National Public Transport Congress · 4th edition

Organised by the Romanian Smart City Association in partnership with URTP - the Romanian Union of Public Transport | the Federation of Urban, Suburban and Metropolitan Passenger Transport OperatorsOrganised by ARSC in partnership with URTP | TUSMC Federation

Registration is open ● 18-21 November 2026 ● Bucharest ● 5 themed panels ● Public Transport Awards Gala ● Conference · Gala · Site visits ● 4th edition ● Registration is open ● 18-21 November 2026 ● Bucharest ● 5 themed panels ● Public Transport Awards Gala ● Conference · Gala · Site visits ● 4th edition ●
ROPAT 2026 · 4th edition · 18-21 November 2026 · Bucharest

Public transport for people.cities.the future.

National Public Transport Congress · 4th edition
Four days dedicated to passenger public transport, in Bucharest. Conference, the Romanian Public Transport Awards Gala, the TUSMC Federation day and site visits.

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Register → Become a partner See the agenda
ROPAT welcome dinner
01 - Wednesday 18

Welcome dinner

A small-format dinner hosted by the President of ARSC together with the leadership of the TUSMC Federation. 80 seats, by personal invitation.

See the agenda →
ROPAT conference
02 - Thursday 19

Main day

Official opening and keynotes with representatives of the Romanian Government and the European Commission, five themed panels and a working lunch at themed tables. In the evening, the Romanian Public Transport Awards Gala.

See the agenda →
TUSMC Federation day
03 - Friday 20

TUSMC Federation day

The Federation has its own programme and a dedicated meeting for its members, hosted within ROPAT.

See the agenda →
Site visits
04 - Saturday 21

Site visits and technical sessions

A site visit to a partner operator, with access to the depot, the fleet and the control centre, plus small-group technical sessions.

See the agenda →
ROPAT 2026 theme

Public transport after 2027: from operators' needs to the next funding programmes

ROPAT 2026 gives public transport operators the opportunity to present their investment priorities directly to the ministries, managing authorities and institutions that will shape and run the next funding programmes.

The discussion starts from the reality on the ground: what needs modernising, which investments are urgent, which types of expenditure should become eligible and what funding conditions are needed for projects to be delivered and operated sustainably.

Explore the 2026 theme →
4th edition

Confirmed speakers for 2026.

The programme and each speaker's session are listed in the agenda.

Liviu Neag, President, TUSMC Federation, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026
Dr. Eusebiu Catană, Head of Sector Innovation & Deployment, ERTICO - ITS Europe, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026
Apollo Tirneci, Manager Innovation & Deployment, ERTICO - ITS Europe, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026
Cristian Stoica, Director General, Compania de Transport Public Iași, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026
Emil Liviu Brîndușoni, Administrator, Transport Local Lugoj, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026
Ion Diaconu, Director General, Transport Public Focșani, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026
Alin Ștefan Lehaduș, Director General, Societatea de Transport Public Neamț SA, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026
Manuel Rotaru, Director General, Publitrans 2000 Pitești, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026
Laurențiu Stanciu, Director General, Transport Urban Reșița, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026
Valentin-Victor Stănescu, Director, Transbus SA Fetești, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026
Iulian Țărean, Administrator, Transport Public Sebeș SRL, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026
Alin Dacian Năfărean, Director, Transport Local Lugoj, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026
Gabriel Petruc, Director General, Transport Public Local SA Suceava, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026
Ioan Rus, Director General, Tursib Sibiu, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026
Gică Toader, Director General, Trans Bus Buzău, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026
Traian Urban, Director of Innovation Hub East, EIT Urban Mobility, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026
Eduard Dumitrașcu, President, ARSC - Romanian Smart City Association, confirmed speaker at ROPAT 2026

ARSC's official roles

Cohesion Policy 2028-2034

ARSC is a member of the Cohesion Policy 2028-2034 Working Group, coordinated by Romania's Ministry of Investments and European Projects.

Smart Communities Network

ARSC is the National Contact Point in Romania for the Smart Communities Network, a programme supported and coordinated by the European Commission.
4.
Event days
5.
Themed panels
8.
Gala categories
3.
Past editions
01 - About

A national platform dedicated to passenger public transport.

ROPAT - National Public Transport Congress is a national platform dedicated to passenger public transport. It brings together central and local government, regulators, intercommunity development associations (ADIs) for transport, public and private operators, manufacturers, integrators and technology suppliers.

The 4th edition takes place in Bucharest, with the Federation of Urban, Suburban and Metropolitan Passenger Transport Operators (TUSMC) as main partner. Four days, with a programme that runs from public policy discussions to a visit to the depot.

ROPAT is more than a conference. It is a working forum for direct dialogue between the executive teams of Romania's transport operators, representatives of public administration and of the institutions that set public policy and budgets, and the companies that supply solutions and services to the sector.

The event is organised by the Romanian Smart City Association (ARSC). The Smart City Romania community has 10 years of continuous activity and brings together more than 450 members and partners, over 200 of them central and local authorities. The Smart City Map of Romania documents more than 1,700 Smart City and Smart Village projects and initiatives.

Organiser and main partner

Organiser and main partner.

Romanian Smart City Association (ARSC)

Organiser

The organiser of ROPAT, active since 2016 in the modernisation of public services in Romania.

TUSMC Federation - Federation of Urban, Suburban and Metropolitan Passenger Transport Operators

Main partner

The Federation has its own programme and a dedicated meeting for its members, hosted within ROPAT.

Archive

On the ROPAT stage.

Leaders from public administration, operators and industry who spoke at the first three editions of ROPAT. Job titles are those held at the time of their participation.

See all speakers →

More 4th edition speakers will be announced as they are confirmed.

03 - Agenda

Four days · five panels · the Awards Gala.

The 2026 programme is built around the experience of Romania's public transport operators: the real operating problems they face and the solutions they apply day to day.

See the full agenda →
Wednesday 18

Welcome dinner

Small format, 80 seats, by personal invitation.

Thursday 19 · Panel 1

Local and metropolitan public transport: organisation, funding and operations

The role of city halls, intercommunity development associations and county councils in organising the public transport service.

Thursday 19 · Panel 2

Fleets and infrastructure: operations, maintenance and real costs

Fleet renewal, the shift to clean vehicles, depots, charging stations, maintenance.

Thursday 19 · Panel 3

Digital public transport: ticketing, data and artificial intelligence

Payments and validation, passenger apps, regional interoperability, route optimisation.

Thursday 19 · Panel 4

Sustainability and funding

Thursday 19 · Panel 5

Service quality and the relationship with passengers

Safe and inclusive transport, accessibility, quality indicators.

Thursday 19 · evening

Romanian Public Transport Awards Gala

The awards ceremony, followed by the gala dinner.

Friday 20

TUSMC Federation day

The Federation has its own programme and a dedicated meeting for its members, hosted within ROPAT.

Saturday 21

Site visits and technical sessions

A site visit to a partner operator, with access to the depot, the fleet and the control centre, plus small-group technical sessions.

04 - Event details

When, where and how to take part.

Dates
18-21 November 2026

Wednesday to Saturday · four days

Venue
Bucharest

Thursday 19 November: National Institute of Statistics, Sala Amfiteatru →

Format
Four days

The main day on Thursday is streamed live. The other three days are small-format.

Livestream
Facebook ARSC → YouTube ARSC → ropat.ro →
Register → Venue details
05 - Awards Gala

Romanian Public Transport Awards Gala.

The Gala closes the main day and recognises the institutions, operators, projects and people who are modernising public transport in Romania. Eight categories, with awards presented by ARSC on the basis of the past year's activity, investments, projects delivered and results achieved.

There is no application process: ARSC decides the winners on the basis of public information, recommendations received and documents made available.

See the categories → Send a recommendation

A full room at ROPAT 2024 - representatives of public administration, operators and partners.

ROPAT 2024 · Bucharest
06 - Past editions

Three editions. One mission.

ROPAT 2024
3RD EDITION · 2024

ROPAT 2024

The third edition - smart cities and sustainable transport.

See the edition →
ROPAT 2023
2ND EDITION · 2023

ROPAT 2023

The second edition - integrated mobility and digitalisation.

See the edition →
ROPAT 2022
1ST EDITION · 2022

ROPAT 2022

The first edition - the launch of a national platform.

See the edition →
Institutional partners · past editions
Metrorex STB CFR Călători Telecomunicații CFR ADR B-I EIT Urban Mobility TPBI Ministerul Transporturilor Departamentul Dezvoltare Durabilă ARF Primăria Brașov
4th edition

Partners of the 4th edition.

Technology, fleets and solutions for public transport.

Become a partner →
nGENERATION
Anadolu Automobil Rom - Green Transport
Dahua Technology
NovaTech
Škoda
CTE Green
07 - Partners

Technology, fleets and solutions.

Partners of past editions.

See all partners →
ROPAT atmosphere · 2022 - 2024
09 - Partnership

Partnerships for the 4th edition.

The 4th edition offers five partnership levels. Benefits include brand visibility, exhibition space and accreditation. Some packages include a contribution in a clearly identified slot of the programme and reserved seats at the welcome dinner.

Representatives of public institutions attend the main conference free of charge, subject to availability. Institutional partner status and the use of an institution's visual identity are agreed separately, once the institution confirms. ARSC members receive a 12% discount on any package.

Commercial partnership does not influence editorial selection and plays no part in the awards. Partner status does not guarantee a place on a panel or an award. Speaker selection and the awards are handled separately from the commercial relationship.

Request the partnership packages → See the audience profile
08 - FAQ

Quick answers.

All questions →
How do I register for ROPAT 2026?

Attending the conference on Thursday 19 November is free of charge, subject to availability and prior registration. Fill in the form on the Register page. Access to Wednesday's dinner, the Awards Gala and Saturday's visits is by personal invitation or through the partnership packages.

Who can attend?

ROPAT is for professionals in passenger public transport: representatives of central and local government, intercommunity development associations, public and private operators, metropolitan authorities, manufacturers and technology suppliers, integrators, institutional partners and the trade media.

What is the format of the event?

ROPAT 2026 runs over four days, 18-21 November, in Bucharest: the welcome dinner on Wednesday, the main conference day and the Romanian Public Transport Awards Gala on Thursday, the TUSMC Federation day on Friday and site visits on Saturday. The main day is published with times; times for the other days are sent directly to participants. See the full agenda.

Can I follow online if I cannot attend in person?

The main day on Thursday is streamed live on ARSC's official channels: Facebook, YouTube and ropat.ro, and the recordings remain available after the event. The other three days - the welcome dinner, the TUSMC Federation day and the site visits - are small-format and are not streamed.

How can I become a sponsor or partner of ROPAT 2026?

The 4th edition partnership offer has five levels of visibility and involvement. Representatives of public institutions attend the main conference free of charge, subject to availability; institutional partner status is agreed separately, once the institution confirms. ARSC members receive a 12% discount on any package. Write to [email protected] and we will send you the full offer.

How are panel speakers selected?

Speakers are invited on the basis of their public work, proven expertise and relevance to each panel. The list stays open - if you represent an institution or company with a significant contribution to the field, you can contact us to propose topics.

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