Automated processes to support the operations control center

Fribourg (Switzerland) commissions INIT to deliver a comprehensive solution for operations control and electromobility

The range of the e-buses can be monitored in the new INIT operations control system. (© TPF | Jo Bersier)

Karlsruhe  / Fribourg (Switzerland) – 15 January 2025

The transport company Transports Publics Fribourgeois (TPF) has decided to revolutionize their operations control processes and partnered with INIT to do so. In future, the MOBILE-ITCS nextGen Intermodal Transport Control System, which includes numerous new dispatching measures, will be used to control and monitor the 250 buses in the city of Fribourg and the western Swiss canton (region) of the same name. However, the highlight of the new operations control solution is another INIT system: Using automated processes, RESPONSEassist will significantly reduce the workload of operations control center personnel in managing incidents. In the future, INIT will also support TPF in the area of electromobility: Key components of the solution include range prediction for e-buses, vehicle health monitoring and driver assistance. 

Among other things, it was probably the positive experiences in the neighboring canton of Neuchâtel that contributed to INIT's operations control solution being chosen. However, with the RESPONSEassist system integrated into the ITCS, TPF goes a decisive step further, as it makes operations control centers’ three core tasks much easier: Passenger information can be created automatically on the basis of predefined texts and distributed to all information channels with a single click, incidents can be processed much more efficiently with the help of instructions stored in forms and operational documentation is created automatically.

New dispatching measures and real-time passenger information

MOBILE-ITCS nextGen is an indispensable and proven control system that predicts departure and arrival times and offers TPF’s dispatchers numerous new options for monitoring buses even more efficiently. Other components of the future-proof solution include a traffic signal priority system controlled via the INIT on-board computer and interfaces between the vehicle components in standardized ITxPT format.

Monitoring the range of e-buses in the ITCS

In addition to 22 trolley buses, the TPF fleet currently includes five electric buses. In the medium term, the entire fleet will be converted to e-buses or buses powered by other renewable energies. Their range can be monitored in the new INIT operations control system. The data is supplied by the INIT module for range prediction, which provides increasingly accurate predictions based on several parameters and incorporating historical data. This ensures that no bus is left stranded along the route.

Lower energy consumption and fewer vehicle breakdowns

The driver assistance system also contributes to lower energy consumption: by providing information (e.g. when braking or accelerating too hard) via the on-board computer control unit, it helps the driver adopt a more energy-efficient and smooth driving style, which ultimately also increases passenger safety and comfort. The new solution for Fribourg is rounded off by the vehicle health monitoring module: it enables the vehicle condition to be monitored with regard to impending disruptions, even during operation, generates status messages and helps to plan vehicle repairs. This helps to minimize vehicle downtime.

Highly innovative Swiss public transport sector

“We are very pleased that we have been able to convince another customer of the performance of our solutions with TPF in the highly innovative Swiss public transport sector, which is known worldwide for its service quality,” explains INIT Managing Director and Sales Manager Klaus Janke. “With the new system from INIT, not only will all tasks relating to operations control be more reliably and conveniently managed, but with our solution, the transition to emission-free mobility can also be successfully overcome.”

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Pictures, video or graphics published with the press release may only be used in direct connection with the publication of the press release and only if the source is acknowledged as indicated.

The range of the e-buses can be monitored in the new INIT operations control system. 
(© TPF | Jo Bersier)

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RESPONSEassist makes operations control centers’ core tasks much easier: For example, passenger information can be created automatically on the basis of predefined texts and distributed to all information channels with a single click. 
(© TPF | Jo Bersier)

Download
Andrea Mohr-Braun

Head of Department Corporate Marketing
INIT worldwide
Phone: +49 721 6100 113
Fax: +49 721 6100 399

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