Journey Planner – An opportunity for passenger and public transport companies

In the past, a public transportation transit would require a route map, perhaps a contact via telephone with the route operator, or even a visit from the operator's agency. For an intercity route, a prospective passenger would have to plan ahead, in order to successfully combine multiple tour operators, which made the transit process complicated. European Passengers Federation believes that the success of a JP platform based on the amount of included data, especially for cross borders. Also important is and the maintenance of the platform with updated data.

Amadeus IT group expects rise of JP usage from travel providers, travel distributors and online travel actors. Platforms must provide useful feedback to their users, such as information about route delays, or cancellations. The data of these applications must be dynamic; for example, route data can be provided via static timetables, dynamic data (such as GPS, or tele commanding), but also from cellular phone data, provided from other users of the same application. According to iRail one of the reasons that multi modal planners do not succeed is that no one multi mortal JP includes real time data from all transporters.

Logica idea is to have a distributed European JP which connects JP’s through open API. Moreover they add that if EU adopts same interface specification for JP platforms then the progress which will come from small and medium size developers will be amazing.

The next section refers to the utilization of the application, by transportation companies. As stated by Amadeus IT group JP applications, will ultimate the competition between transport systems and travel operators around Europe. Transporters will be able to locate possible weaknesses, in both route and time accuracy, and can also check the comp ability of multiple means of transportation. If, for example, the application constantly recommends a user to ride with a competing operator, the weak transporter will be able to take all appropriate measures in order to utilize this gap, in a financial manner, or in a time-efficient way. Finally, JP platforms will put new criteria to passengers like reduction of carbon emissions and will help them to make the best choice in their trips since passengers tend to distinguish with “green” transportation.