With World Games on the Horizon,Cities Need to Invest in Their Transit Now

Major events can make or break a transit system. From massive concerts to the Super Bowl, large gatherings have brought unprepared systems to a halt, frustrating fans and entire cities alike.

With the 2026 World Cup happening across the U.S. and the 2028 Olympic Games coming to Los Angeles, U.S. cities face a critical question: Will our transit systems be ready in time?

The good news is, it’s not too late. There’s no silver bullet for managing tens of thousands of passengers over sustained periods, but from Alstom’s work around the world, we know that successful cities aren’t always the ones with the biggest budgets—they’re the ones that start planning early, invest in their people, and have the strategic foresight to approach big events as opportunities for lasting change.

It’s Never Too Early To Start Preparing

The kind of planning it takes to deliver smooth service during the Olympics or the World Cup starts years in advance. At Alstom, we’ve seen that, firsthand, throughout our work with the Southern California Regional Rail Authority ahead of the 2028 Games. The process begins with close collaboration across regional and local agencies, governments, labor unions, and private partners. There’s no substitute for teamwork when it comes to a well-prepared transit network.

And the pressure isn’t on for just this single event. While concert crowds can stress a system for one night, Olympic-scale events create surge periods that last for weeks, impacting visitors and local commuters. From temporarily adjusting maintenance schedules to maximize train availability, to deploying mobile repair crews and cleaning staff at high-volume hubs, every detail matters. Even small shifts, like holding off on non-critical projects or adding extra standby trains, can mean the difference between smooth service and a breakdown that ripples across the system.

Surge Periods: Opportunities To Build a Stronger Workforce

Big events don’t just require more frequent, efficient service, they demand more people. That includes drivers, mechanics, cleaners, customer service teams who can manage high volumes and quick turnarounds, and even special ambassadors to help supplement train crews during crush periods. Monitoring your systems live, both by camera and sensor, can help increase response times, but only when the right people are in place and properly trained.

At Alstom, we often deploy mobile repair crews during these events who can handle problems on the spot, helping avoid cascading disruptions that can derail entire days of service. But these aren’t roles that can be filled overnight. These take months of training and deep on-the-ground experience.

It’s a significant lift, but also a rare opportunity for long-term capacity building. While cities often view these major events as capital-intensive and invest in physical projects, they can also be an opportunity for sustained operational improvements. Creating pipelines of skilled talent can continue to serve a transit system long after a major event comes to an end.

Improvements Can Last Long after the Crowds Are Gone

Events like the Olympics are short-term, but the investments cities make to support them don’t have to be. When a city upgrades its infrastructure to meet demand, those improvements benefit riders for years. And once a system reaches a good state of repair, it’s easier and more affordable to maintain, delivering greater value over time and stretching public dollars further.

These aren’t just solutions for special events; they are critical insights into what transit systems need to function at a higher level every day. Special events put a spotlight on transit, presenting an opportunity for agencies to demonstrate what’s possible when they’re well resourced, and laying the groundwork for future investments and improvements. Riders who encounter more frequent service, cleaner stations, and more visible security during major events build public support for retaining a higher standard far beyond game days.

Alstom is part of these transformations every year. We’ve supported transit systems during the 2024 Paris, 2016 Rio, and 2012 London Olympics, along with nearly a dozen Super Bowls and four World Cups since 2000. These events have had their share of hiccups, but when cities embrace an all-hands approach, they keep riders moving and have left their transit systems stronger than they were before.

Major events come and go, but the decisions we make today can shape our cities for decades. Let’s rise to the challenge and make sure our cities are ready for whatever comes next!