Public transport is the backbone of every thriving city. When it works well, it connects people to opportunity, reduces congestion, and contributes to cleaner, more liveable urban environments. But understanding how well a network is really performing and how that performance compares to others, is far harder than it should be.
Across the industry, gaining a clear, comparative view of network performance remains a persistent challenge. Data is often pulled together manually from multiple systems, slowing analysis and stretching already limited resources. Available benchmarks are frequently static or out of date, making it difficult to reflect current operating realities. And even when comparison data exists, validating whether networks are genuinely comparable can be uncertain. The result is delayed insights and less confidence in the decisions that follow.
These challenges make it difficult for transport authorities and operators to answer some fundamental questions: How is our network performing today? Which peers should we be comparing ourselves with? And where should we focus to deliver the greatest improvement?
Benchmarking is not about producing league tables; it is about context. Using consistent measures to compare networks helps authorities and operators identify strengths, uncover weaknesses, and track progress over time. Just as importantly, it creates a shared, objective reference point, enabling clearer conversations internally and with stakeholders about where attention and investment should be focused.
A global perspective also challenges the assumption that every network is unique. Instead, it prompts a more productive question: which networks face similar constraints or patterns, and what can be learned from how they respond?
Cities around the world are grappling with many of the same challenges: managing peak demand, responding to disruption, improving reliability, and meeting rising passenger expectations. Some excel at operational discipline, others at service recovery or customer communication.
The Mosaiq Global Public Transit Index encourages networks to look beyond their own borders and ask: what can we learn from cities such as Manchester, Milan, Tokyo, or other peers facing similar challenges? By understanding how different networks perform in comparable conditions, new approaches and ideas can emerge.
We will be unveiling the next step in the Mosaiq Global Public Transit Index at Interchange 26 in Manchester on March 3. If you want to see how global benchmarking can move from static reports to confident, evidence-based decision-making, join us as I share more during my keynote – including fresh insights into how UK public transport compares.
This is about more than a new index. It is about building a global public transport community that looks beyond individual networks, learns openly from one another, and improves faster by collaborating rather than second-guessing in isolation. If we want better public transport systems, the best place to start is together.
Miki Szikszai is the CEO of Snapper Services and brings over 17 years of experience in transit technology. He is passionate about leveraging data through Snapper Services’ Mosaiq Transit Intelligence Suite to drive continuous network improvements and create excellent public transit experiences that accelerate the journey to a sustainable world. Miki is an experienced B2B SaaS executive and director and serves on the boards of Spotlight Reporting (Independent Director) and vWork (Independent Chair).
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