Seamless, inclusive mobility for a global event: Public transit innovation at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Overview
In the summer of 2022, the UK’s West Midlands region welcomed the Commonwealth Games, one of the largest multi-sport events ever hosted in England. More than 4,800 athletes, including over 300 para-athletes, participated in 283 events across 19 different sports. In addition to the logistical challenge of hosting competitors from 72 nations, the organisers faced the ambitious goal of delivering a seamless, accessible, multi-modal transport experience—not just for Games participants, but for residents, spectators, and volunteers navigating the region during the 12-day event.
The transport strategy was built around improving the usability, quality, and visibility of public transport options, while minimising the environmental footprint of the Games. Equally important was the legacy component: infrastructure and data services implemented for the event were expected to outlast the Games themselves, forming a foundation for better multi-modal travel in the West Midlands for years to come.
To make this vision a reality, the city region’s transport authority brought in Ito to lead on the delivery of both static and real-time data infrastructure for the event’s entire public transport system.
Ito’s role
Ito was asked to aggregate, cleanse, and distribute transit data from over 20 different agencies—ranging from buses, trams, and coaches to bikeshare and e-bike providers. The goal was to create a “single source of truth” for transport information across the region, ensuring consistency and quality across all passenger-facing channels.
The data feeds Ito managed were pushed out to a wide range of platforms, including the transit authority’s own mobile apps and website, third-party journey planning services such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Citymapper, over 1,700 digital signs at stops and on streets, the regional control centre, and via an open developer API portal. The challenge required both technical excellence and operational responsiveness, as conditions during the Games were fast-changing and high-pressure.
Key solutions
Ito deployed its proven technology and experience across several core areas:
• Custom processing pipelines were built to integrate diverse data sources, including GTFS, GTFS-RT, GBFS, and non-standard feeds, into a single high-quality system.
• Stable IDs ensured consistent data performance even as files were frequently updated or modified.
• Fitness-based allocation enabled accurate matching of real-time vehicle locations to scheduled services, improving prediction reliability.
• Prediction generation was applied to agencies unable to supply their own, filling gaps in real-time information.
• Model filters allowed data to be curated for various downstream systems, such as signage, apps, and APIs.
• Multilingual real-time alerts and accessibility tagging were used to ensure inclusivity for international visitors and passengers with additional needs.
• Data quality support was offered to both city teams and operators, with Ito’s staff working in close coordination with local stakeholders.
• Agile data management workflows and rapid issue resolution processes ensured fast responses to operational issues throughout the Games.
Results & impact
The solution successfully delivered a world-class passenger information experience throughout the Commonwealth Games, handling extremely high levels of usage and maintaining strong data quality standards across all platforms.
• 1.5 million fans attended events, using public transport to travel across the city and region.
• Record-breaking ridership was recorded across all modes—bus, tram, train, bike and e-bike rentals.
• Minimal reliance on private vehicles helped reduce traffic congestion and support the Games’ environmental objectives.
• £1.2 billion contribution to the UK economy was supported in part by the transport infrastructure, helping drive tourism, trade, and investment.
• Birmingham rose to become the UK’s second-ranked city (after London) in terms of public transport accessibility and experience.
The transport data infrastructure developed for the Games did not end when the last event concluded. Much of the system remains in place today, powering ongoing transit operations in the West Midlands and supporting continued efforts to promote sustainable, car-free travel. The success of the Commonwealth Games project helped position Birmingham as a global leader in data-driven mobility management, proving that smart transport infrastructure can deliver lasting benefits beyond the lifecycle of a single event.
Legacy and forward outlook
By combining cutting-edge technology with operational agility, Ito helped deliver a transport experience that met the needs of a diverse and international audience. The company’s approach to open standards, real-time data accuracy, and collaboration with local teams ensured not only that the system worked during the Games—but that it would serve the city well into the future.
The project stands as a prime example of how high-quality transit data and smart coordination can underpin world-class events. As cities continue to take on the challenge of hosting major global gatherings, the 2022 Commonwealth Games offers a clear blueprint for how mobility can be transformed through the right partnerships and data infrastructure.
