The recent edition of the Conference on Advanced Systems in Public Transport (CASPT) 2025, held from 30 June to 4 July in Kyoto, Japan, was organised in conjunction with TransitData 2025. The event serves as a leading international forum for public transport researchers, industry practitioners, and policymakers. Since its inception in 1975, CASPT has consistently pioneered discussions on the latest advancements in operations planning, systems methodologies, and multimodal strategies.

CASPT typically convenes once every three years and focuses on public transport planning and innovation in operations, while TransitData spotlights the use and analysis of passive transport data, such as automated fare collection, GPS tracking, and passenger counts.

The conference attracts a wide variety of attendees, spanning academic researchers, technology vendors, transport operators, and government authorities. This time, for example, more than 400 participants contributed to over 270 presentations covering both theoretical and applied research topics.

At the 2025 event, postdoctoral researcher Bing Liu from the Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden) presented the MultiModX project, which is funded by the Single European Sky ATM Research 3 Joint Undertaking (SESAR 3 JU) and the European Union. In particular, he detailed the study “Integrating Air and Rail Services with Route based Strategy”, co authored with Dr Christopher Szymula and Dr Nikola Bešinović. This research introduces a route based planning framework designed to coordinate rail and air services more effectively, thereby enhancing system efficiency and multimodal connectivity.

By participating in CASPT and TransitData 2025, MultiModX was able to share its progress with a technically specialised and globally diverse audience, gaining feedback that will support future development. Events of this nature play a key role in validating new transport models and fostering technical collaboration among academic, industry, and government stakeholders.