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.
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.
Non-fare revenue has become even more important due to the steep decline in metro ridership and fare revenue related to the pandemic and subsequent economic downturn. Given the uncertain financial situation, COMET members have shown growing interest in topics related to funding and revenue.
The study explores the changes in non-fare revenue generation amongst COMET metros, in a post-pandemic world of financial uncertainties. It covers contextual information including organisational structures for non-fare revenue generation, along with details including targets, long-term plans, and strategic approaches. It delves into the categories of non-fare revenue in the COMET KPI ecosystem including advertising, retail, telecommunications, and other sources. Good practices and lessons learned by COMET members are highlighted for each of these categories.
Example of non-fare revenue: Berlin BVG U-Bahn Subway Tour
Real-time track monitoring is a technology that offers continuous monitoring and quick detection of defects, enabling better preventative maintenance, and allowing for more effective trend analysis of precursors, incidents, and high-risk areas.
The study explores how COMET members utilise real-time monitoring technologies for track equipment. It sheds light on the monitoring of four components of track equipment: tracks, rails, power systems, and switches and crossings machines.
The research highlights the technologies in use for monitoring these assets and examines the challenges faced and the best practices to enhance monitoring accuracy.
Delivering major projects while maintaining reliable metro service is a critical challenge for metro operators. These projects often demand extensive resources and long-term planning, which can strain organisational capacity and divert attention from day-to-day operations. As a result, metros must carefully manage the impacts of major project works on service reliability, financial sustainability, and the overall customer experience.
The study explores how metros can plan and deliver major infrastructure projects while minimising disruption to operations, staff, and budgets. It draws on lessons from both past and planned major projects across COMET metros. It examines how metros plan and coordinate major projects and maintain service continuity during delivery. It also explores how metros assess and communicate the impacts of major works on performance and customer satisfaction.
Example of communication for major projects: Atlanta MARTA Airport Station closure outreach
Keeping metro staff satisfied is essential to the successful operation of metro systems. Metros face the unique challenge of managing a diverse range of job roles, both operational and office-based, which shapes staff expectations and the types of employee satisfaction initiatives that are possible.
The research provides an overview of employee satisfaction initiatives that were successfully conducted by metros, exploring approaches for improving collaboration and communication within metro organisations. It also provides an update on the status of flexible working options that are offered by metros as well as good practices to engage newer and younger employees.
Rolling stock performance typically follows a ‘bathtub curve’ throughout a vehicle’s ~40-year lifecycle. This is characterised by higher rates of failures in the early stages due to design or assembly defects or staff unfamiliar with the equipment, which falls to a lower, relatively stable rate of failures during the normal operating period. We would then expect failure rates to increase again towards mid-life or end of life.
The study analyses rolling stock failure rates of individual vehicles within a metro fleet relative to their time in service, allowing members to compare the bathtub curve for new fleet failures across metros and within fleets.
Factors impacting failure rates of new fleets
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