Roads & Transport Authority - News Details

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in collaboration with the Transport Strategy Centre (TSC) at Imperial College London, hosted the second in-person meeting of 2025 for the Benchmarking Organisation of Leading Tram Systems (BOLTS). The two-day meeting was held at the Innovation Lab, Dubai Tram Depot.

Attending the meeting were several directors and employees from the Rail Agency, along with representatives from TSC and BOLTS.
The event brought together senior officials from leading international tram and light rail organisations, including Hong Kong MTR, Oslo Sporveien, and Rio de Janeiro VLT Carioca. The sessions focused on delivering valuable benchmarking analyses for BOLTS group, sharing member updates, and exploring key insights that drive innovation and excellence across the tram and light rail sector.

RTA reaffirmed the importance of strengthening its partnership with BOLTS community, reflecting Dubai’s commitment to delivering world-class rail services that prioritise customer experience, safety, and sustainability at the core of urban mobility. Hosting this gathering in Dubai underscores the city’s position as a global hub for innovation in transport, where collaboration, professionalism, dedication, and knowledge exchange serve as key pillars of continuous improvement. RTA takes pride in contributing to a platform that is shaping the future of tram and light rail systems worldwide and looks forward to further enhancing collaboration in the years ahead.

Alex Barron, Head of Metro and Light Rail Benchmarking at the Transport Strategy Centre (TSC), said: “BOLTS continues to play a vital role as a global platform for collaboration and benchmarking among the world’s leading tram and light rail operators. Through the exchange of insights and performance comparisons, we enable members to identify best practices, address shared challenges, and elevate global standards of urban mobility.

We remain committed to expanding this community and fostering innovation and operational excellence through continued engagement. We extend our sincere appreciation to RTA for its warm hospitality and look forward to further collaboration that promotes sustainable and efficient transport.”

Over the two days, the meeting featured extensive discussions on key strategic and technical topics, including emergency response and management, customer service, and the structure and organisation of Operations Control Centres. These sessions helped shape the current framework and future planning of the urban mobility system. The meeting also offered a forward-looking perspective on the BOLTS 2026 programme, further strengthening collaboration on long-term priorities.

Participants also had the opportunity to visit Dubai Tram facilities, including a field tour from Al Sufouh Station to Jumeirah Lakes Towers Tram Station, where they gained first-hand insight into one of the region’s most advanced transit systems. Dedicated networking activities further supported the exchange of expertise and strengthened collaboration among members.

The RTA and TSC look forward to continuing to welcome BOLTS community to Dubai at upcoming events that foster collaboration and promote the exchange of best practices across the transport sector.