As our societies strive to become more sustainable, there has been a revolution in many sectors to innovate new solutions to big global problems.

In the last two decades, the energy sector has been undergoing ‘the Energy Transition’ - increasing investment and capacity of lower carbon forms of energy such as wind and solar. But with the IEA stating that global transport CO₂ emissions now count for more than a third of total carbon output – and growing - it’s clear that the next big shift has to happen in the Mobility sector.

And it’s not just CO₂ emissions driving the need for better connected transport. Three pivotal trends are driving this change:

• Population Growth: Estimates suggest a surge to approximately 8 billion individuals by 2050, up from 7.6 billion in 2018.

• Urbanisation: The urban populace is projected to constitute 68% of the global population by 2050, a significant increase from today’s 55%.

• Climate Change: The repercussions of climate change are triggering environmental, economic, and social shifts.

The ongoing transformation in mobility is further bolstered by two significant innovation trends:

• The Energy Transition: A component of the broader movement towards sustainable living and working practices – through greater use of renewables but also trend towards electrification – such as EV cars, buses and trains.

• The Digital and Data Revolution: Influencing industries, infrastructure, and behaviours on a global scale. For example using digital asset management services to reduce the cost of operating and maintaining railways.

So what is the Mobility Transition, and why is it important?

The Mobility transition is derived from a confluence of technological, political, social, and economic processes aimed at transforming the transportation of people and goods into a more sustainable model.

This encompasses the adoption of renewable energy for electrified vehicles such as cars and trains, better connection and optimisation of various transport modes (both public and private), and an amplified role for digitalization – opening the door for better availability, lower costs and improved experience for passengers.

Research shows that passengers want more sustainable transport

These observations are corroborated by research from Hitachi Rail and the analytics firm Savanta ComRes.

The survey, which polled 12,000 individuals across 12 global cities, revealed that over a third anticipate increased train travel in the next five years.

Globally, 64% endorse the prohibition of air travel where viable high-speed rail alternatives are available, and 56% support the imposition of air taxes to finance the development of new high-speed rail lines.

In urban settings, 72% would opt for public transport if it offered better connectivity and reduced journey times, which are the primary factors for increased usage worldwide.

The Evolution of Mobility: Adapting to a Changing Society

So what needs to be done to enable this transition? Politicians, city planners and transport operators are now grappling with how to adapt to this change, seeking innovative solutions to the emerging challenges. The focus has shifted towards:

• Minimising car dependency in urban centres through better connected services

• Accelerating the adoption of accessible, cleaner, faster intercity transport

• Implementing smart strategies to alleviate congestion on roads and rail

• Enhancing connectivity across entire multimodal transport systems

Hitachi Rail is in a unique position to help cities, governments drive this transition

As our world evolves, so must our mobility systems. The rail sector plays a pivotal role in this transformation, with the changes in the Energy and Digital sectors driving much of the innovative infrastructure which makes true transformation possible.

Whether it’s through pioneering use of new digital technologies like Machine Learning and Generative AI to make railways operate more effectively, or by deploying circular design principles to minimise the environmental impact of our trains over their entire life, our Agile Innovation teams are working hard to create new solutions to the toughest problems.

With the Hitachi Group companies having deep strength in both Energy and Digital, Hitachi Rail is uniquely positioned to help the world’s best transportation companies achieve these goals.

Our vision is clear: Through its work as a global sustainability leader, working with transport operators, city planners and governments, the teams at Hitachi Rail are driving the mobility transition - helping every passenger, customer and community enjoy the benefits of more connected, seamless and sustainable transport.