impacting COMET metros in 2025. Metro executives engaged in discussions on infrastructure renewals, ridership and revenue, and environmental development with a particular focus on logistics services.
The breakout sessions on Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in metros sparked discussions and strong interest in the area. Metros shared their experiences with current AI implementations and explored future opportunities to leverage AI across metro operations.
The TSC extends its sincere thanks to all participating metros for their active engagement and valuable contributions throughout the meeting.
Poor air quality in metros can discourage riders, risk the safety of staff, and attract negative media attention. The Air Quality study examined how COMET metros monitor and manage air quality in their systems. It is focused on underground stations and onboard trains where pollutants can accumulate.
Metropolitano de Lisboa’s air quality dashboard
The report outlined the strategies metros have used to improve indoor air quality, including strategies that prevent emission of pollutants, reduce pollution concentration, and keep customers away from poor air quality. The study summarised the key recommendations to metros based on good practices identified from 30 metro organisations.
Automation offers potentially transformative benefits to capacity, reliability, safety, energy use, service flexibility, costs and customer experience. Several metros have embarked on transformative brownfield automation projects, upgrading legacy infrastructure to Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4) operations.
Metro de Madrid’s automation project of Line 6
This study considers the current status of automation projects across the group, and how metros prepare for operating automated systems. It compiles experiences of new lines and brownfield system and sub-system upgrades, covering integration and interface management, platform doors and passenger safety infrastructure, staffing, emergency management, pre-operations, and operations strategies.
The report brings together information provided by COMET metros and selected ISBeRG railways through a questionnaire and in-depth discussions, including at the Metro Automation expert workshop held in Madrid in March 2025.
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