In Melbourne, much like in Paris where I live, the web of railway tracks brings people together and vibrates with activity, humming along like the beating pulse of the city.
The opening of the Metro tunnel this month will surely quicken that pulse, marking the start of an exciting new chapter for Melbourne’s public transport and one which is being watched with interest from all corners of the globe.
As a manager of transport systems across five continents, I know that public transport is the heart and soul of a city. Victoria, like other jurisdictions, has recognised the importance of making critical investments to modernise and enhance its rail system, meeting the demands of current population needs and planning for future growth. We see this ambition on full display in my home city with the massive Grand Paris Express, which is currently building nearly 200 kilometres of new lines and 68 new stations, completely reshaping the city and its surrounding regions for the twenty-first century.
Like Melbourne, we are navigating challenges such as population pressures in growing outer suburbs, the need to modernise outdated infrastructure, and the desire to build communities – not just stations. This means looking beyond the hardware and engineering of tracks and trains, and working with local partners, including governments, businesses and local services, to achieve better outcomes for the whole community.
Sometimes this involves built changes such as improved integration of housing, offices, student residences, green spaces, public facilities, and essential services in and around transport hubs – creating vibrant, connected neighbourhoods.
Sometimes changes are less tangible and more about “the vibe”, as The Castle’s Dennis Denuto would say. Making train stations and transport hubs a place where people are happy, not anxious or confused, but engaged with their fellow human beings, enjoying experiences like music and art. In France and around the world, we believe that travel should and can be an enjoyable experience, particularly when we create dynamic, people-centred spaces that increase community pride.
This week, I’ll be riding the trams and trains with Melburnians and thinking of ways we could help improve what is already one of the best public transport systems in Australia.
As we say in France, “Qui n'avance pas, recule.” If you’re not moving forward, you’re going backward.
Hiba Farès is chair of RATP Dev, which is amongst the world’s largest urban transportation operators, running major transport systems in cities including Paris, Florence, Riyadh, Doha, Cairo, Johannesburg and Hong Kong, with operations underway in Singapore and in Australia on the Western Sydney Airport line. She will be speaking at this week’s AusRAIL PLUS conference in Melbourne.