Cradle of the tram-train idea, Karlsruhe is the host city of the IT-TRANSfair for IT solutions for the public transport market. Transport operators in the area manage their operations with the latest IT systems. Verkehrsbetriebe Karlsruhe GmbH (VBK) operates the light rail and bus lines withinKarlsruhe city while Albtal-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft mbH (AVG) runs the light rail and tram-train lines in the surrounding region. It also operates several regional bus routes, rail and road freight traffic, and is also a luxury coach tour operator. To organise daily operation of such an extended network, VBK and AVG implemented a CAD/AVL system in the late 1990s. The system's main functions have been monitoring and dispatching of the public transport vehicles and introducing dynamic passenger information systems. Changes in passenger numbers, development of new routes and competition from the private car encouraged VBK and AVG to migrate to a new Intermodal Transport Control System (ITCS). Features include high precision, expandability, universality, and potential for other public transport operators to join in. A new integrated control centre is being planned and the on-boardequipment will be modernised benefitting passengers, employees and transport managers alike, as well as the city, the region and the environment.
Samenvatting