At TRANSPORT Smart Class, Northern Ireland 2023, we were delighted to welcome back Anna Filby from software-as-a-service provider, ioki. A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Deutsche Bahn Group, ioki supports local authorities and transport companies to build sustainable public transport solutions. Anna reminded us of the diverse set of challenges they face: “major fluctuations in demand”, only “20% of bus capacity” being utilised, a “lack of expertise in intermodal design”, “lack of transparency and monitoring” (as “little data is available”), “an unappealing, laborious system based on analogue and manual processes”, “design cycles of over 5 years” and “insufficient flexibility”. With passenger numbers and efficiency critical to the success of a service, ioki believe that demand responsive services can provide the solution, both for passengers and for the operator.
But how do you build a successful on-demand transport service? What opportunities does on-demand transport offer your region and what differences in planning need to be taken into account? What criteria does software have to fulfil to ensure that transport can really be operated in a user-oriented and economically efficient way?
Anna’s presentation highlighted the most important criteria for a successful implementation of on-demand transport, from the data-driven mobility analysis in the run-up to planning to the appropriate parameters in the product set up. She also provided real world insights into CO2 savings and the role DRT can play in helping achieve climate goals.
Sharing key findings and best practice examples, Anna demonstrated how to make a DRT service a complete success. She subsequently hosted deeper dive roundtable discussions with all delegates in attendance. “I was honoured to speak to so many like-minded people in the room who are committed to improving public transport”, said Anna. “It was great to hear about the steps Belfast has taken to get its first autonomous project off the ground”.
If you satisfy our regular delegate qualification criteria but were unable to join us in Holywood on February 9th for the live in-person event at Cultra Manor, CLICK HERE and complete the short “Download form” (located at the bottom of the post) to receive a unique link enabling free access to the presentation video recordings and slides (including the film footage and slides from Anna’s initial presentation).
Those qualifying to receive the rich presentation content from this event include commissioning, procurement, trialling, partnering and policy leads, senior influencers, strategic decision makers and planners from local authorities (e.g. city, borough, metropolitan, district and county councils); public transport operators; regional transport partnerships, sub-regional transport bodies, combined authorities, integrated transport authorities and passenger transport executives; highways authorities and road operators; government and supporting national transport agencies; fleet operators, parking operators, prime contractors etc.
