In the late 1960s, Trapeze developed one of the world’s first fleet management systems. The idea was simple - collect vehicle information, and then use insights to improve timetables and provide basic operations monitoring in real-time, with control of the fleet via voice radio. The system proved a great success in Zurich, Switzerland, and was expanded to other European cities which helped improve public transport service delivery.

This ethos of supporting public transport operations, by providing tools to deliver reliable services throughout the day, has continued as a focus of Automated Vehicle Management (AVM) systems. AVM systems have been continuously updated to include passenger information, as well as more sophisticated analysis and control mechanisms, which have become the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) of today.

While technology has progressed considerably since the 1960s, more transport innovations are about to arrive that will transform the industry even further.

So, what does the future hold for ITS?

Service Predictions

Today, the best predictions of service arrival times at a stop use a combination of current and historic vehicle timing information. This history-based prediction uses a combination of short- and longer-term travel times, averaged over many services on the same routes. It provides a more accurate prediction than an individual vehicle delay – where there are sufficient vehicles on a link to generate a statistically meaningful correlation.

With the advent of data warehouses and machine learning, these algorithms are being extended to look for scenarios that can be used to predict the development of a queue before it happens, which in turn informs the prediction algorithm.

As it is not possible to predict specific events, such as a breakdown, accident, or fallen tree, these will still impact on the first service to encounter the issue. However, smart algorithms can then be used to inform the prediction model for all later services.

The predictions are also influenced by the class of vehicle. A tram on a segregated track is only impacted by other track users, while buses in a segregated bus lane may, in some parts of the network, still be subjected to external factors. Common factors include passenger numbers and weather conditions. 

Bus Electrification

Many transport authorities are investigating the implementation of electric bus fleets. The benefits of electric buses are significant - not just for air quality improvements, but also the reduced maintenance levels required as electric vehicles have minimal moving parts. While they require sophisticated electronics and management software, as well as charging infrastructure, they provide a better passenger experience - with the managed application of full torque available from a stationary position. The ride is also a lot quieter, as the electric motor generates minimal noise and vibration compared to conventional buses. 

Electric buses, unlike their diesel counterparts, emit no direct pollution. However,

Early model electric buses did not have a long range. An overnight charge would last approximately 170 kilometres, allowing for a morning run, followed by a midday charge to be ready for an afternoon shift.

Today, via improvements in new bus and battery technology, electric bus range expectations are up to 350 kilometres. For shorter-range buses, charging stations are still required, along with the management of this infrastructure.  In addition, vehicle information and status - particularly charge levels - is required so that operations can be managed and charging times can be planned. 

If a bus misses its recharging slot, this will impact not only its own block of trips, but potentially other bus blocks as well. For longer-range electric buses, charging can take place in the depot, and whilst there is less infrastructure involved, it still needs to be matched to the charge levels of the returning buses to maximise availability and minimise electricity costs.

Building more charging points is a possible solution, but these very high-capacity chargers (capable of 300 KWh or greater charging levels) are expensive, and their utilisation needs to be managed. Systems that know the bus network, vehicles, and the charging locations, can make accurate predictions on the remaining bus ranges, which in turn provides information on the required charge times. These charging systems will be essential, as the availability of chargers and the allocation of recharging slots need to be fed back into the real-time management and prediction system.

Automation

Machine learning relies on vast datasets, and often requires a high level of human intervention to train the machine - coding up the various conditions and consequences so that the system can learn quickly. With an AVM solution, this need for extensive training datasets can be met from the information already collected. For example, service controller actions and the state of the network is recorded, both before and after actions are already known, and the system can learn from the consequences.

This offers the possibility to develop learning algorithms that extract from historic information and align the dispatcher interventions that work. These algorithms can then analyse the transport network, looking for signs of a potential incident.

At all times, the system should keep the service controller informed of the situation on the road, and automation should assist in taking actions without the service controller losing any control.

These learning tools are coming, building on the large store of data already available in existing systems, as well as collecting new information as these systems grow and evolve.

Conclusion

With the growing availability of sensors and monitoring devices - all part of the Internet of Things trend - larger datasets will flow into the control centre, and the tools used to monitor and manage this data will flourish. Transportation systems can benefit from these general trends, introducing more cost-effective enhancements, in the same way the smartphone has revolutionised the distribution of passenger information.

The future is almost here!

For more information in Intelligent Transport Systems, visit the Trapeze ITS Hub.

We were interested to see our customer Swedish State Railways (SJ) recently highlighted on the International Railway Summit website. The article, authored by Sustainability Manager Victoria Burgoyne, focused on the concept of ‘train boast’ as a counterpoint to ‘flight shame’, a concept which has emerged in relation to the environmental impact of air travel. 

Of course, environmental concerns have taken a back seat in recent times as the world tackles the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is a link between the two. Because, while we all undoubtedly face huge difficulties, it is also true that the one positive from this situation is a reduction in carbon levels. To illustrate, reports suggest air quality in many cities around the world has improved as traffic levels reduce, while 2020 has seen a record 7% drop in CO₂ emissions – the largest since 1945. 

As we look ahead to what we hope will soon be life after COVID-19, perhaps there will be a degree of re-evaluation in relation to what is important in our lives and society itself – which could include the wider environment and more.

For example, across the globe, there has rightly been a huge and heart-warming groundswell of support for health workers supporting those suffering from this virus. However, we are also seeing recognition for traditionally less well-appreciated roles, such as delivery drivers, supermarket staff and a range of other ‘key workers’ – the importance of whom has suddenly become starkly apparent.

Providers of public transport, of course, fall into this bracket, because while train and bus ridership levels have plummeted, such services remain vital means of connecting key workers with their places of work.

Perhaps we can hope that our current challenges will result in a degree of revision regarding what is important, both locally in our communities, and in terms of the planet itself.

Such a change might result in a greater emphasis on more sustainable ways to travel – which leads us back to SJ’s thought-provoking article, and the revelation that some 40,000 train journeys from Stockholm to Gothenburg produce the same CO₂ emissions as just one flight of the same distance. As a technology supplier to the rail sector, Trapeze has a critical role to play in the delivery of efficient, sustainable transport. But as a team, we are also thinking carefully about social responsibility in terms of our own environmental footprint.

Even before the emergence of COVID-19, we had begun considering ways we could make a difference - and had identified a virtual or live-streamed User Group as a way to continue to inform and support our customers without requiring people to fly to a central location. Clearly, in the now Coronavirus-impacted world, this kind of activity is very much at the top of our agenda.

Those of us who work in this sector already know that rail is the most enjoyable way to travel. But it is also among the greenest – and with the emergence of ’train boasting’, it seems that people may be catching up to this way of thinking. As the world recovers from COVID-19, we can only hope that one positive to emerge will be a greater appreciation for the environment and sustainable forms of transport.

But if there is a trend towards rail travel, it is vital that the passenger experience meets expectations. It has therefore never been more important that train operators are able to plan effectively, react quickly, and overcome any disruption that arises.

Modern technology is a vital enabler here. Pre-emptive planning, decision science and optimisation are critical tools that effectively create order from the chaos of daily operation, enabling planners to focus on planning, and presenting a sense of serenity to the travelling public.

Together with our clients, the Trapeze team is striving to make rail travel more efficient, reliable, and enjoyable – and in doing so we are creating a greener future. In uncertain times that at least is something for which we can all be thankful.

Contact us to find out more about how Trapeze rail technology can help improve public transport operations.

This Trapeze blog post is Part 2 of 2 in a series regarding rail asset data management. Read Part 1 – How to Take Control of Your Rail Asset Data for Better Maintenance Outcomes.

The Trapeze Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) solution for rail is designed to incorporate rail-specific asset classes and workflows. Find out more about the advantages this brings when compared to generic EAM systems.

In my previous blog post, I covered the importance of incorporating multiple data streams into a centralised EAM, to improve asset maintenance efficiencies, and extend the asset lifecycle through trend analysis.

In today’s post, I will take you through the Trapeze EAM system, and how it is tailor-made for rail.

An effective EAM system draws its strength from understanding rail asset classes and their configuration - making all datasets easily accessible within a single platform. This ensures maintenance personnel receive manufacturer alerts in the same tool that also manages job allocations, inventory spares and time utilisation.

The Trapeze EAM platform contains ‘best-of-breed’ and purpose-built rail modules that support each of these areas. This means an organisation can track the lifetime asset configuration of any piece of equipment, ensuring critical information is not lost or overlooked. 

With Trapeze EAM implemented as a single source of asset information, your organisation will know what is required for capital works, as well as asset renewal campaigns and performance improvement. Trapeze EAM can also integrate the Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) dataset, ensuring that renewal decisions are easily justified. 

Understanding Physical and Digital Asset Interaction

Given the capability and technology, organisations will monitor asset physical condition for CBM. In rail, this is important, as assets are often highly utilised, and only have short periods where they can be serviced. Pre-empting failures based on condition data is an effective strategy in extending an assets’ useful life and reducing downtime. 

Where Trapeze technology differs, is that it leverages this data to enable rail best-practice asset management. We understand that rail maintenance managers and workshop supervisors do not need to interpret all asset complexities, although they are required to know the times where intervention is required. 

Another point to consider is that not all assets are connected – disconnected assets play a critical role in your rail infrastructure. Asset condition information from disconnected assets needs to be captured and processed in the same way as connected assets. One a common scenario in rail is to perform asset condition assessments, commonly delivered by third party consulting firms where condition scores and asset valuations are averaged out across asset classes. This allows rail asset owners to understand what areas are experiencing the most decay, and where operational spend needs to be allocated. However, this data is not granular enough for maintenance managers to understand and decipher. 

The Trapeze EAM system empowers rail operators and asset owners, by delivering a purpose-built mobile application, specifically designed to capture condition information from the field for assets that operate in a disconnected state. Once assets are audited, data is processed following the same business rules as digital assets - ensuring consistency across all classes. Offline assets can then be inspected regularly during regular maintenance activities. This means asset valuations based on asset condition information can be performed regularly, and data accuracy is increased as information is being averaged out. 

Maintenance Management and Capital Planning

When equipment condition information is fed through the Trapeze EAM system, maintenance managers can comprehend what assets are underperforming in an easy-to-use portal view. This allows them to:

• Create campaigns for asset improvement initiatives, and
• Build capital renewal programs for asset replacement.

The Trapeze Asset Performance and Assessment module was specifically designed to rank and categorise assets based on performance and condition data – enabling users to intuitively classify multiple assets into campaigns and renewal programs. Once assets are grouped, management reporting can be generated around budgets and planned maintenance schedules.  

While the process described seems simple, the technology required to deliver this functionality is complex. One example of this complexity is understanding the predictive decay and condition modelling for rail specific asset classes.  It is important that rail asset owners and operators understand from a planning perspective, where funds need to be allocated, to ensure the rail network can operate at a required level of efficiency. 

Trapeze has a deep understanding of predictive asset management using CBM data, through decades of research and operational experience working with rail organisations. The result is a comprehensive database of ‘survival age’ and age decay curves (expected condition) of rail asset classes, of which this interface is shown below:

This is where understanding your assets’ condition and performance is real-time adds value back to your business. You will have the ability to decipher the impacts of performing minor capital works will have on an assets’ useful life. You can also justify decisions around fund allocations - do you invest in uplifting assets that are at the end of their useful life, only to squeeze out a few more years of operation, versus allocating funds to uplift assets that are midway through their lifespan to improve their condition and performance? An EAM will tell you this. 

The Research and Development Approach to Rail EAM

The Trapeze EAM solution is tailor-made for rail, which eliminates the need for expensive customisations and redundant software. Developed with a best-of-breed approach, the Trapeze solution includes built-in rail-elements – including consist management and linear assets. There is also the capability to maintain complex network rail asset class configuration datasets. 

Some Trapeze EAM modules designed specifically for rail include:

• Network restrictions (Slow Zones)
• Track access requests
• Consist management
• Rail network and asset configuration management
• MobileFocus with embedded Geographic Information Systems 
• Linear visualisation module
• Depot and yard management

While some rail organisations have attempted to develop their own solutions to meet the functionality of the above modules, this can be time-consuming and costly – often overlooking the need for ongoing support and new version releases. We can cover this with the added benefit of having a solution that continues to grow specifically with the rail industry, and for operators around the world. 

Supporting EAM Cultural Change

At Trapeze, we understand rail asset and maintenance processes, while sometimes inefficient, can be culturally ingrained over decades. For this reason, implementing a software solution can often require careful change management to ensure the system is accepted, and efficiencies can be realised.  Our strategy is to bring in software experts that understand the deep complexities of rail, and the problems you are trying to solve. We then implement a bottom-up approach – engaging, training and nurturing staff to demonstrate value, and improving user acceptance.

Future Trapeze EAM Innovations

With our dedicated rail industry commitment and continuous collaboration, Trapeze is always working with our rail partners to plan future updates and innovations that meet the requirements of the rail industry. One area we are currently investigating is ‘Rail Worker Protection’ – safety vests with components that interface into the Trapeze EAM system that acts as a warning system, freeing up track workers to focus on their required tasks safely. We are also investigating how an EAM can be integrated with operations so they receive alerts for when they can perform work on the track.

Watch this space for the latest developments in Rail EAM!

Learn more about Trapeze EAM

To find out how a centralised EAM could help your rail organisation, please

Contact us for more information. 

This Trapeze blog post is Part 1 of 2 in a series regarding rail asset data management. Read Part 2- The Trapeze Approach to Better Rail Asset Management.

Every single day, rail organisations are required to manage asset datasets from multiple hardware types and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) – usually across diverse technology platforms. Making these independent datasets more accessible is essential for effective rail asset maintenance.

We already know that most rail technology solutions that interface with asset classes, such as rolling stock, linear assets and facilities are equipped with status monitoring capabilities. Monitoring ensures their condition and operational status is easily accessed, and any change in operating parameters can be viewed in real-time and actioned on quickly.

As the cost of this asset monitoring technology reduces, it is now implemented more throughout organisations, creating a new challenge – data overload. Making sense of multiple data streams from an ever-increasing list of sources is becoming a new challenge faced by rail maintenance managers, and asset management teams. 

Channelling this information into one, ‘single source of truth’, enables simplified and effective Condition Based Maintenance (CBM). CBM allows rail operators to determine when to conduct preventative maintenance to minimise the likelihood of equipment failure and potential outages. 

One of the biggest advantages in having a single source of truth is having all your data and business rules located in one technology solution – system users now have the ability to focus on what’s important to them, while still enabling management to have total oversight across all teams and departments. 

In addition to delivering a simplified view of complex data streams, a single source of truth stores all transactional information relating to asset condition data. It also enables a rail operator to discover trend failures over time and predict when future failures are likely to occur. This data repository has the potential to lead to predictive asset management - if we can understand the past performance of our assets, we can make accurate assumptions on how specific assets will perform in the future. 

A ‘Single Source of Truth’: What Does it Mean?

In the asset management space, the term ‘single source of truth’ is gaining popularity - with rail organisations applying their definition to suit their business. Recently, I observed an example where a transport operator used this term to describe how complex business processes interface with each other. However, this was not one consolidated approach, but multiple processes with asset data located across many systems.

While the above example demonstrates how an organisation can map and plan their processes around each unique application, it does not promote interoperability at a software level. Rail operators often experience a siloed approach to asset management – where there is no single dashboard view available on how all datasets operate and interact together.

A single source of truth should incorporate all the following rail segments:

How to Consolidate and Simplify Rail Maintenance Data

An Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) system, customised for rail operations, consolidates multiple asset data streams into a single, centralised solution. An EAM system rationalises business processes and reporting capabilities – thus increasing efficiencies.   

Asset equipment manufacturers do provide condition information and notifications linked to their defined intervention levels. While this is important granular data, information also needs to be proactively managed and monitored at a high level to ensure operational KPIs are met.

If an organisation only has business processes implemented for data management, this creates inefficiencies.  It is also time-consuming for users who need to manually collate, and merge data sets for their business systems. Conversely, integrating data into a single area at a software application level ensures data can be easily accessed in real-time, optimising the way individuals view and report information - and increasing staff productivity. 

Centralised Asset Management and ISO55001

Once a solution enables interoperability at a software level, you can improve existing processes around asset management, based on a centralised dataset of asset condition information.

Rail operators can achieve the following improvements with an integrated asset management platform: 

• Centralised track access requests, consist management, and signalling systems
• Consolidated performance reporting and failure analysis
• Every rail asset class can provide information to the same solution. 

With the best available asset information, maintenance and asset management teams will understand what is required to develop preventative maintenance plans and manage asset condition-based datasets effectively. 

Conclusion

In everyday life, rail operators interpret machinery condition information from a ‘centralised’ source of some form, for analysis. Maintenance planners do not need to understand every single data element. However, when pre-defined asset condition parameters are not met, operators need to be notified as soon as possible.

A centralised EAM solution can help your organisation effectively merge critical data elements from your existing business systems into a united network. This information can then flow through into a 'common data layer', which is made accessible to the relevant people who require it to make informed decisions.

Once the common data layer has successfully interfaced into existing systems, you unlock the capability to perform advanced analytical reporting and trend analysis based on historical asset data. Furthermore, a solution that is built for rail will also deliver on industry-specific business processes such as track access requests and consist management. 

Your organisation will achieve improved results in productivity, efficiency and safety by implementing an EAM system that includes purpose-built modules that meet rail industry requirements, as well as meeting ISO55001 guidelines.

Learn more about Trapeze EAM

To find out how a centralised EAM could help your rail organisation, please

Contact us for more information.

Read Part 2 – The Trapeze Approach to Better Rail Asset Management.

Over the past twenty years a digital revolution has transformed the way we work, shop and communicate. But if the changes so far seem radical, what comes next is likely to eclipse them, because technology is no longer merely affecting how we interact; it is changing how we make decisions.

While the power of data and tools wielded by social and retail giants such as Google and Amazon is largely well understood, in reality, Decision Science is already a vital tool across a wide range of sectors, where widespread use of data is making established processes exponentially more efficient.

Ali Khatam, co-founder of Decision Science specialists QAMPO, describes the discipline as having two parts – mindset and technology: “It is crucial to develop solutions which people act upon so we can track when and how decisions are made, and how to apply intelligence. However, this only works if people act on your data – if they don’t act, you can’t calibrate. So, it’s about availability, use and measurement.”

Ali explains that when it comes to technology, prediction and prescription are vital. “You have to know the probability of an action – you then have a window in which to act. If you don’t use this window, the data is just a report”. In other words, it is the action informed by data that holds the true value: “When you combine decision support on top of data, it is possible to see which of the available options is best. This is the true power of Decision Science.”

The Role of Decision Science in Rail Planning

The power of Decision Science is in its ability to make sense of complexity. This is a discipline well suited to rail planning, where the vast number of outcomes can often be overwhelming.

As outlined in an article by the Global Railway Review, “big data analytics have the potential to influence several dimensions of the railway sector and can overcome organisational, operational and technical complexities, including economic and human effects and information handling.”

With modern rail planning, complexity levels are already way beyond what humans can realistically expect to manage. However, the ability to identify the best approach is something that an algorithm cannot do on its own. The answer, therefore, is to align technology and expertise in order to improve decision making.

Essentially, the task is to augment human expertise with the power of algorithms, empowering experts to test countless scenarios to find optimal solutions. This is the goal of Decision Science, and there is an increasing belief that it is set to transform the way we live and work.

Decision Science informs rail planning in three distinct ways: visibility, ‘what if’ planning, and “what next” planning. Let’s take a look at each.

Visibility: The Foundation for Decision Science

Visibility plays a critical part in decision making: it is the layer of information on which future decisions are based. In short, if you don’t have visibility of key data you cannot hope to make effective decisions.

The baseline for effective decision making is an accurate understanding of all crew, vehicle and mileage costs. Together this data can help operators to understand their present productivity level – a measure of crew and vehicles costs in comparison with non-productive time.

Having this data validated and readily available provides assurance – and constitutes the first step in the decision-making process.

Increasing Efficiency With ‘What If’ Planning

Decision Science has the potential for a truly game-changing impact on the efficiency of rail planning. This notoriously complex process can be simplified to such an extent that Ali Khatam likens it to a videogame ‘God Mode’: “Think of rail planning as a game of Tetris,” he says. “With Decision Science it’s like playing while being able to predict the next thousand pieces. It’s a lot easier to minimise the gaps when you can see the entire picture.”

The move towards Decision Science in rail is being driven by two requirements: winning tenders and operating efficiently.

As Ben Dvoracek, General Manager Rail, Australia and New Zealand at Trapeze Group explains, “Rail planning is about big decisions. Anyone can bid low to win a tender; the challenge is winning with the right bid. You need data to inform these kinds of decisions.” With Decision Science, operators can analyse all available data in order to accurately predict operations, and use this information to understand the profitability of a particular route.

The process here revolves around understanding the operator’s problem, and then transforming it into an algorithm, thereby making it possible to remove the complexity. To achieve this, relevant ‘levers’ (factors that can be adjusted) are identified, and handed to the operator’s planning team to implement. Typical considerations (‘what if’ scenarios) might include: What if I hire more drivers? What if I buy more vehicles? What if I move my depot to a different location?

The results of these hypothetical scenarios are then presented in relation to the identified purpose – usually revenue and cost – thereby empowering customers to make complex problems simple and transparent. Thus armed, the business can then bid for the tender at a level that they know they can deliver upon, ensuring the best combination of competitiveness, reduced risk, and profitability.

A Better Tomorrow: ‘What Next’ Planning

As incredible as the potential for ‘What If’ planning is, perhaps the most impressive element is that we are just at the beginning of this journey. As Ali Khatam explains, this is an immature technology: “Machine learning and optimisation are becoming mature, but Decision Science – the alignment of the two – is still in its infancy.”

Looking ahead, Decision Science is set to play a huge role in rail, moving from mere ‘what if’ planning to ‘what next’. Essentially, technology will no longer just optimise what we do; it will tell us what to do.

Decision Science will completely transform operators’ ability to make an informed decision. A range of forward-looking factors, including changes either strategic (government or economic policy), tactical (new lines and stations) or operational (response to disruption) will dynamically inform all aspects of decision making, ultimately ensuring optimal operational efficiency and a level of customer experience that drives ridership.

The role of organisations like Trapeze Group is to embrace the opportunity to work with specialist partners such as Qampo, who can help our customers to achieve transformative results with this new technology.

Together we are now beginning to collate and integrate all relevant data, making it available, visualised, and simple to act upon. In the longer term, this process will enable operators to understand and respond to future trends, validating investment plans in-line with accurately anticipated demand – thereby maximising revenue to facilitate profitability and future growth.

Conclusion

It is difficult to understate the level of change promised by Decision Science. Ali Khatam describes it as “AI on steroids”, pointing to the DeepMind’s AI, which “doesn’t play chess like a machine – it plays it like a human grandmaster, but better.”

We are headed for a brave new world – one in which Decision Science is set to transform every aspect of rail operation. For all of us in the industry, the challenge now is to utilise this technology as early as possible, finding ways to improve operations and profitability, and delivering services that meet customer need as safely, reliably and sustainably as possible.

We will all – operators, infrastructure organisations and suppliers – need to work together to deliver on the promise of this new technology for the benefit of all. So if you are ready to take the next step then please get in touch and let’s take it together.

Contact us to find out more about how Trapeze technology and Decision Science can help improve public transport operations.

“In rail, something always goes wrong. We often say that Murphy works in rail. But not only Murphy; his whole family too!”

This comment from Vy’s (formerly Norwegian State Railways, NSB) Peter Hausken perfectly captures his keen sense of humour.

Peter Hausken (Vy’s Special Advisor and formerly IT Manager of Operations)

But dig a little deeper and you realise it also underlines what has made him such a powerful advocate for change. Because Peter doesn’t only understand the challenge; he has a solution too. “You need strong foundations to ensure you have the resilience to adapt,” he explains. And, intriguingly, Peter reveals that this resilience is increasingly obtained through data.

Vygruppen – branded Vy – is a government-owned railway company operating most passenger train services in Norway. As a trained computer scientist, Peter Hausken is uniquely positioned to ensure technology is used to its maximum potential in Vy operations in Norway and Sweden.

The Importance of Data

Data is central to this process, helping to manage disruptions, ensuring the accuracy of information to passengers – and increasingly driving improved decision making.

All of Vy’s present technology solutions are integrated via interfaces that, as Peter describes them, “let the systems listen in”. “Our goal is to only ever enter data once.”

Vy’s integrated technology approach reduces workload and ensures flexibility: “We use elements that can be changed as things progress. Everything is dependent on the same data, but not the same systems. This enables us to adapt quickly – which is how we were able to easily extend operations into Sweden.”

Maximising Resource

Another resulting benefit is greater visibility and consistency of information: “In the office, we see the same data as everyone else. Rolling stock data is reused through other systems,” Peter continues. “The data underpins graphical maps, passenger information, services: all elements joined together via a common interface.

“This visibility enables us to harness the power in the data. The team managing rolling stock and personnel have a visual view in the Gantt diagram: using live data they can see where plans will fail, then switch to the Train Graph view to see the situation on a specific line.“

Peter concludes with a powerful example: “These tools enable us to handle complicated situations as efficiently as possible. Oslo tunnel is one of busiest in the world. We are able to run 24 trains an hour in each direction – that’s about as many as it is possible to do.”

Data-Led Transformation

But one of the most interesting things about data is that it sometimes tells you things you hadn’t expected, and this is where truly transformative value can be found. A perfect example can be seen in Vy’s integration of Automatic Passenger Counting (APC) data; the analysis of which made it possible to increase overall efficiency by reducing station dwell times.

Further investigation revealed that the timetable was too tight in some locations and slack elsewhere. In this way, data has become an essential tool for adjusting timetables in line with reality, increasing the potential for efficiency, and ensuring the information to the public is accurate.

The impact can be seen in the transformation, both of the rail network but also the community: “Every time we made improvements, we were able to accommodate more traffic; we built capacity for more trains,” says Peter. “Over the past ten years, we have rolled out 130 new trainsets, increasing ridership by more than 30 per cent. We wouldn’t have been able to do so without access to planning tools and data.”

Murphy Appears: Managing Disruption

But as Peter memorably outlined in the quote that opened this article, rail disruption is never far away. The key to managing it, he explains, is to prepare: “We use technology to develop plans for how to manage disruption. We prepare that if one line is completely closed then we take a particular course of action; for a different line, we have prepared another reaction.

“All actions are aligned with the infrastructure, so once implemented everything happens really fast. We don’t have to make decisions about what to do, or what to tell passengers: we implement the change and communicate out the new plan: how to run, the new schedule, new rosters and so on.”

This process, Peter explains, ensures consistency, and enables planners to maintain control over the situation: “It is possible to manage operations even during disruption: you need skilled operators using good tools,” concludes Peter.

Assessing the Impact of Data

Clearly, improving operations has a profound impact on passengers: “We are working hard to improve the accuracy & timeliness of information out to passengers,” says Peter. “When something changes we inform passengers everywhere via every available channel. Within two minutes we aim to get the information out; within 20 minutes we say when replacement buses are coming, and within 30 minutes the first buses should arrive.”

But the impact of these improvements can also be seen in Oslo’s improving air quality – a significant development for a city geographically susceptible to high pollution, largely attributed to vehicle emissions. While many factors have contributed – including political will, education and more – clearly if people are to leave their cars at home then there must be a strong alternative.

Oslo is benefiting from the existence of an efficient, reliable public transport network. In the modern world, it is increasingly clear that such networks are built on access to reliable, actionable data. And, as our discussion with Peter Hausken has shown, having access to a computer scientist can be helpful, too.

For the rail sector, disruption is nothing new. From the cascading of rolling stock to electrification, franchise changes, timetable failures, ERTMS implementation and more, disruption has become the way of life for train operating companies. Now we face the aftermath of COVID-19 as a further dimension to an already complex set of circumstances.

Recovery from a situation like this is unlikely to be a smooth transition. More likely we will see a gradual process with frequent and urgent responses to a range of developing factors. In other words: a timetable planner’s nightmare.

COVID-19 recovery will strain our short-term planning capabilities, underlining the urgent requirement for tools that empower planners to respond much more quickly – and much more effectively.

What can better short-term planning tools do to address these circumstances?

Make short term alterations from plan

Planners should be able to make short-term plans as variations from the existing plan. Requiring planners to manually recreate new data from scratch is a needless waste of precious time.

Scenario planning decision support

Empower planners with powerful algorithms that can process vast numbers of ‘what if’ scenarios, enabling them to deliver fully optimised timetables in minutes, observing all available rules and conflicts.

User-friendly graphs

Provide planners with detailed graphs that reduce complexity, instantly showing all options and platform and line information. Planners can create or combine graphs, and zoom in to identify problems and hotspots, providing clarity and reducing keystrokes.

Robustness

Provide planners with the assurance that their tools will always be there for them: reliability, regular upgrades, and the ability to save work provide vital reassurance.

Technology

Planners need tools to help them work more productively. That means fast data processing for decision support, and the ability to work on a laptop wherever and whenever required.

A test system

Armed with a fully functioning test system, planners could import their own rules and data to assess the effectiveness for themselves. Crucially, full traceability would enable them to prove the effectiveness to managers and decision-makers, paving the way for full utilisation of planner-empowering technology.

Trapeze’s planning tools help planners to work faster and more efficiently. Users report that plans can be produced up to 60% faster than with other tools.

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At first glance, connection protection may seem like a way to keep in touch with distant relatives, or possibly a dating app function to meet the love of your life, but it isn't.

In the world of transport, it is a way to help ensure that passengers make their connecting services when interchanging on a public transport journey. (Connection protection is also known as transfer protection).

Imagine you are heading home, tired, weary. It is a cold and blustery evening and looking out of the tram you can see the rain running down the window.

Two more stops then a one-minute wait, and a ten-minute bus ride will end with a warm family dinner. But the traffic is heavy, and as you are still approaching the stop you can see your bus depart. Thirty minutes of standing in the rain and a cold dinner could have been avoided. If only the bus driver had known to wait!

The driver cannot make this call on their own. They need to focus on driving, and the complexities of the scheduling system mean it is not reasonable to expect drivers to know all the connecting services. Drivers normally cannot see the connecting services, so they need to be told how long to wait for the connection.

The control room operators may have full network visibility, but they are focused on network delivery and often have bigger issues than a single tram being delayed by five minutes.

What is needed is an automatic system that does not rely on human observation, that tells the drivers of those services, via a display on the dashboard, to wait for the inbound connection. Fortunately, these systems exist right now.

They are known as Automatic Vehicle Location and Control (AVLC) systems and are helping passengers reach their destinations efficiently and quickly in London, Singapore, Zurich and other leading world cities.

Then it predicts each vehicle’s arrival at every stop. Connecting services are examined and the drivers of these services are advised on a dashboard display when to depart the interchange. Departing services can be delayed to help commuters make their connections.

When setting up this connection protection there are some practical decisions that need to be made. First, we should ask ourselves, which services should wait for incoming passengers?

It seems obvious that a distributor bus service in the suburbs should wait for a full tram arriving from town in the evening. But what about inbound in the morning? Should the full tram heading to town wait for the bus if the bus is running late?

Trains only have a small scheduling window, and do not normally wait for late bus services. Deciding on which vehicle should wait is network and time of day dependent. Anticipated loads can also factor into deciding who should wait.

Once we know who is waiting for whom, how long should they wait? Every minute a departing service is delayed compromises the on-time running for passengers already onboard. Typically, operators are prepared to hold a bus for up to 2 minutes, but this will depend on the frequency of the service.

Less frequent services magnify the impact of missing the connection and a longer window may be allowed. Automatic thresholds can be supplemented with a manual override on selected routes – triggered only when the auto thresholds are breached.

Ideally, all transport modes are integrated and operate on the same system.

To work effectively, the system that is holding up the departing service needs to get real time information from the inbound service. The SIRI CP service is one way to do this. If they are on different tracking systems, then real time data must be shared in both directions.

What is also important for transport operators is to report on the missed connections. The connection protection can yield direct passenger benefits through time savings, but the reporting helps identify hot spots.

If certain services always just miss the connection, there might be a timetabling problem. Reporting allows planners to identify this situation and to make a small adjustment to one of the services so that in the future it is easier to make the connection.

Advanced AVLC systems inform passengers how their current and related services are running in real time, showing an updated connection status to passengers inside the vehicle.

This can be very valuable - we have even heard of passengers in Zurich looking at the display to work out if they can save a few minutes off their journey home by changing at an interchange to a different tram line.

They give operators the ability to dynamically control their fleet in real time and, with connection protection, they deliver a higher level of public transport service.  

This modern transport technology is available now and ensures customers spend less time waiting for connections and more time on the things that are important to them. They can get home to a warm family dinner safely, conveniently and on-time because connection protection is working for them.

To find out more about how Trapeze technology can improve your bus operations, contact us for more information.

When your transport network runs efficiently, with frequent services and on-time performance, life is great, and you rarely hear from passengers. But when things go wrong, your passengers will let you know! A single missed connection may negatively impact many passengers, and not providing accurate service information, reflecting the actual situation, can compound this, turning grumbling passengers into vocal critics.

Customer satisfaction is just as closely linked to the information provided as it is to the frequency, timeliness and quality of the actual services provided . To deliver this value is a two stage process. First, we need to get the right information and give this to the right people. Second, the information needs to be provided in a way that those people can act on it. 

An Intelligent Transport System (ITS) does exactly this, equipping drivers with comprehensive real-time information and automating many of the tasks required, enabling Automated Vehicle Management (AVM) capabilities. The system can calculate the consequences of possible holding actions, and determines if the waiting receiver vehicle should hold longer for the feeding service, or depart to maintain the timetable or headway.

The system then feeds the status of the connection across the system, to passengers as well as external information displays. Along with visibility of services, AVM gives drivers the power to dynamically change service operations as they drive, to better match the timetable, headway or, through central calculated instructions, connection timing. The result is better quality services, better information, and increased passenger satisfaction. The driver can look at the connection status information on the interactive driver display as well as showing the same information to passengers when the vehicle is equipped with information displays.

AVM supports connection protection not only between vehicles across multiple operators, but across modes of transport, for example displaying information in trams approaching the railway station about the status of the train connection. Though it is unlikely that a rail operator would be able to wait for the passengers to transfer, if the tram is delayed, they would at least be informed as soon as possible on the likelihood of making the connection.

Integration starts with both light rail and tram on-board computers working with a common data supply that defines where and when the tram needs to travel and the actions that need to be performed at different positions along the route. This defines the plan.

Then, location information is sent to the control centre in real time so that network controllers can see the performance of multiple services and their relationship with one another. From here, the ITS and AVM combined deliver advanced capabilities such as headway, route diversion guidance, optimised passenger information and overall enhanced passenger comfort. With complex networks the consequences of disruption can be significant and the need to have a coordinated and central control is exemplified. Using Incident Response tools enables predefined operating procedures to be activated, providing a consistent and structured response. Combining predefined plans with ad hoc responses maximises the efficiency of the response and the return to normal operations.  

Managed Headway; Mind the Gap

Since the control centre knows when each tram on a line arrives at each stop, the headway to the vehicle in front can be calculated and displayed to the driver. This allows the driver to maintain the target interval, for example, by holding the vehicle at the stop for extra seconds to maintain the required gap to follow the timetable.

For transport, history is often times a fair predictor of the future. We can use history-based predictions, to calculate not just timetable and headway adherence for the current location, but also make a data-driven prediction on the likely arrival time over the next 45 minutes or so.

Tracking all trams across the network and collecting this location data in the control centre enables these sophisticated prediction algorithms to provide valuable updates to you and your customers. Even disruptions can be factored in; if all trams passing along a certain section of track are experiencing delays that increase travel time, then it is reasonable to predict that the next trams will experience additional delays.

For high-frequency services, this history-based prediction is significantly more accurate than schedule deviation alone and enables the operator to reduce bunching of services, giving passengers a more regular service and avoiding the pain of no trams for a long time and then two or three arriving nose to tail.

Automate Route Diversion Guidance

The location-aware, on-board computer can provide the driver with a map display showing where to drive. Whilst not essential during regular service, when operating a diversion the additional guidance helps the driver follow the defined diversion route without needing to contact the control centre for instructions. Freed up from guidance calls, the service controllers can concentrate on managing the disruption directly, reducing its impact and severity.

Efficient in-route plans, diversions and alternative patterns can be identified and prepared for likely diversions. The AVM system enables these to be activated centrally as required. It also offers the ability to create ad hoc diversion, taking into account the actual network and routing restrictions, to enable disruption without a pre-existing plan to be managed. In either case the AVM solution takes the updated planned information and ensures it is cascaded across the various passenger information channels, keeping passengers informed.

With the location awareness and control possibilities, as well as the ability to feed information to the driver, the on-board computer can be linked to the train protection systems, via suitable firewalls and specialist interfaces, to provide enhanced information flow between the two systems to support improved operations and enhanced passenger information. For example, identifying the actual platform in a multi-bay interchange without fixed allocation, or detecting when trams are on the opposite tracks. These project-specific enhancements optimise the value of existing investments.

Optimise In-Vehicle Passenger Information

Automating tasks within the tram allows the drivers to focus on safety of customers and delivery of service. An on-board Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) updates the ‘next stop’ information as the tram moves along the route, and the synchronised ‘next stop’ announcement is made together with any additional information. Where trams are equipped with digital information displays, these are automatically updated with the destination and next stops, showing special ‘alight here’ information as well as the status of other services at a stop. 

For example, as a tram pulls into a busy interchange, a screen shows departures on other lines providing passengers with important updates on their next transfer point. Where the system implements connection protection between lines, the status of the subsequent connection can also be shown. AVM-based connection protection is just one tool that equips drivers with the information they need to hold the vehicle at the stop to ensure passengers can connect to services on other lines. Short delays for connection protection don’t negatively impact the overall network running time, but they do positively impact passenger experience and greatly help in the delivery of an effective multi-modal network. Using headway operation, the following trams, on arrival, would be informed on the proximity to the vehicle in front, enabling headway regulation to be undertaken and the interval to be maintained.

The information screen also provides layout information, particularly at very large locations with more than one stop on the route. For example, at a large football stadium, different stadium access points might be serviced by different stops. Providing this information within the tram (for example, “alight here for Gate 2”) directs passengers to the most convenient access point.

"The on-board tram system provides in-cab driver alert of the network Permanent Speed Restriction (PSRs) signs changes along with over-speed and violations alerts. This will increase driver hazard awareness and enhance day to day operational safety.” 
Terry Hewlett, Systems & Business Manager, Transport for London

Enhance Passenger Comfort without Driver Interaction

Other automated features provide further driver support. For example, on entering a tunnel, the passenger lights are automatically turned on, or their brightness adjusted, and the volume of announcements is increased to offset any increase in ambient noise. On exiting the tunnel, the lighting and announcement volume reverts to standard settings. Where the tram is fitted with external speakers, announcements at different times of day are broadcast at different volume levels, limiting the disturbance to residents at night. In fact the on-board computer can be configured, in the data supply, to activate and deactivate digital outputs which can be used to control a range of functions within the vehicle depending on the route and location.

Knowing with confidence where the tram is, without needing to talk to the driver, significantly enhances the safety, security and outcomes for drivers, passengers and the public.

The ITS can also provide integration of the CCTV system monitoring its status and automatically flagging issues to the control centre. In the other direction, it can provide information relating to the position of the tram along the route, as well as GPS coordinates, to the CCTV system. This can then be used to assist in later video retrieval searches and enhance the safety of passengers and drivers.

Improve Driver & Customer Experiences

The provision of on-board driver information and automation of non-core tasks lets drivers focus on customer safety and the core functional vehicle tasks, minimises distractions and ensures the control centre maintains a current, accurate operational view.

This helps reduce the likelihood of things going wrong and improves the opportunity for operators to correct a situation before it has an impact on passengers. With improved efficiency, performance and safety, the ultimate test lies with the passenger who alights at the end of a trip informed and with a sense of satisfaction and ease.

If outdated, disconnected technology is resulting in basic or non-existent driver control or passenger information, your service delivery is being held back.

Current research projects underway together with university partners, take this one step further, looking at ways of improving the energy efficiency of the tram operation by combining real time information, planning and operational controls.

To find out how AVM technology can help you deliver your customers the service they want, talk to us today.

[1] Zhang, Feng. Traveler Responses to Real-Time Transit Passenger Information systems, 2010

When it comes to keeping your ambulance fleet and assets in a state of operational readiness, it’s imperative that you have the information needed to make critical decisions – a key requirement for every emergency response organisation. 

What’s at risk? Unpredicted asset failures, maintenance budget blowouts, decisions made on incorrect data, decreased asset lifecycle, increased asset downtime and more. None of which you want to see in performance reports. You need to gain insights and confidence in the health and the ability of your assets to perform.

Taking control of your assets and inventory is a critical part of having confidence in your ability to respond. You should consider:

• Security is prevalent within fleet strategies and as fleets become autonomous and digitally powered, maintenance teams will become the critical frontline of defence to ensure transportation is safe. Not only do technicians need to inspect and ensure that back-up systems and safeguards are in place, but they are now being asked to monitor more advanced technologies on a daily basis. This technology not only sits within the confines of the vehicle manufacture, but also the complex mission-critical assets within an Ambulance. Traditional fleet management has not allowed for technology advancements and will impede fleets transitioning to new technologies or vehicle types.

• Understanding how your assets perform – from understanding the effects of driver behaviour on fuel consumption and vehicle wear and tear, to modelling vehicle utilisation characteristics and ensuring you are not impacted by lease penalties due to a favourite vehicle being used, versus maximising value out of an existing asset which is due for decommission with room to spare on the lease allowances.

• Controlling your assets and knowing when you need to intervene. Ensuring servicing is done at the correct time taking into consideration scheduled service requirements, and anticipated defects which may impact your assets shortly after. Unexpected downtime due to a predicted failure is a key focus of many organisations. Do it once and do it right. You also need to be able to model and enforce asset utilisation to maximise value. Having assets stationed at low-volume locations is sure to impact your investment.

• Knowing the finances and understanding the cost profiles of your assets from procurement to decommissioning will allow you to maximise value from your assets, but even more importantly – to be able to build compelling business cases demonstrating the impacts to operational readiness. Have you modelled and communicated the impact of a 30% rise in fuel costs to the organisation from fluctuating oil prices? Outlined the impact diesel additives have on operating costs or attempted to justify increasing preventive maintenance expenditure? Keeping assets on the road could lead to increased operational hours and a corresponding reduction in fleet size.

• Ensure your assets are ready to respond by understanding day of operations requirements. Are you coordinating your vehicle decommissioning activities with shift patterns? Do you have access to and understand who is using your assets on a day-to-day basis? Is that one vehicle constantly requiring reactive maintenance due to flat batteries? The assumption may be that it is never on the charger, but you could remotely monitor the vehicle systems in real-time and identify that an activity as seemingly insignificant as the vehicle fridge being switched on at the start of a shift four days every fortnight, with the engine off, deteriorates the battery over a 6-month period.

• Environment controls are gaining a greater awareness globally and new clean air standards will affect every organisation that has a large fleet of vehicles. Are you prepared for these changes? Tightening legislation means that fleet managers will be faced with a variety of new mandates. By understanding your fleet and the use of internal combustion engines, you are going to be ahead of the curve to quickly and effectively implement change procedures to meet and exceed government guidelines.

Supporting a holistic operational asset strategy requires consideration of a multitude of processes, data modelling and aligning this to control and management of costs. Bringing this all together has positive long-term benefits across your organisation.

With certainty, you can standardise, adapt and optimise your business processes while meeting maintenance compliance, increasing technology levels and reliability thresholds. Through working with ANZ ambulance authorities for over 15 years, Trapeze, understands what ambulance organisations need from operational asset management and how to bring this together.

Contact Us to find out more about how Trapeze is assisting organisations to be ready to respond, always.