Across the globe, cities are rediscovering their true purpose – as vibrant hubs for human connection rather than transient spaces for vehicles. Rail networks are emerging as the propelling force enabling this transformation.
Stepping into many of our cities immediately engages our senses – though not always in ways we might want.
We hear it – the relentless hum of engines, the blare of horns, the whoosh of traffic.
We smell it (and sometimes even taste it) – the air thick with car fumes and gasoline.
We see it – streets choked with vehicles, high-rises bookending endless traffic lanes, minimal space for pedestrians or cyclists.
In cities shaped by decades of car-centric planning, this is the daily reality.
But change is happening. Around the world, urban centers are rethinking their streets, reclaiming public space once surrendered to vehicles, and breathing new life into neighborhoods long overwhelmed by traffic. This shift isn’t just about cutting emissions – it’s about reimagining urban life.
Some cities are already successfully implementing diverse strategies to decongest their urban centers. They’re promoting car sharing initiatives, reducing the availability of parking spaces, prioritizing cycle lanes, applying congestion charges, and offering free commuter shuttles.
And, to tempt people away from their cars, city planners are making public transport more appealing. They’re taking steps to make rail networks more accessible, convenient, safe, inexpensive, and efficient – so that they become an environmentally friendly, viable, and enjoyable alternative to cars.
Metro systems play a key role in this shift. Nearly 200 cities worldwide currently have public metro systems that collectively transport over 58 million passengers a year. A single metro train, below ground or above, can replace up to 800 cars – making it a powerful tool to decarbonize urban centers.
Some cities are taking things a sustainable step further, too. In Santiago, Chile, the metro is powered by an impressive combination of solar and wind energy. Metro systems in Singapore and Hong Kong use regenerative braking to keep energy consumption to a minimum. The Delhi metro system harnesses solar power and was the first to receive carbon credits for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Comfort is key
For the metro to be a truly viable alternative, comfort and convenience are paramount.
In Copenhagen, New York and Chicago, passengers can ride the metro 24/7. In Seoul, WiFi access and phone signal continue underground, and climate-controlled trains feature heated seats for the winter. In Singapore, eating, drinking, and smoking are prohibited on trains and stations alike to enable constant cleanliness. In Mexico City, the subway system features rubber tires on steel wheels that offer a smoother ride, without skimping on safety – it survived the 1985 earthquake that measured 8.0 on the Richter scale.
Of course, it also needs to be easy to access. People need to be able to get in and out of metro stations and down to platforms easily – whether they’re in a rush, taking their time, using a wheelchair, or pushing a pram.
And that’s where we come in.
Our innovative installation, maintenance and modernization techniques minimize user disruption, while our updated systems improve efficiency and reduce passenger congestion. Meanwhile, features like connectivity and remote monitoring mean swift issue response, increased uptime, and system alterations where necessary – like changing the direction of a moving walk during particularly busy periods.
The first underground line was inaugurated in London in 1863, followed by the Budapest and Paris metros a few decades later, the American system in the late 19th century and the Buenos Aires Subte in 1913. So it’s no surprise that some metro stations are due an upgrade.
Putting it into practice
We’re modernizing metro systems and improving passenger experience around the world as we speak.
In Atlanta, our teams are modernizing MARTA, one of the largest transit systems in the U.S. We’re upgrading many of the 109 elevators and 116 escalators throughout the 38 stations that populate the 76-kilometer transport network, helping to serve its 115 million annual passengers.
Further north, our newly installed elevators and escalators are keeping things running 40 meters below the streets of Manhattan, where the East Side Access station guides tens of thousands of commuters to a train line carrying them to Midtown and back, and saves many of them up to 40 minutes each way.
Some three million Parisians and city sightseers will soon be using 240 Schindler 9300 escalators and 190 Schindler 5500 elevators across the 400-kilometer Grand Paris Express metro network. Designed to link the city center with outer districts and the airport, it’s Europe’s largest subway project to date – meaning easy passenger access is vital.
In Italy, residents of Naples descend into an architectural art and light experience when they embark on a metro journey at Toledo Metro Station. Four elevators, four moving walks, and 18 escalators are ready to take them where they need to go. Two of them feature remote monitoring that allows change of direction if needed – electronic efficiency at its finest.
In efforts to combat excessive traffic congestion, the Indian government is prioritizing urban infrastructure. In Bengaluru, we’re installing 120 elevators and 180 escalators that will carry passengers both up and down to metro platforms. Some 90 percent of metro traffic in Bengaluru runs on elevated lines, with just seven of the region’s 69 stations located below ground – an innovative solution in India’s third-largest city, which is now home to a staggering 11.5 million residents.
A similar idea is also being implemented on the west coast in Mumbai. A quarter of the network currently under construction will be underground – the rest will be hosted on pillars above the city’s streets. When complete, residents and visitors will be able to access the 286 stations leading to 16 lines that cover 357 kilometers. There are already 103 Schindler 9700 escalators installed in 17 stations along the Yellow Line – and not just any escalators. Produced in nearby Pune, they’re specifically designed for intense use, equipped to transport over 200,000 passengers a day.
In Shanghai, the world’s longest metro system – stretching across 676 kilometers – is getting an extension line of 31 stations that will stretch across five administrative districts. All 264 Schindler 9700 escalators being installed at the 14 metro stations will be equipped with digital services, allowing for predictive remote maintenance, which will play a huge part in keeping things – and people – moving.
The decarbonized path ahead
When faced with the choice between a quick and easy car trip and a complex, seemingly interminable public transport journey, people tend to prefer the comfort of their cars.
By making public transport an easy, enjoyable, efficient experience, we can help it become the preferred alternative. This would reduce overall emissions and air pollutants in urban areas – and transition our cities away from the car-centric conglomerations they are now.
It’s a change we’ll all experience, with all our senses.