COVID-19: Fast-tracking the rail and transit revival

Securing the future of the business beyond COVID-19

Prior to the COVID-19 crisis rail and transit services were already functioning under high disruption—with legacy infrastructure and assets, congested hubs and outdated technology. Now operators must also cope with falling ridership and revenue, workforce shortage and safety issues and additional operating costs.

Rail and transit business continuity is essential for the movement of health, medical and other essential personnel—but it is also a potential vector for the spread of the disease.

Act now, prepare for next.

Most crisis events for business are short, sharp shocks—over in days. But COVID-19 is a long-term challenge, and immediate actions must also lay the foundations for long-term survival.

What to do no now

Operators have three major impact areas to tackle now and next:

What to do next

There will be no “return to normal” following the COVID-19 crisis. New behaviors will emerge; it’s possible many people will wish to continue working from home, creating a very different operational environment for rail and transit.

Operators must consider new partnerships and a full, organization-wide digital transformation in preparation to outmaneuver uncertainty.

What’s on the horizon? The future of rail and transit services

When the crisis abates, rail and transit operators will have to make major investments to ensure workforce safety and customer confidence.

Operators who start to plan now will emerge best placed to build (and own) a digital backbone for the mobility ecosystem that enables all players to work together. And they will lead in providing smooth, flexible and data-based customer-centered journeys across different modes of transportation.