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Ticket to Kyoto: 5 European partners, 1 goal

Posted: 25 February 2011 | GMPTE (Manchester), moBiel (Bielefeld), RATP (Paris), RET (Rotterdam) and STIB (Brussels) | No comments yet

Five European public transport companies have joined forces in a four-year project against climate change. With concrete energy saving measures they aim to introduce the principle of low CO2 emissions as the new standard for public transport companies. The name of the project: Ticket to Kyoto (T2K).

Ticket to Kyoto is a good example of pan- European cooperation in the public transport sector. The five partners work together constructively to exchange high level ideas, realise quick wins and draw-up long-term strategies from which all parties can benefit. Even though there are huge differences between the five public transport companies, synergy is the magic word. Half of the budget is provided by a grant from the INTERREG IVB NWE. The mixture of experiences, local cultures and day-to-day challenges enriches the outcome for the total project and for each partner individually.

Five European public transport companies have joined forces in a four-year project against climate change. With concrete energy saving measures they aim to introduce the principle of low CO2 emissions as the new standard for public transport companies. The name of the project: Ticket to Kyoto (T2K). Ticket to Kyoto is a good example of pan- European cooperation in the public transport sector. The five partners work together constructively to exchange high level ideas, realise quick wins and draw-up long-term strategies from which all parties can benefit. Even though there are huge differences between the five public transport companies, synergy is the magic word. Half of the budget is provided by a grant from the INTERREG IVB NWE. The mixture of experiences, local cultures and day-to-day challenges enriches the outcome for the total project and for each partner individually.

Five European public transport companies have joined forces in a four-year project against climate change. With concrete energy saving measures they aim to introduce the principle of low CO2 emissions as the new standard for public transport companies. The name of the project: Ticket to Kyoto (T2K).

Ticket to Kyoto is a good example of pan- European cooperation in the public transport sector. The five partners work together constructively to exchange high level ideas, realise quick wins and draw-up long-term strategies from which all parties can benefit. Even though there are huge differences between the five public transport companies, synergy is the magic word. Half of the budget is provided by a grant from the INTERREG IVB NWE. The mixture of experiences, local cultures and day-to-day challenges enriches the outcome for the total project and for each partner individually.

In this project, people from different countries work on a common topic that touches the lives of EU-citizens. This way, Ticket to Kyoto contributes to a more cohesive EU society.

In this article we will present the five partners and their contribution to the Ticket to Kyoto Project. A journey that includes GMPTE from Manchester, moBiel from Bielefeld, RATP from Paris, RET from Rotterdam and the STIB from Brussels. The vision of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) is to make public transport the preferred choice in Greater Manchester. GMPTE’s public transport links support more than 220 million journeys a year. As they serve the fastest growing economic centre outside of London, that figure can only rise significantly. GMPTE delivers the policies of Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA). They support the management and expansion of their transport links and invest in schemes that will encourage more people to make the switch from private cars on to buses, trains or trams and to encourage walking and cycling.

Committed to environmental benefits

GMPTE is actively promoting the environmental benefits of leaving the car at home and choosing public transport instead. This is now starting to influence the travel plans of individuals and businesses. The next challenge is to make their stops, stations and services as eco-friendly as possible. GMPTE considers the Ticket to Kyoto project as a vital endeavour to explore the next steps to achieve the long-term aim of developing zero-emission interchanges and low-carbon services.

GMPTE’s commitment to this goal is evident in their recent successful bids to the UK Government to part-fund the delivery of 85 lowcarbon buses. These grants, allied to matchfunding by GMPTE, have already provided a fleet of 20 diesel-electric hybrid vehicles for Manchester city centre’s free Metroshuttle bus service. In due course they will also deliver 31 green hybrid Yellow School Buses and 30 hybrid single deck vehicles for subsidized services. A further four low-carbon buses will be used in the MediaCityUK area of Salford Quays.

GMPTE has also invested in 53 solarpowered bus shelters in Greater Manchester, with more to come, and is also investigating the possibility of installing green roof bus shelters in partnership with local environmental groups to promote biodiversity.

In 2007, Metrolink became the first tram system in the UK to be powered using water, after GMPTE signed a deal with Scottish and Southern Energy to use hydroelectricity to run the service. Metrolink is already one of the most environmentally-friendly forms of transport in Greater Manchester as it does not produce air pollution at street level. Since July 2010, Metrolink has been operating on a three-year 100% renewable energy contract: proof of GMPTE’s commitment to supporting renewable energy investment in the UK.

GMPTE has voluntarily implemented an Environmental Management System that conforms to the internationally recognised standard ISO14001:2004, and has finalised its climate change strategy in 2010. They are also a founder signatory of the International Union of Public Transport Charter on Sustainable Development (http://www.uitp.com), launched in 2003 at the 55th World Congress in Madrid.

Quick wins

The first phase of GMPTE’s commitment to Ticket to Kyoto will be to share examples of ‘quick wins’ that will support reductions in carbon emissions. They are for example installing automated meter readers at all sites, where possible. The improved data will help them to spot energy waste and act on it a lot sooner.

Hydro electric power

Work on the two major projects that make up GMPTE’s key Ticket to Kyoto engagement has started. The first is a hydro electric power scheme in Rochdale. This project involves installing a 22kW Archimedean Screw turbine to generate electricity from the weir at the River Roch, which is next to the site of a proposed interchange. The renewable energy delivered by the Hydro Electric Power (HEP) scheme will supplement the energy requirements for the proposed £11.5 million interchange, which is being funded by GMITA, Rochdale Council and the Department for Transport.

The cost of the HEP scheme is being met by GMPTE, the Northwest Development Agency’s Carbon Challenge Fund, an INTERREG IVB NWE T2K ERDF grant and a contribution from the Environment Agency.

The generator, gearbox and control system will be covered with a purpose built powerhouse. The Archimedean Screw will lie at an angle of 22 degrees in a purpose built trench. Water will be drawn off the river at the sluice gate above the weir, which then passes under the powerhouse and flows down the screw. The weight of the water will turn the screw. The turning motion will generate power inside the powerhouse where the electrical control equipment, generator and gearing mechanism will be housed.

A feasibility study found that the scheme was capable of generating approximately 102,000 kWh of electricity annually – approximately one third of the energy demand of the proposed interchange. It will be completed and fully operational by spring 2011 – after which time it will contribute to the National Grid until the proposed interchange is built. The project will also include a fish pass adjacent to the screw to improve fish passage upstream.

Wind power

GMPTE is also working towards the delivery of a wind power scheme at Horwich Parkway railway station in Bolton, Greater Manchester, which is owned by GMPTE and leased to the rail operator Northern Rail. The scheme is funded by GMITA, INTERREG IVB NWE, the North West Development Agency’s Foundation Fund, and the Bolton Transport Infrastructure Fund programme.

A feasibility study for the project has found that a turbine could potentially generate over 25,000kWh a year, which would provide the station with renewable energy. A Gaia turbine is the preferred option and an ‘Invitation to Tender’ has been developed, which could see work start on site early in 2011.

This project will lead to a reduction in energy costs at the station, reductions in CO2 emissions and a reduced dependence on energy from fossil fuels. In addition, a carbon counter would show passers-by how effective the turbine has been in reducing carbon emissions.

Transnational partnership

GMPTE believes that the Ticket to Kyoto project will set a new standard for pan-European partnership working on the critical issue of climate change. moBiel is the mobility service provider for Bielefeld and surroundings. As part of Stadtwerke Bielefeld, the public transport branch is branded as moBiel since 2001, combining mobility with the city’s name. Since 2008, moBiel has launched the strategy ‘moBiel 2030’, with ambitious plans to increase the ridership in this city of 325,000 inhabitants from 43 million passengers today up to 80 to 100 million passengers by 2030. The key role in this expansive planning will be taken by a low-floor tram system for the Line 5 to Heepen. Thanks to this project, car traffic in the city could be reduced by 15%. The lower CO2 emissions as a result from modal shift towards public transport are a main argument to focus on these plans.

The ‘moBiel 2030’ strategy was moBiel’s key argument to enter the Ticket to Kyoto project: moBiel would like to combine the local strategy with the transnational goals of the Ticket to Kyoto project. Both projects concentrate on the challenges of climate change and the modal shift towards public transport. Ticket to Kyoto is a good opportunity to experience exchange of knowledge and cross-border working. Through a European project public transport companies like moBiel can learn how to act in the future. Ticket to Kyoto will elaborate a catalogue of immediate measures – quick wins – for big urban areas as well as cities as Bielefeld.

Quick wins

One of the quick wins moBiel wants to exchange with its partners, are recommendations on energy efficient installations adaptable for tram and bus depots. The first recommendation concerns the installation of fast closing doors. Especially in winter but also during hot summer months it is quite necessary to reduce the air exchange between a (bus) hall and its surroundings. The second quick win focuses on relighting and daylight-depending control of depot lighting. Another quick win concerns eco-driving for bus drivers. By improving the awareness of its drivers, moBiel will reduce both energy costs and CO2 emissions.

Investment projects

The major part of the moBiel investments is dedicated to braking energy recovery. On this theme there will be pilot projects in Brussels, Rotterdam, Manchester and Bielefeld. Due to the weight of the new tram vehicles of the Vamos type, moBiel is concentrating on efforts in stationary storage of braking energy with supercapacitors or in reversible substations. The feasibility studies will analyse the implementation in the central network section, where all four lines use the same tracks with nearly 1,000 trips per day for both directions. Another pilot site will be in the southern part of the network along Line 1.

A further investment aims at saving electrical energy for the point heating. Points are a critical part of a track infrastructure. Nevertheless it is necessary to restrict their heating in wintertime to a minimum. The moBiel track network counts about 100 heated points. Today all of them switch on and off simultaneously. The points will be grouped in 17 areas. Each area will be equipped with three sensors for temperature, air humidity and surface wetness. The sensors will control and reduce the power-on time for the heating. The potential of saving energy is enormous: an ice-free point with perfect function is essential, but no heating to a higher temperature is necessary. In climatic conditions with humid winter days, the total energy consumption in Bielefeld could reach 100,000 kWh in an average cold winter. During the project period, a reduction of approximately 65,000 kWh a year is expected.

At the Sieker terminus station moBiel will show how different aspects of the general modal shift towards public transport on the one hand and the sustainable configuration of transport infrastructure on the other hand will work together. An existing car sharing station will be extended with a possibility to rent electric vehicles. In addition, moBiel will improve the local solar energy production at this site.

Transnational partnership

In the framework of Ticket to Kyoto moBiel is the smallest partner. That’s the reason why international cooperation is integrated in their company’s organisation very down-to-earthly. However, as subsidiary of an energy supplier, moBiel is able to share important knowhow concerning energy production with their partner companies. The main focus is on exchanging knowledge with partners beyond moBiel’s usual German framework. In addition, the transnational preparation of projects – like energy recovery from braking – will be more successful whilst interacting with partners. On the local level the international background of pilot investments and studies will be more convincing. Lower CO2 emissions for public transport infrastructures are necessary arguments for the future.

RATP operates a multimodal network in the Greater Paris Region. Fourteen metro lines, two regional express trains lines, three tram lines, over 350 bus lines, and shuttles to two major airports transport three billion passengers each year. As ‘global thinking’ is compulsory towards climate change, RATP joined forces with four other companies in the Ticket to Kyoto project. Their goal: to find overall solutions for this planetary concern. Thanks to the trans-nationality and partnership each company will be able to reinforce its own environmental plan, more efficiently and quickly. Through this project RATP also wants to improve its practises and to boost the team’s mobilisation on its environmental strategy. Exchanges on experiences and technologies will enable the partners to implement quick wins more easily and to adjust its CO2 reduction targets.

Not new at sustainable measures

RATP’s first sustainable actions began in the 1990s with a global strategy on energy diversification for buses: CNG, LPG, biofuels, electricity. For years now their trains have also been equipped with brake energyrecovery systems. The new generations of trains are more-and-more efficient in that field: about 40% of the energy can be recovered.

RATP also has a first action plan on ecodesigned buildings and materials. Each new or renovated maintenance centre is now ecodesigned. In order to calculate their environmental impact, to adjust their target of CO2 reduction, and to inform passengers about their own impact, RATP has developed several tools, such as a CO2 calculator – available on their website since 2008.

Quick wins

RATP concentrates on three kinds of quick wins: energy savings on tertiary sites, eco-challenges and the heating in the trains.

While renovating their headquarters, RATP worked on the lighting, heating and cooling. By simultaneously changing equipment and training the technical teams, they succeeded in saving 600 tonnes of CO2 equivalent on climate engineering…with a return on investment of only three years!

The eco-challenge is an annual contest between the bus lines and depots. It involves bus drivers applying eco-driving principles and maintenance teams applying eco-maintenance principles. Teams are trained regularly. It enables RATP to reduce the bus consumption by 5 to 6%.

RATP also decided to decrease the set point temperature in their regional trains: from 18 to 15 degrees Celsius. This way the company hopes to save 1,700 kg CO2 equivalent per train element per year.

Major investments

The first major Ticket to Kyoto project is an investment in relighting. In order to avoid huge investments on relighting, RATP wants to save energy by changing the bulbs and tubes, not all the lighting. On the one hand RATP is going to test low consumption technologies such as LEDs. On the other hand they are going to dim the lights wherever and whenever they can. The challenge: to minimise the lighting of their spaces.

Today, for security and safety reasons, the lights in the tunnels are switched on all the time, even during traffic interruption. RATP wants to switch them off but this requires new technologies as the current stations aren’t designed for this. Therefore, RATP is going to implement the different technologies and methods in two or three stations. This way they can act on the tunnel, the interchange corridors and the platforms. RATP is currently studying its network to find the most suitable stations for this test.

A second project is the installation of heat pumps to heat buildings located near a metro station. The temperatures of the metro air and the exhaust waters are rather hot and constant. RATP wants to use this air and water as energy. The company is currently looking into its network to find one or two stations located next to a building they could connect easily: social housings or public buildings for instance. This building must be quite close to the network, about 50 meters. If it’s too far, the system won’t work.

RATP is also testing adiabatic cooling in the Bastille metro station. This system enables the RATP to cool technical rooms on the basis of a famous concept: air temperature decreases when air humidity rises. The idea is to make the air cross a water filter that cools it. The system replaces traditional air-conditioning, with at least two advantages: less energy consumption, no more refrigerant fluid.

Transnational partnership

One of the objectives shared by each partner is to draw together a common strategy for CO2 and energy reduction by 2020. This strategy could be deployed in any other public transport infrastructure in European cities. Moreover, a 10% reduction of the emissions of the five partners could represent a global saving of about 60,000 tonnes of CO2.

The partners will communicate about this target and will do their utmost to involve staff and passengers in making it real. Developing CO2 calculators enables public transport organisations to make citizens aware of their own CO2 consumptions and to facilitate the modal shift to more environmentfriendly transport.

RATP, GMPTE and the STIB have already developed CO2 calculators and/or carbon balance methodologies. The project will enable partners to share questions about carbon, their methods, tools and experiences. The lead of RATP in methodology and conception will be immediately used by the partners to build their own tools with more efficiency and rapidity than if they had to elaborate everything ‘from scratch’.

Furthermore, the five partners will be able to elaborate quickly a common method, and then will build together a global strategy all the more easily. Thanks to the experience acquired by these precursory networks, the global strategic plan for 2020 will be more accurate, more efficient and easier to implement, in a short time.

The active involvement of all partners is essential for success. A working group (one or two persons per partner) will be set up and coordinated by RATP. Meetings and technical committees will be organised every three months or more if necessary. RATP will act as an initiator and facilitator. RET operates 42 bus routes, a rail network with five metro lines and nine tram lines and a fastferry service in the city of Rotterdam. It transports 600,000 people daily. The Dutch public transport company has committed itself to contribute to a clean and healthy living environment in the Rotterdam area. In 2007 it signed a covenant with the Rotterdam Climate Initiative promising to reduce CO2 emissions by investing in clean technologies. RET is also a full signatory of the UITP sustainable development charter. Ticket to Kyoto fits perfectly in its strategy for clean public transport. The project strengthens RET’s international network and helps to lower the development cost for sustainable solutions.

Quick wins

Over the last three to five years, RET and the local government of Rotterdam have intensified their focus on sustainable public transport. The company already has several projects that reduce energy consumption and could serve as ‘quick win’ projects for other public transport companies. The main focus in RET’s search for energy reduction is on traction energy use, as approximately 70% of their energy cost originates from that source. RET also researched the energy reduction in their buildings.

Prior to the Ticket to Kyoto project, a pilot project was set up – RET tested the impact of replacing 300 meters of steel conductor rail in the metro system by aluminum. Aluminum is just as good or even better to conduct the electric current for the metro system. It has less resistance thus reducing the energy use. RET plans to share this knowledge within the Ticket to Kyoto project.

Another energy saving measure is the disconnection of metro vehicles outside the rush hours. Using smaller metro trains saves energy. The shortening has an impact on operations that should not be underestimated. RET will also share these experiences within the Ticket to Kyoto project.

A third quick win is the reduction of the gas consumption from the heating of the buildings. RET closely monitors the consumption by using special energy meters. They also make sure the buildings are only heated during working hours and when temperature drops below 15 degrees Celsius. Through these measures, RET expects to save €250,000 a year on its energy bills.

Improving energy efficiency of metro stations

Within the Ticket to Kyoto project, RET will also invest in new technologies to save energy. At this moment worldwide most underground networks are lighted 24/7, even if they are closed. Maintenance services at night require little light, but most stations do not have light reduction or dimming systems. RET, like many transport operators, has no other solution than continuously lighting all the network stations at full capacity. The RET pilot project ‘Motion sensors’ was performed on the subway station ‘Leuvehaven’. Motion sensors were placed both in the station’s hall as on the platforms. After closing hours, the station’s lighting was completely switched off. The motion sensors were only active when the stations reached the ‘closed’ state. When a motion was detected, the station’s lighting automatically switched on. The operator of the security system received an alarm that also triggered the camera system to show the station images on the video wall.

This pilot proved that the concept actually works and that personal safety can be guaranteed, even if the station’s lighting is switched off. During the Ticket to Kyoto project, RET plans to deploy this concept on all subway stations, adding a number of procedural agreements. The associated costs should be recovered within two years due to savings in energy consumption and reduction of maintenance costs. The project will serve as a pilot for the other Ticket to Kyoto partners.

Energy recovery

In tram and metro systems, a large part of the kinetic energy produced by the deceleration of the vehicles gets lost. In many networks there are devices that send back this energy as electricity to the grid, but these devices have low efficiency as they only work when energy is used simultaneously by another vehicle in the vicinity.

In cooperation with the other Ticket to Kyoto partners, RET wants to try ‘supercapacitators’. This new generation of devices is able to store braking energy from metros so it can be re-used after a longer period of time. The industrial supply of these devices and the technology are still maturing. Throughout Europe only a few cities have implemented such devices in their public transport system. Transnational cooperation in Ticket to Kyoto gives the partners the opportunity to experience these energy recovery systems in many different situations: metro or tram, embarked or stationary, in flat or hilly conditions. It will also enable the partners to compare the suppliers and their devices.

Transnational partnership

The transnational cooperation within Ticket to Kyoto helps RET to open up to new ideas and to identify and realise quick wins. The cooperation with foreign but in many ways similar transport companies will also strengthen RET’s strategy on energy related issues and sustainability. Through cooperation with the other partners RET will be able to improve the quality of planning and implementation of new sustainable technologies and to improve stakeholder communication and activation concerning sustainability. The STIB (Société des Transport Inter – communaux de Bruxelles) plays a key role in facing the burning challenge of urban mobility in the Brussels Capital Region. Every day, 800,000 people rely on the STIB for their transportation. Between 1999 and 2010, the ridership on the STIB network has increased by more than 80% to 290 million journeys a year. And big challenges lie ahead: the local government aims to reduce car pressure with 20% by 2018, thus drastically improving the quality of life in the European capital. Public transport will play a crucial role in these plans.

By starting up of the Ticket to Kyoto project, the STIB is sharing good practices that contribute to lowering the CO2 emissions with other European partners. It also gains knowledge. This has to lead to considerable CO2 reduction of all public transport infrastructures.

Good practices in sustainable development

The STIB is convinced that long-term growth and competitiveness rest on balancing environmental, social and economic policies. That is the reason why sustainable development has been a fundamental pillar of its strategy for several years.

In 2003, the STIB was the first Belgian urban public transport company to sign the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) charter for sustainable development.

In 2006, after extensive stakeholders’ consulta tion, the STIB drew up a framework for sustainable development. It contains around 30 guidelines for facing challenges in the areas of policy, sustainable consumption, technological innovation, economic growth, sustainable mobility and wellbeing at work.

Sustainable development also lies at the very heart of the STIB’s 2008-2012 business plan and is embedded in its daily operations. For the STIB and its employees, sustainable development is a priority. In that perspective it is natural for the STIB to point out the benefits of public transport for the environment and to take actions and provide examples of best practices.

By early 2011 for example, the STIB bus fleet renewal will be completed with 189 new EEV (Enhanced Environmentally friendly Vehicles) buses. Next to an integrated network of bus, tram and metro lines, the STIB also offers its clients an extensive transport portfolio in combination with other public transport companies and even with the bicycle and car. Since 2010, the green energy share in the company’s total high voltage consumption (i.e. metro, tram and buildings) has increased to 30%. Energy used for the lighting at the stops or to operate the low voltage ticket vending machines is now 100% green.

Furthermore, almost all of its infrastructures carry the ‘ecodynamic’ label. This award is given to companies in Brussels that apply an environmentally friendly policy and meet a range of sustainable criteria such as waste prevention and energy saving measures. For example, 80% of the water used to wash the STIB’s vehicles comes from rain or recycled water.

The STIB is also raising awareness among staff members for saving energy in the buildings and Rational Use of Energy principles are gradually introduced in the maintenance contracts.

Quick wins

Amongst the quick wins is the Ecodrive of the metro which allowed reducing the energy consumption by 12.5%. An energy saving contest in depots has led to significant lower electricity consumption. The STIB will also launch a big quick wins contest amongst its managerial staff in 2011, asking them to come up with new initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions.

As lead partner the STIB is coordinating the Ticket to Kyoto project as a whole and pilots the working groups Energy recovery and Communication. The first goal of ‘Mobilising to reduce CO2 emissions in public transport’ is to convince the staff of the partners of becoming ambassadors of this project and to inform stakeholders about Ticket to Kyoto. Two public campaigns in 2011 and 2013 will target a much wider audience on reducing CO2 emissions.

Major investments

The STIB plans three major investments within the framework of Ticket to Kyoto. To improve energy efficiency it will perform an exemplary eco-renovation of one of the most popular metro stations in the city focusing on environmental and energy aspects. This investment is achieved in collaboration with the regional authority which is owner of the metro station. The collaboration will benefit both actors in terms of vision (by integrating state of the art ecological considerations in the renovation) and in terms of financial efficiency. By realising a deep Carbon Balance analysis of the project, the ecobuilding approach will be expanded by an additional selection criterion. The Carbon Balance will also be used for all aspects related to the renovation of an underground work.

The second investment aims at developing pilot installations to recover metro braking energy, by temporarily storing this energy for the acceleration phase or by sending it back to the grid. One of the main goals is to make an objective comparison between the different technologies currently on the market with a multi-criteria approach. This analysis is done jointly with three other partners of the Ticket to Kyoto project (GMPTE, RET and moBiel). This deep analysis should lead to clear recommendations on energy recovery systems for trams and metros.

For its third investment the STIB will start producing power locally on one of its big sites. The technique used by STIB is known as cogeneration. It combines the production of heat and electricity in a single high efficiency energy plant. By installing this highly efficient plant the STIB should be able to produce more than 1,750 MWh of heating and 1,300 MWh of electricity a year with less natural gas. The investment should prevent the emission of 165 tonnes of CO2 a year.

Transnational partnership

The STIB strongly believes in sharing knowledge and technologies with the Ticket to Kyoto partners to set the standard for low CO2 emissions for public transport infra – structures, which will benefit the whole sector in the long run. The STIB is looking forward to delivering real results and is convinced that the positive energy of public transport can make the difference in the much needed effort regarding climate change.

About the Authors

Sophie Klein is the local T2K coordinator for RATP. She is responsible for the Research, Innovation & Partnerships activity. She has been working in the Innovation & Sustainable Development Department of RATP for six years. She has several previous professional experiences in other companies in the field of transport and telecom, with marketing and communication responsibilities.

Jean-Luc de Wilde d’Estmael is responsible for strategic planning and European projects at the STIB (Brussels public transport operator). He is managing two European projects co-financed by INTERREG: TramStore21 (www.tramstore21.eu – building sustainable tram depots for the 21st century) and T2K.Jean-Luc has a background in law, economics and management. Before joining STIB, he worked as advisor for the Brussels Capital Region and has been general secretary of Pro Velo (bicycle promotion).

Patricia Remacle is the Sustainable Development Coordinator for the STIB. Since March 2010, she is coordinating the T2K Project at international level. She studied Business Administration and holds a master in Sustainable Development Strategic Management. In her previous career, she worked in detention and coordinated tracing activities for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Africa and the Middle East. Hartwig Meier is the Head of Transport Planning for moBiel, the public transport company of the Stadtwerke Bielefeld public utilities. As graduated engineer for spatial planning, he is acting as local coordinator for the European T2K Project. As a first international experience he has been working in German and European task groups for the formulation of the EN 15140, a standard for quality management in public transport.

François-Olivier Devaux is the local T2K coordinator for the STIB. He received his Ph.D degree in Electrical Engineering in 2008 from the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium. In 2006, he co-founded intoPIX, a spin-off specialised in electronics and video technologies, and joined the company in 2008 as R&D Manager.

Virgil Grot is Senior Advisor Business Development and Sustainability at RET. There he is the local coordinator for two European (INTERREG IVB) projects, main contact for the company’s sustainable activities and he is developing the corporate social responsibility agenda. Prior to working in public transport, he was a grant consultant for medium sized and large multinational companies.

Steven Wharton is a Chartered Civil Engineer with 15 years experience in the transport industry. Following his professional training with London Underground Limited, Steven delivered his first project, a railway infrastructure upgrade on Stockholm’s transport network, in 2000. Later, he managed track renewal works for Network Rail before moving on to lead a portfolio of power and signalling infrastructure improvement projects for London Underground. Since 2008 he has been seconded to GMPTE.

Hartwig Meier is the Head of Transport Planning for moBiel, the public transport company of the Stadtwerke Bielefeld public utilities. As graduated engineer for spatial planning, he is acting as local coordinator for the European T2K Project. As a first international experience he has been working in German and European task groups for the formulation of the EN 15140, a standard for quality management in public transport.