Qatar
After the World Cup final on December 18, we know that Argentina is the new world champion in men’s football, but what did the tournament mean in terms of public transport for Qatar?
A completely new modern public transportation system for the greater Doha region has been built as part of the most compact FIFA World Cup ever (eight stadiums within an hour’s travel of each other). The numbers are impressive: one catenary-free tram line, three automated metro lines, 37 metro stations, 110 metro trains, more than 700 battery-electric buses, and the largest electric bus depot in the world. (Click here to read three of my LinkedIn posts about public transport in Qatar with more facts, numbers, and a future vision.)
During the month-long tournament, the metro system (operated by RKH Qitarat) functioned as the backbone for the fans’ mobility needs. And, as we can see in the many videos posted by Qatar Rail, the transport authority, this was quite a success. In addition, the 2022 FIFA World Cup edition was more inclusive for women and girls (see here and here). This could inspire the public transportation sector, which often centres men’s mobility needs over everyone else’s.
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