Bombardier Calls on World Leaders to Embrace Sustainable Transport

Jul 5, 2012 5:00 PM ET
  • Shift to interconnected rail transport will reduce congestion and pollution
  • Sustainable mass rail transit benefits cities, society and a green economy
  • Innovative transport solutions are the key to successful global development

(3BL Media) Berlin, Germany – July 5, 2012 – As a leading member of international transport associations, rail technology innovator Bombardier Transportation has urged participants and delegates at the Rio+20 environmental summit to improve the lives of millions of people and usher in a new era of sustainability. The Rio+20 negotiations considered transport within the context of cities and urban development.

Bombardier’s vision is one of interconnected modality with rail as the backbone of transportation infrastructures across the globe. Its newest mass transit and e-mobility technologies mean that integrated sustainable mobility is achievable today, supporting the shift from road to rail to reduce congestion and pollution.

André Guyvarch, Bombardier’s Chief Country Representative in Brazil outlined the need for urgent action at the start of the summit. Speaking on behalf of Philippe Citroën, Director General of the European Railway Industry Association (UNIFE), Guyvarch said: “Transport makes up the bulk of emissions worldwide. We are here to show that rail transport is part of the solution to the problem. With technologies that are available today, rail can improve the lives of citizens around the globe by providing comfortable and reliable transport at minimal environmental cost. Investing in sustainable transport now means investing wisely in the future.”

UNIFE together with the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) and the International Union of Railways (UIC) organised a series of events at the summit and published an online statement on the theme of Sustainable Transport in the Cities of the Future. In the statement, the three organisations called on all parties at Rio+20 to endorse a modal shift towards rail and public transport to strengthen sustainable development around the world. Recommendations include:

  • strengthening institutional arrangements to advance sustainable transport involving UN development agencies and banks, carbon finance instruments and the private sector
  • shifting development finance towards creating more sustainable communities recognising the essential link between land use and infrastructure
  • endorsing and rewarding actions aiming to achieve the ambitious target of doubling the market share of urban sustainable transport by 2025, and
  • adopting targets and indicators to better measure progress towards sustainable transport.

One of Bombardier’s key strengths is combining its global transportation experience with local knowledge to deliver the ‘best-fit’ mobility solution to cities worldwide. By offering the latest solutions in passenger comfort and high speed in getting from A to B, intermodal public transport can cut emissions on short to middle distance routes. Rail technology also increases transport efficiency by alleviating congestion at busy airports and in city centres.

Attractively designed smart transport solutions blend seamlessly into a city’s multi-mode transport infrastructure. From BOMBARDIER INNOVIA monorail and metro systems to the new contactless and catenary-free BOMBARDIER PRIMOVE e-mobility technology that addresses the range and recharging constraints of electric rail vehicles, trams, buses and cars – these innovations deliver a smaller environmental footprint and optimize land use.

The groundbreaking PRIMOVE technology is just one of the highlights of the innovative BOMBARDIER ECO4 portfolio of energy saving technologies, which offer cost-efficient solutions for total performance while protecting the environment. Today, 15 ECO4 solutions offer energy savings of up to 50 per cent customized to any fleet. For example, BOMBARDIER EnerGstor technology uses innovative supercapacitor technology to store brake energy wayside, while the BOMBARDIER MITRAC Energy Saver stores brake energy in onboard components and the MITRAC Permanent Magnet Motor decreases energy consumption by increasing motor efficiency and reducing overall weight and volume.

About Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation, a global leader in rail technology, offers the broadest portfolio in the rail industry and delivers innovative products and services that set new standards in sustainable mobility. Bombardier ECO4 technologies – built on the four cornerstones of energy, efficiency, economy and ecology – conserve energy, protect the environment and help to improve total train performance. Bombardier Transportation is headquartered in Berlin, Germany and has a very diverse customer base with products or services in more than 60 countries. It has an installed base of over 100,000 vehicles worldwide.

About Bombardier
Bombardier is the world’s only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.

Bombardier is headquartered in Montréal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, we posted revenues of $18.3 billion USD. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.
 

Note to Editors
For news releases, related material and photos, visit our media centre at www.bombardier.com/en/transportation/media-centre.

Follow Bombardier Transportation on Twitter @BombardierRail.

BOMBARDIER, ECO4, INNOVIA, PRIMOVE, MITRAC and EnerGstor are trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

 

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