Leading figures in global transportation will share their experiences and insights with Saudi Arabian transportation officials at an upcoming forum in Riyadh.

Organised by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Municipalities and Rural Affairs and the International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC), the Saudi Urban Transport Conference 2011 is taking place from January 29 to February 1, 2011 at the Radisson Blu.

The chairman of the European Parliament's Transport and Tourism Committee, Brian Simpson MEP, will share his expertise in integrating transportation networks from across continental Europe and the UK.

He will be joined by another European transportation expert, Chris Greaves, who is the chairman of the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority, one of the most heavily utilized public transportation networks in the UK.

Offering insights from Asia, the director of fare systems for the Singapore Land Transport Authority, Silvester Prakasam, has implemented one of the most sophisticated public transport ticketing systems in the world, and will share his knowledge and expertise with the Saudi transport authorities in their drive to streamline ticketing procedures for the billions of dollars worth of public transportation projects which are currently being built.

As Jeddah and Riyadh prepare to implement their own light rail networks, the managing director of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation will offer a case study for best planning and procurement practices for light rail from his management experience of the metro network which Bangalore is currently implementing.

The Mayor of Makkah, Osama Al Bar and the Undersecretary for Transport for the Ministry of Hajj, Dr Suhail Al Saban, will also present case studies of the newly opened Makkah metro. – TradeArabia News Service