Keolis Reports 33% Passenger Abandonment in Global Transit

PARIS, FRANCE – Keolis, in partnership with market research firm Toluna, released its Keoscopie global mobility study between 2025 and 2026, surveying 8,000 residents across 20 metropolitan areas in 11 countries to analyze urban public transit expectations. The research shows a universal demand for increased service frequency, lower fares, and enhanced safety, despite regional policy divergences in car-dependent nations. No specific municipal funding allocations were disclosed in the publication of this research.

What Does This Regulation Cover?

The Keoscopie study establishes a uniform global demand for public transport improvements, identifying safety, affordability, and frequency as the primary drivers of passenger satisfaction. The research covers passenger behavior, digital accessibility, safety perception, and funding preferences across diverse transit frameworks. The data reveals that while 80% of respondents rely on digital tools like real-time transit apps, a significant digital divide persists, with 33% of global users—rising to 52% in Hyderabad and 38% in Copenhagen and Dubai—abandoning services due to insufficient digital skills. Furthermore, safety concerns strongly dictate passenger behavior, with 80% of users adopting safety strategies and 94% of young adults aged 18 to 24 altering their travel habits. Budget allocation preferences also vary significantly based on car dependency: Nordic and Benelux respondents support allocating 52% of transit investment budgets to public transport, whereas U.S. respondents allocate only 36%, prioritizing private vehicle infrastructure instead.

Key Regulatory Data

How Does This Compare to Global Standards?

While global passenger expectations for public transit are uniform, actual infrastructure investments and regulatory policies vary widely by region. For instance, the high priority placed on transit frequency and safety in Europe is supported by the Netherlands’ bullish railway signalling market trend in 2025, where targeted state investments are upgrading safety systems to handle growing passenger volumes (Source: IndexBox, 2025). Meanwhile, in car-dependent regions like the United States, translating public transit demands into policy remains slow, as shown by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) delaying the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger proceedings to ensure competitive and service assurances under modernized regulatory frameworks (Source: Railway Age, 2026). In contrast, rapidly developing markets are scaling physical manufacturing to support transit networks, highlighted by India’s Joint Venture of Tatravagonka and Ramkrishna Forgings (JTRWF) securing a 10-year rail wheelset supply contract to support regional rolling stock modernization (Source: Manufacturing Today India, 2026).

Editor’s Analysis

The Keoscopie data highlights a critical strategic mismatch: while transit operators rush to deploy digital ticketing and automated networks to optimize operations, they risk alienating up to a third of their passenger base due to digital exclusion. To resolve this, operators must balance technological modernization with physical capacity upgrades, as seen in the rising demand for rolling stock components like the March 2026 surge in material handling sales by Indef Manufacturing (Source: Moneycontrol, 2026). Ultimately, bridging the gap between universal passenger expectations and local policy execution will require governments to treat transit networks as essential utilities rather than discretionary municipal services.

FAQ

Q: Why do passengers reject completely free public transportation?
A: Most passengers associate entirely free transit with negative side effects such as severe overcrowding, reduced safety, and a decline in maintenance quality. Consequently, they prefer affordable, subsidized fares that ensure reinvestment in network reliability and security.

Q: How does car dependency affect public transit investment budgets in the US compared to Europe?
A: In car-dependent nations like the United States, citizens allocate only 36% of hypothetical budgets to public transit, prioritizing road conditions and parking instead. Conversely, in transit-centric regions like the Nordic and Benelux countries, residents support allocating up to 52% of investment budgets directly to public transport development.

Q: What role does digital literacy play in modern public transport accessibility?
A: Digital tools simplify travel for over 80% of passengers, but a lack of digital skills has forced 33% of global users to stop using certain services entirely. This digital exclusion is most severe in rapidly developing hubs, reaching 52% of respondents in Hyderabad.