Community of Metros

In 1994, London Underground and four other metro systems formed a small group to share performance data with each other. In 1996, the Community of Metros (CoMET) group was formed with 8 metro systems, to allow benchmarking between them.{{Cite web |date=January 2003 |title=The Future Tubes Investigative Committee |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/gla_migrate_files_destination/archives/assembly-reports-transport-tube_priorities-mind_gap.pdf |access-date=21 February 2024 |website=London Assembly}}

The four main objectives of the metro benchmarking groups are:{{cite web |title=Benchmarking |url=https://cometandnova.org/benchmarking/ |website=CoMET and Nova Metro Benchmarking |publisher=Community of Metros |accessdate=5 April 2020}}

1. To share knowledge and identify best practices in a confidential environment
2. To support members in achieving their operational and strategic goals – focusing on improvements
3. To build systems of measures for use by management and to establish public transport best practices
4. To prioritise areas for improvement and support decision-making for management, boards, government, and other stakeholders

The key performance indicator (KPI) system is used by the COMET during the benchmarking process in order to compare performance across the member metro systems. The purpose of benchmarking is to search for best practices that lead to superior performance. There are approximately 30 top-level indicators, which are designed to measure the overall performance of the organisation in six distinct areas:{{cite journal |last1=Condry |first1=Ben |title=International PublicTransport Benchmarking: Learning from others |url=https://www.academia.edu/40645184 |website=Academia |publisher=Imperial College London |accessdate=5 April 2020}}

• Growth, learning, and innovation
• Financial
• Customer
• Internal processes
• Safety and security
• Environment

The indicators are reviewed by members on an annual basis. The group members operate under a full confidentiality agreement. This allows for full data and information exchange within the COMET but not externally.{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Richard |title=Metro Benchmarking Yield Tangible Benefits |url=http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/portal/pls/portallive/docs/1/8595697.PDF |website=Imperial College London |accessdate=5 April 2020}}

Statistical analyses are used to provide greater understanding of the results, while time series analyses allow for trends in performance to be identified. This helps to highlight which members are changing their practices and what improvements are relatively achievable. Where clear differences or improvements in performance are identified, detailed analysis is carried out through case studies.{{cite web |title=Rail and Underground Panel |url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/rup-20160224-part-1-item07-international-benchmarking-report.pdf |publisher=Transport for London |accessdate=5 April 2020}} Multiple case studies are conducted in the COMET each year; these studies include detailed data analysis, questionnaires, and interviews with functional experts. Case studies are further supported by expert workshops where appropriate. In many cases, best practices may be found outside the metro industry, so other public transport operations and even other industries are reviewed for relevant practices.{{cite web |title=Benchmarking |url=https://cometandnova.org/benchmarking/ |website=Community of Metros |accessdate=5 April 2020}}{{cite web |title=The Operator's Story Emerging Findings OECD ITF 2017, Leipzig |url=https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/research-centres-and-groups/centre-for-transport-studies/rtsc/The-Operator's-Story---Emerging-Findings---Leipzig-May-2017.pdf |publisher=World Bank / Imperial College London |accessdate=18 April 2020}}

{{as of|2023|April}} the Community of Metros consisted of 44 metro systems located in 41 cities around the world.{{cite web |title=Members of the Community of Metros |url=https://communityofmetros.org/members/ |website=Community of Metros Benchmarking Group |access-date=3 January 2023}}

• {{flagicon|USA}} MARTA, since 21 April 2023{{Cite web |date=April 21, 2023 |title=Community of Metros News: Atlanta MARTA Joins COMET |url=https://communityofmetros.org/community-of-metros-news-atlanta-marta-joins-comet/ |website=Community of Metros Benchmarking Group}}
• {{flagicon|Argentina}} Buenos Aires Underground
• {{flagicon|USA}} Honolulu Skyline, since 28 May 2022{{Cite web |date=28 May 2022 |title=Community of Metros News: Honolulu Rapid Transit Joins |url=https://communityofmetros.org/community-of-metros-news-honolulu-rapid-transit-joins/ |access-date=30 July 2022 |website=Community of Metros Benchmarking Group}}
• {{flagicon|Mexico}} Mexico City Metro
• {{flagicon|Canada}} Montreal Metro
• {{flagicon|USA}} New York City Subway
• {{flagicon|USA}} PATH, since 7 April 2022{{cite web |date=April 7, 2022 |title=Community of Metros News: PATH Joins COMET |url=https://communityofmetros.org/community-of-metros-news-path-joins-comet/ |access-date=3 January 2023}}
• {{flagicon|Chile}} Santiago Metro
• {{flagicon|Brazil}} São Paulo Metro
• {{flagicon|Canada}} OC Transpo, since 15 May 2019{{cite web |date=May 15, 2019 |title=Community of Metros News: OC Transpo Joins |url=https://communityofmetros.org/community-of-metros-news-oc-transpo-joins/ |access-date=3 January 2023}}
• {{flagicon|Brazil}} Metro Rio
• {{flagicon|USA}} San Francisco BART, since 18 January 2018{{cite web|url=https://communityofmetros.org/community-of-metros-news-bay-area-rapid-transit-bart-joins/|title=Community of Metros News: Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Joins|date=January 18, 2018|access-date=3 January 2023}}
• {{flagicon|Canada}} Toronto Subway
• {{flagicon|USA}} Washington Metro, since 2 January 2018{{cite web|url=https://communityofmetros.org/community-of-metros-news-welcome-to-washington-metropolitan-area-transit-authority/|title=Community of Metros News: Welcome to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority|date=January 2, 2018|access-date=3 January 2023}}
• {{flagicon|Canada}} Vancouver Skytrain, since 30 September 2016{{cite web|url=https://communityofmetros.org/community-of-metros-news-vancouver-skytrain-joins/|title=Community of Metros News: Vancouver SkyTrain Joins|date=September 30, 2016|access-date=3 January 2023}}

• {{flagicon|India}} Bangalore Namma Metro, since 24 February 2020{{cite web|url=https://communityofmetros.org/community-of-metros-news-bangalore-bmrcl-joins/|title=Community of Metros News: Bangalore BMRCL Joins|date=February 24, 2020|access-date=3 January 2023}}
• {{flagicon|Thailand}} Bangkok MRT
• {{flagicon|PRC}} Beijing Subway
• {{flagicon|India}} Chennai Metro, since 25 October 2024{{Cite web |date=October 25, 2024 |title=Community of Metros News: Chennai Metro Joins COMET |url=https://communityofmetros.org/community-of-metros-news-chennai-metro-joins-comet/ |access-date=21 March 2025 |website=communityofmetros.org}}
• {{flagicon|India}} Delhi Metro
• {{flagicon|UAE}} Dubai Metro
• {{flagicon|PRC}} Guangzhou Metro
• {{flagicon|Hong Kong}} Hong Kong MTR
• {{flagicon|Malaysia}} Kuala Lumpur RapidKL Rail, since 4 November 2013{{cite web|url=https://communityofmetros.org/comet-and-nova-news-nova-welcomes-three-new-members-in-2013/|title=CoMET and Nova News: Nova welcomes Rapid KL, Kuala Lumpur|date=November 4, 2013|access-date=3 January 2023}}
• {{flagicon|Indonesia}} MRT Jakarta, since 30 September 2021{{cite web|url=https://communityofmetros.org/community-of-metros-news-mrt-jakarta-joins-comet/|title=Community of Metros News: MRT Jakarta Joins COMET|date=September 30, 2021|access-date=3 January 2023}}
• {{flagicon|PRC}} Nanjing Metro, since 4 October 2013{{cite web|url=https://communityofmetros.org/new-nova-metro/|title=CoMET and Nova News: Nova welcomes Nanjing Metro|date=October 4, 2013|access-date=3 January 2023}}
• {{flagicon|South Korea}} Seoul Metro, since 1 September 2013{{cite web|url=https://communityofmetros.org/the-community-of-metros-welcomes-seoul-metro-as-its-newest-member/|title=The Community of Metros Welcomes Seoul Metro as its Newest Member|date=September 1, 2018|access-date=3 January 2023}}
• {{flagicon|PRC}} Shanghai Metro
• {{flagicon|PRC}} Shenzhen Metro, since 10 July 2015{{cite web|url=https://communityofmetros.org/community-of-metros-news-shenzhen-metro-joins/|title=Community of Metros News: Shenzhen Metro Joins|date=July 10, 2015|access-date=3 January 2023}}
• {{flagicon|Singapore}} Singapore MRT
• {{flagicon|Australia}} Sydney Metro, since 29 December 2019{{cite web|url=https://communityofmetros.org/community-of-metros-news-sydney-metro-joins-nova/|title=Community of Metros News: Sydney Metro Joins Nova|date=December 29, 2019|access-date=3 January 2023}}
• {{flagicon|Japan}} Tokyo Metro, since 20 January 2020{{cite web|url=https://communityofmetros.org/community-of-metros-news-tokyo-metro-joins-comet/|title=Community of Metros News: Tokyo Metro Joins CoMET|date=January 22, 2020|access-date=3 January 2023}}
• {{flagicon|Taiwan}} Taipei Metro

• {{flagicon|Spain}} Barcelona Metro
• {{flagicon|Germany}} Berlin U-Bahn
• {{flagicon|Belgium}} Brussels Metro
• {{flagicon|Turkey}} Istanbul Metro, since 20 February 2014{{cite web|url=https://communityofmetros.org/test/|title=CoMET and Nova News: Introducing Istanbul Ulasim|date=February 20, 2014|access-date=3 January 2023}}
• {{flagicon|Portugal}} Lisbon Metro
• {{flagicon|UK}} London DLR, since 4 December 2013{{cite web|url=https://communityofmetros.org/new-nova-metro-london-docklands-light-rail/|title=CoMET and Nova News: Nova welcomes London Docklands Light Railway|date=December 4, 2013|access-date=3 January 2023}}
• {{flagicon|UK}} London Underground
• {{flagicon|Spain}} Madrid Metro
• {{flagicon|UK}} Newcastle Metro
• {{flagicon|Norway}} Oslo Metro, since 23 September 2014{{cite web|url=https://communityofmetros.org/oslo-metro-joins-nova/|title=CoMET and Nova News: Oslo Metro Joins Nova|date=September 23, 2014|access-date=3 January 2023}}
• {{flagicon|France}} Paris Métro and Paris RER

• {{flagicon|Russia}} Moscow Metro (membership ceased in March 2022 {{citation needed|date=April 2022}})
• {{flagicon|Australia}} Sydney Trains (joined International Suburban Rail Benchmarking Group (ISBeRG) in 2011, and terminated its parallel CoMET membership in 2024)

Some of the major publication journals by COMET include:

• Canavan S, Barron A, Cohen J, Graham DJ, Anderson RJ et al. (2019). Best Practices in Operating High Frequency Metro Services, Transportation Research Record.
• Anupriya A, Graham D, Anderson R, Carbo JM et al. (2018). Cost Function for Urban Rail Transport Systems, Transportation Research Board 98th Annual Meeting.
• Canavan, S., Graham, D.J., Anderson, R.J., Barron, A. (2017). Urban Metro Rail Demand: Evidence from Dynamic Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) Estimates using Panel Data.
• Hörcher, D., Graham, D. J., and Anderson, R. J. (2017). Crowding cost estimation with large scale smart card and vehicle location data. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART B: METHODOLOGICAL, 95, 105–125.
• Singh, R., Graham, D.J., Anderson, R. (2017) Characterising journey time performance on urban metro systems. TransitData conference, Santiago, Chile, 22 May 2017.
• Hörcher,D., Graham,D.J., Anderson,R., (2017) Crowding cost estimation with large scale smart card and vehicle location data, Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, pp. 105–125.
• Brage-Ardao, R., Graham, D.J., Anderson, R.J., Barron, A. (2017). Metro Operating Costs: Main Patterns and Determinants. Transportation Research Board 96th Annual Meeting.

{{reflist}}

• [https://communityofmetros.org/ Community of Metros Website]
• [https://www.imperial.ac.uk/transport-studies/transport-strategy-centre/ Transport Strategy Centre at Imperial College London]

{{Internationally Metro Organizations}}

Category:Rapid transit

Category:Transport organizations