Niels van Oort

Niels van Oort is an Associate Professor of Public Transport at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), co-director of the Smart Public Transport Lab, and affiliated with the Department of Transport & Planning within the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. His work focuses on public transport planning, data-driven design, and societal impacts including inclusiveness, land-use, and sustainability. He holds a dual role as a part-time consultant via his company Van Oort Mobility Consultancy since 2020.

Education: MSc in Public Transport from TU Delft (2003), PhD in Service Reliability in Public Transport (2011). Professional experience includes roles at HTM (public transport operator), MIT (2009), and Goudappel Coffeng consultants (2007–2012). Transitioned to academia as a part-time assistant professor at TU Delft in 2012, becoming full-time in 2018.

Research emphasizes network optimization, timetable reliability, micromobility, and first/last mile solutions. Key areas include pandemic impacts on transport behavior, digital inequality in mobility access, and sustainable transport policies. Supervises PhD students on integrated networks and passenger behavior.

Teaching includes courses on public transport operations, advanced modelling, and transport networks. Active in academic publishing and conferences, with over 20 peer-reviewed articles since 2010. Engaged in interdisciplinary labs like SUM Lab (Smart Urban Mobility) and contributes to public discourse through media and consultancy.

Labs/Teams: Smart Public Transport Lab (co-director), SUM Lab, and Delft Transport Modelling Group. Grants and projects focus on data-driven solutions for public transport efficiency and equity.