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.

A new software package to automate train delay refund process

One of the biggest problems in railway industry comes from delays. Delays are a real headache for passengers and companies. In a co-modal route a delay means that the passenger will lose the next transport mean. From company side this is a difficult situation because it has to reimburse the angry passenger.

ESP Group’s Joyrneycall business and Barclays designed a new software package to serve this problem. DelayCheck software verifies the delay and refund the ticket to the passenger. This new app works in more than one operator and automatically finds the correct company and applies the appropriate policy.

Managing Director of Journeycall believes that this new app is going to help the costumers and reduce the operating cost of operators.

The presentation of DelayCheck has been attended by 30 representatives of rail industry. The app will be ready for the passengers from 1st of October.

Automatic Ticketing System in public transport

The president of OASA (Athens Urban Transport Organisation), Tassos Tastanis, has given an interesting interview regarding the “smart” cards that are expected to replace the regular paper tickets in public transport. The project “Automatic System for Ticket Validation” is expected to be implemented in all means of public transportation after the end of 2016.

The “smart” card will be personalized and will be loaded with an amount of money which will be decreased every time the passenger uses the card to the new validation devices. The new system will give the opportunity to issue a single ticket for all means of public transportation. It will be more fair since new charging policies will be applied depending on the travelling distance, while it is also expected to reduce the phenomenon of fare evasion.

For more information, click here.

Smart urban mobility: opportunities for cooperation and finance conference

Prague is hosting third 'Smart urban mobility: opportunities for cooperation and finance' conference which will be held on 22 September 2016.

This workshop is the last of a series of smart cities and mobility outreach events that were held in December 2015 in Gothenburg and in May 2016 in Genoa, which also included a mayors roundtable, interactive group discussions and practical demonstration activities. The aim of the event is to discuss how investments in electric mobility and in smart mobility services in European urban areas can be increased.

More information regarding the event you can find on European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities initiative official website where registration form is also available.

EU funds support sustainable public transport in Czech Republic

Czech Ministry for Regional Development (MMR) has ready 8,5 billion CZK from European funds to promote public transport. This amount is intended to be spent on building new transfer terminals, car parks or purchase low-emission vehicles. Applications shall be submitted through the Ministry for Regional Development (MMR) until 29th December 2017, minimum or maximum fund amount is not specified.

MMR announced two calls, both will encourage the construction and modernization of transfer terminals and autonomous parking systems, transport telematics (intelligent transport systems) for public transport, purchase of low-emission and zero-emission vehicles, reconstruction, modernization and construction of roads for pedestrians and cyclists.