The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how much we rely on essential workers. Whether working in a hospital or supermarket, they have been providing services non-stop while putting their own health at risk. It’s become apparent how vital public transport is in enabling our modern-day heroes to travel to and from work, but means operators also face the huge challenge of supporting the safety of employees and passengers and maintaining operation of the network.

However, with more people working remotely along with growing fears among the community of catching the infection, passenger numbers have dwindled for many metro systems. Active transport – on the other hand – is on the rise, with cycling surging in densely-populated cities like New York.

How can public transport operators rebuild customer confidence in using their services in a post-pandemic world, as cities move further towards integrated, multimodal transport systems? And what can we learn from cities where lockdowns have eased, to improve the public transport passenger experience?

To answer these questions, Aurecon’s Managing Director for Transportation in Australia & New Zealand Becky Wood talks to Metro Trains Melbourne’s General Manager for Passenger Experience Tilly Loughborough.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how much we rely on essential workers. Whether working in a hospital or supermarket, they have been providing services non-stop while putting their own health at risk. It&rsquo;s become apparent how vital public transport is in enabling our modern-day heroes to travel to and from work, but means operators also face the huge challenge of supporting the safety of employees and passengers and maintaining operation of the network.
However, with more people working remotely along with growing fears among the community of catching the infection, passenger numbers have dwindled for many metro systems. Active transport &ndash; on the other hand &ndash; is on the rise, with <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/14/nyregion/coronavirus-nyc-bike-commute.html">cycling surging in densely-populated cities like New York</a>.
How can public transport operators rebuild customer confidence in using their services in a post-pandemic world, as cities move further towards integrated, multimodal transport systems? And what can we learn from cities where lockdowns have eased, to improve the public transport passenger experience?
To answer these questions, Aurecon&rsquo;s Managing Director for Transportation in Australia &amp; New Zealand Becky Wood talks to <a href="https://www.metrotrains.com.au/">Metro Trains Melbourne</a>&rsquo;s General Manager for Passenger Experience Tilly Loughborough.

The Engineering Reimagined podcast explores how, like engineers, people from all walks of life are reimagining the future and their roles in it. Each month you'll hear inspiring stories from a range of guests as we reimagine how engineering can lead the world to a better future.

Engineering Reimagined

With more people working remotely along with growing fears of catching the COVID-19 infection, passenger numbers have dwindled for metro systems all over the world.  How will the surge in active transport integrate with broader public transport networks and what can we learn from other cities to improve the public transport passenger experience?  Join Aurecon’s Managing Director for Transportation in Australia & New Zealand Becky Wood and Metro Trains Melbourne’s General Manager for Passenger Experience Tilly Loughborough as they discuss how public transport operators can rebuild customer confidence in their services amidst and after the COVID-19 crisis.  Find us online at aurecongroup.com/podcast or email us at engineeringreimagined@aurecongroup.com.

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