Around a hundred operators from across Spain gather in the Gran Canaria capital to discuss the future of urban public transport. Guaguas Municipales is hosting the event.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has become the epicentre of Spanish public transport this week. The 32nd National Congress of ATUC, organised by the Association of Urban Collective Transport Management Companies, has brought together nearly a hundred operators from across Spain, around thirty exhibiting companies, and fifty sponsors. Guaguas Municipales has been the host company for the event, which is being held under the slogan "Connect. Communicate. Transform".
A forum for urban transport challenges
During the working sessions, participants have analysed the main challenges facing the sector. Key topics include structural funding for the system, the development of the Sustainable Mobility Law, fleet decarbonisation, service digitalisation, and talent acquisition. Communication has also been a central theme, with discussions on how to strengthen the image of public transport as an essential service.
The institutional day featured the presence of the mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Carolina Darias; the general director of Guaguas Municipales, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez; and the president of ATUC Sustainable Mobility, Miguel Ruiz. The president of Guaguas Municipales and councillor for Collective Passenger Transport, Pedro Quevedo, highlighted that hosting the congress in the Gran Canaria capital is a recognition of the municipal company's work towards modern, efficient, and sustainable public transport.
"This congress is a recognition of Guaguas Municipales' effort to provide quality service and be a benchmark in sustainable mobility," stated Pedro Quevedo.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Ambassador of Sustainable Mobility
As the host, Guaguas Municipales has acted as the city's ambassador to the main collective transport leaders in the country. The company has projected the image of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria as a city committed to innovation, sustainability, and urban mobility. For the residents of the capital, this congress represents an opportunity for their public transport model to be observed and replicated in other Spanish cities.
The meeting has also served for operators to share experiences on the digitalisation of services and the implementation of new technologies. Attracting and retaining professional talent has been another hot topic, in a sector that needs to incorporate technical and digital profiles to face the transformation of the mobility model.
With this edition, the ATUC Congress consolidates itself as the main forum for debate on collective mobility in Spain. The event has brought together key players in a sector that is set to play a fundamental role in the transition towards more sustainable and efficient transport models. The next congress is already shaping up as a new opportunity to continue advancing these challenges.
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