Transport Research Arena (TRA) 2026 edition brought Europe’s mobility research community to Budapest for four days of sessions, demonstrations, and strategic debate. From the perspective of the ULTIMO project, TRA was far more than a conference appearance. TRA was an opportunity to show where automated public transport in Europe is going, moving decisively from pilot projects toward real-world integration.
Automation You Could Experience
Perhaps the most visible sign of that progress was right outside the doors of the event hall. Throughout four days of TRA, the EVO3 automated shuttle from Navya Mobility operated live on the conference site, serving four pick-up and drop-off points across the Hungexpo venue. Visitors did not just hear about autonomous mobility. They had the chance to experience it. ULTIMO also maintained two points of presence in Hall G, including a booth on the European Commission area, as well as a standalone booth where the team was on hand to discuss the project’s work in depth.
From Prototype to Public Service
Inside the conference programme, Jeroen Beukers, Head of Innovation at TPG, delivered a keynote on ULTIMO’s journey from research prototype to real-world service, covering the scalability and integration challenges that come with bringing innovation to the ground. Beyond the technical story, Jeroen underlined what drives the project: public transport is fundamental to how people access employment, experience cities, and participate in society. Inclusive mobility is not an add-on. It is the point.
In a separate panel discussion, Dr. Guy Fournier of Pforzheim University also presented ULTIMO’s latest findings, exploring how automated vehicles can serve as a catalyst for sustainable mobility. His presentation made the case that AVs must be implemented in cities in ways that complement rather than displace mass transit, avoiding additional congestion and the need for public subsidies. Europe has the potential to realise this vision, but it will require overcoming market fragmentation and building a shared long-term strategy.
Designing for Real Users
Moreover at the UITP stand, ULTIMO also contributed to the session “Identifying Specific User Needs” alongside the GOLIA, PIONEERS, and Interreg’s NEXT-RIDE projects. Bettina Bouëte represented ULTIMO on the panel, making the case that accessibility and inclusivity must be built into the design from the very beginning. As she put it: “AVs aren’t just a technology. It is essential to include users, including those with impairments, from the beginning of the design process to build the relevant service.” Prof. Bogdan Varga from the Electric Mobility Applied Research Center (EMARC) reinforced the same message, highlighting the importance of stakeholder coordination in translating user needs into workable use cases. The session also put on display the collaboration between ULTIMO and NEXT-RIDE, connected through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Taking European Innovation to the World
ULTIMO also joined eBRT2030, TRANS-SAFE, UPPER, and COOL4 for the session “Innovations beyond Europe”, exploring what happens when EU-funded mobility solutions are applied outside the EU. Local political considerations, funding structures, urban planning, cultures, and social norms can all create friction, and this session drew directly on the real experiences of projects that have navigated those tensions. The collaboration between ULTIMO and the Japanese project COOL4, formalised through an MoU, ran deeper than a shared stage: the two projects used the session to showcase their joint work on peer-to-peer exchanges around regulation and use cases for public transport, and the challenges of managing the transition toward scaling automated mobility while maintaining service quality for both users and drivers across the entire travel chain.
Looking Ahead
TRA 2026 confirmed what ULTIMO has always maintained: that the future of automated mobility for public transport will not be built on technology alone. It will be built on trust, inclusion, and cooperation to design around the people who depend on public transport every day. The project leaves Budapest with fresh connections, new insights, and a sharper sense of the road ahead.