Youth Jubilee, all the numbers of the first big mobility test for the city of Rome
More than twice as many young people attended as were expected just a few days ago. A million young people for the first big "test" of the city of Rome and its Jubilee of hope.
A few months back, our Eurocities colleagues focused on the preparation of such a unique event with the support of the Upper project, which, according to the Deputy Mayor for Mobility Patanè, "provides an important opportunity to share and learn best practices to improve our mobility vision and even more so, our operative plan."
@Tor Vergata mass
Managing large-scale events like the Jubilee of Youth is no easy task! Like Rome, many cities face serious mobility challenges during such moments, adjusting their public transport networks while making sure they don’t disrupt service for regular passengers, all while minimising the everyday challenges of getting around. But how can public transport systems better adapt to these demands? At UPPER, we strongly believe in learning from each other and working together to create solutions that fit each city’s context.
Another UPPER city, Lisbon, did just that not long ago! Faustino Gomes, President of TML (Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa), shared how UPPER supported the city in testing pilot projects ahead of World Youth Day 2023. Hear it for yourself: Faustino Gomes full interview
On the occasion of the Jubilee of Youth, which took place in Rome from 28 July to 3 August 2025, a large number of participants from around the world were expected. All pilgrims were therefore encouraged to prioritize the use of public transport for travel within the city.
Below, a few figures of this majestic effort by project partner Roma Capitale Agenzia Roma Servizi per la Mobilità and ATAC SpA, who managed to safely transport around the city 1 million pilgrims:
🚇 METRO NETWORK
During the peak days of the Young People's Jubilee, 64 metro trains operated daily for the special Jubilee service, with a total of 3,300 trips made.
🚍 BUS NETWORK
An additional 300 buses were deployed to support Jubilee services.
👮 PERSONNEL INVOLVED
A total of 8,700 shifts were worked across the two days (August 2 and 3) to manage surface and metro services.
📆 ASSISTANCE STAFF INVOLVED
600 duty shifts were assigned at stations to assist and guide travelers.
At the metropolitan station, the new all-in-one readers proved to be essential. Thanks to their versatility, they enabled quick and reliable validation of a wide range of travel tickets, Chip on Paper, Card Atac, electronic payment cards, contactless, but especially the "Special Jubilee of Youth" QR Codes, specially created for the event, which allowed easy and direct access for young pilgrims. This made the travel experience smooth and allowed for the management of significant access flows to the Metro service.
On buses and trams, the decisive contribution came from the #TapandGo validators. With a simple gesture, young pilgrims could activate their pass by approaching the QR Code to the lower part of the device, streamlining boarding operations and ensuring a more efficient service for everyone.
This synergy between physical and digital infrastructure demonstrated how technology is an indispensable ally in managing grand events, transforming a complex logistical challenge into a positive and seamless experience for thousands of visitors.
@PhotoCredit Atac
@photocredit ATAC
"In the end, it was a collective triumph; the innovative Rome mobility system proved its effectiveness, and ultimately, Rome itself reaped the benefits of this success. Together, these elements culminated in a significant achievement that highlighted the power of collaboration, innovation, and perseverance." Mr Patanè
@Photo Upper
If the spirit of UPPER resonates with you, great news! We've launched an open call for our Replication Programme, giving more cities the chance to benefit from UPPER’s shared knowledge and apply it to their realities - learn more here: UPPER Replication programme - Upper Project EU
