To introduce the UITP Summit 2025 to the local audience in Germany, the UITP team gathered in Hamburg (15 October 2024) to engage and interact with the many sector players who will be part of the largest event of its kind in urban mobility.

Public transport may have been the theme of the day, but it was also the topic of the trip as our Head of Corporate Communications and Press Relations Scott Shepherd, Marketing Events Manager Anna Gadenne and Internal and Corporate Communications Officer Maria Diaz travelled by train from Brussels to Hamburg – and back again.

With sustainability in mind, they’re committed to a positive message of movement.

Here’s how that trip went! #StayontheGround

As a global association with members around the world, there’s always a need to meet them where they do their work.

But it’s not just about what you say on sustainability when you get there – it’s what you do to arrive that counts.

As the Summit gets closer, it’s important to connect with our local hosts, partners, members and audience.

And with that in mind, it became time to say hello to Hamburg…with a communications and marketing angle in focus.

The first Summit local launch was confirmed in the calendar, and our eyes were not only on its promotion, but our thoughts were on travel too.

Because travelling by train is not just an act of sustainability; not just a visual of practicing what we preach: it is a movement of choice, of convenience. Of comfort and ease. It’s as door-to-door as you can get!

And so our communications and marketing journey began. Brussels to Hamburg by train. Around six hours in total, with a changeover in Cologne.

During our trip we had time to discuss the upcoming local launch, plan our Communications and Marketing activities, and use the travel time to carry out some crucial Summit-themed work. It’s also a pleasure to be able to see the cities and towns go by out the window as we do so.

It’s of course important to spread the messaging on how travelling by sustainable modes makes a massive contribution to lowering emissions, reducing carbon footprints, and contributing as people – and as a company – to cleaner air and more livable, breathable cities…

But it’s also important to emphasise the convenience, and the fun, behind staying on the ground.

The leadership and experts of UITP are already known externally for their sustainable movement choices – our Sec Gen Mohamed Mezghani is internationally recognised for his passion around travelling by train. And we decided to join in that choice of movement.

We know that not every trip can be taken by rail, bus or boat – and we know that we have to make certain trips in other ways to meet our members. But it’s what you do around those trips that matter.

We’re not just circulating a message. We’re walking the talk. We’re showing by example that this choice of movement is not only simple and easy, it’s also enjoyable.

There’s time to work, chat, relax, and think (and not worry about overweight luggage at the airport 😉).

There’s also a cultural feel to these trips, with students, holidaymakers, workers, sightseers, everyone on one train, but collectively taking multiple journeys.

And we’re glad to be part of the group, from Brussels to Hamburg, and back again.

Both trips were a success, both taken with ease.

UITP will always be the go-to point for data, statistics, and expert insight on the benefits of mass public transport. But we’re also storytellers who know the benefits of a great visual tale to tell.

Sustainable trips related to our Summit are (thankfully) no longer breaking news – as around 50 of our colleagues took the train from Brussels to Barcelona (and back again) last year. And there will be many more to come!

From one train to another, see you on the next platform…Scott, Anna and Maria.