EBSF is co-funded by the European Commission   under the 7th Framework Programme for R&D 
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Tomorrow's bus tested today in Gothenburg |
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Within the framework of EBSF, researchers, companies and public authorities are working together to create new solutions for tomorrow’s bus-based public transport: easier boarding, shorter journey time and a more comfortable trip. As the city bus of the future undergoes testing in Gothenburg, passenger wishes are in firm focus. Public transport plays a decisive role in solving urban congestion and air pollution. But what can be done to persuade more people to leave their cars at home and use public transport instead? A foretaste of what will attract tomorrow’s passengers can be seen on the streets of Gothenburg, where a new bus will be in regular service for three months on the city’s busiest bus route, no. 16.
The sub-project is a cooperative venture between Volvo Buses, the Chalmers University of Technology, public transport authority Västtrafik and transport operator Veolia. The aim is to develop and test a bus with properties designed to attract more passengers while at the same time offering the conditions needed for cost-efficient operation.
Focus on passengers
“The optimal city bus must be inviting and safe to ride in, it should be convenient to board and exit, and the journey should be quick. These are the main areas on which we have focused with the new bus we are currently testing in regular service,” says Peter Danielsson, project manager at Volvo Buses.
The starting-point for the design of the new bus is a behavioural science study and various simulation exercises in which researchers from Chalmers investigated how passengers respond to different situations on a typical journey. The researchers also interviewed 300 passengers who regularly use route 16 to find out what they feel about using public transport. The result is an articulated bus that differs in many respects from the vehicles that normally operate on the streets of Gothenburg.
Cutting journey time
In order to make it easier to get on and off the bus, the door openings at the front are much wider than normal and are located behind the driver so passengers walk straight into the bus. The doors open outwards so as not to encroach on passenger space and they open and shut with a quick sideways movement, somewhat like on a metro carriage. Boarding height adjusts closer to kerb height at the bus stop to make things easier for passengers with mobility difficulties and those with baby carriages.
“With these solutions, we can speed up passenger flow and reduce standstill times at bus stops by up to 25 percent. This means we shorten the overall journey time, which is a factor of considerable importance to passengers,” says Peter Danielsson.
Giving the bus a welcoming interior was another important consideration. For instance, the articulated ‘concertina’ section in the middle is made of a transparent material to admit more light. In addition, the interior layout has been changed to increase passenger capacity by 20 percent compared with a conventional articulated bus.
“By positioning the front axle as far forward as possible, the wheel housings do not take up any of the passenger space. And in order to accommodate more standing passengers during peak periods, the seats in the front part of the bus fold out of the way and can be electronically locked upright by the driver,” explains Peter Danielsson.
The most noticeable difference compared with a regular bus is the central driver’s seat, giving the driver better all-round visibility and thus also improving traffic safety. The front of the bus is designed to create a modern look.
 
Training in eco-driving techniques
“One important aspect of the project is to test and monitor how changes in driving style can help give passengers a more pleasant journey, for instance through gentle braking and acceleration. As part of the project, we have therefore equipped all the buses on route 16 with features that help the drivers drive gently. All the drivers on this route have also received training in docking at bus stops in such a way that passenger entry and exit are made easier,” relates Magnus Lorentzon, project manager at Västtrafik.
Follow-up in the spring
Both driver and passenger feedback will be monitored by Chalmers during the course of the project.
“For instance, we are starting up a focus group consisting of passengers who meet regularly to offer their views. In addition, we will conduct a large number of passenger interviews in February,” says MariAnne Karlsson, researcher at Chalmers.
The survey results will be presented in spring 2012 and will indicate whether tomorrow’s bus is here to stay.
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Outstanding exam pass rates for the European Bus System of the Future in Budapest |
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The aim of the 47 international members of EBSF (European Bus System of the Future project) is to provide technical improvements to help effectively buses’ operations and to create an attractive alternative for public transport users.
The MAN Lion’s City GL articulated bus
BKV Zrt., as the Hungarian operator partner of this European Union’s project, undertook the testing of the articulated five-door MAN bus in real operational conditions since the 23rd of March 2011 on the line 86. The results of this experience will help manufacturers and operators.
The MAN Lion’s City GL type 18.75 meters long developed for EBSF in the standard BKV-coloured is an air-conditioned articulated bus with impressive interior design and special equipments.
Instead of the usual four doors, the five-door bus was unusual in Budapest but with its intelligent solutions – like the anti-kink door and the motion detector – it effectively helped improving the passenger flow. With the help of the opening-closing function- so far only used on tram - passengers could also activate the doors. The beginning of the testing period focused on the automatic door control system as it appeared in the first operational day that people could not stand in front of the door on the yellow-striped area in the crowded peak hours. However, the light-barrier did not let the doors close for safety reasons and it stopped the already started door closing process. Consequently the bus was stuck at the bus stop for several minutes. The MAN experts quickly reacted: one day later the driver controlled the closing of the doors, so the problem was quickly fixed.
The on-board computer communicates with the centre independently: it transmits data about the vehicle’s position, the errors that might occur and the number of passengers. Every minute, the system records the GPS coordinates of the bus so that its position can be followed on a map. The data of the infra-red laser 3D automatic passenger counting equipment, located above the doors, shows the utilization rate of the bus. The system is able to differentiate human beings from objects, its accuracy is outstanding: 96.9%.
Among the passengers the translucent bellows made a hit, just like the number and the placement of handrails, the setting of the seats and standing places or the retrofit LED interior lighting but especially the row of coloured LED lights that can be set in different colours in the front and the back of the bus. Despite the warning light and the information stickers, the folding seats activated by the driver were often forced, thus the fixing mechanism had to be repaired several times.
The reception of the passenger information equipment was also good. On the TFT screens placed before and after the bellows, passengers can follow the current stop, the order of the coming stops, the transfer options and the current time. Besides, the automatic operation is a big help for the driver.
The testing the fire extinguishing equipment next to the engine in the engine room which is able to transfer data showed that even in emergency situations it operated trouble-free. The bus had minimal maintenance requirement, and it has been running 98.5% of the time during the first six months.
The 320 hp six-cylinder MAN-diesel engine proved to be a very dynamic resource. It moved the bus effortlessly, even under full load with a good fuel consumption rate. No problem was raised concerning the access to the control points, the placement of the engine, exhaust system, gear-box and auxiliary devices. This reflects the forward-thinking and careful design.
Thanks to the careful and prudent constructors, the control of the bus also reached an excellent score: the vehicle follows the smallest movements of the steering wheel and also completed the tightest turns without any problems. No problem was discovered concerning the gearbox or the air-conditioning. While the former provided the quiet running, the latter provided the pleasant, comfortable passenger area. The automatic system that worked in cooling mode 80% of the operating hours and adapted to the outer temperature provided 5-6 ˚C colder temperature in the passenger area but it also turned out that the cooling performance decreases on the vehicle in traffic congestion.
On bus line No. 86, 400 passengers were questioned before the testing period after the beginning of the operational test. On the basis of the received responses during the EBSF project, the service quality and the reliability of the bus improved; the passengers outlined the cleanliness of the vehicle, the comfort and the adequate number of the seats but also found inner temperature and sound level better. On the new bus, 88% of the passengers rated the quality of the applied developments good or very good.
The EBSF test in Budapest is continuing for few weeks more and new results are expected.
Translucent folding bellows enable easy movement between the afterbody and
forebody and provide a pleasant and light atmosphere inside the vehicle |
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The European Bus System of the Future presents the results of the Budapest Use Case:"Accessibility, Passenger Information & Remote Maintenance" |
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During six months, the Budapest Transport Closely Held Corporation (BKV) has been testing an innovative bus demonstrator in real operational conditions. Specifically adapted to the Hungarian capital, the MAN Lion’s City GL has been running on Budapest’s 11 kilometre inner-city route 86, a line acknowledged to undergo high passengers’ flows.
The EBSF Use Case Event of Budapest will be the opportunity to present the first results of the EBSF pioneering concepts and to compare them with the existing infrastructure. Since March 2011, the innovative MAN Lion’s city GL demonstrator bus and new infrastructure equipments are evaluated to provide new solutions in order to shorten journey time, increase passenger flow, improve comfort, space and security and boost operational costs while meeting environmental protection objectives. The test phase therefore delivers its findings on the optimisation of the passenger offer.
The EBSF Use Case Event of Budapest
taking place on 3rd November 2011 in Hotel Arena, Budapest
(1.-3. Ifjúság street, Budapest, 1148)
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New real time multimodal information system launched in Madrid for two of the most deserved bus lines |
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The Transport Authority of Madrid (CRTM- Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid) will pilot between October 2011 and February 2012 a new real time information system developed in the frame of the European Bus System of the Future project (EBSF), one of the largest European scale transport project coordinated by UITP. Before a wider implementation, the new system will be tested on the lines connecting Majadahonda and Moncloa interchanges, a major route for the Madrid dwellers with 30000 passengers per day.
Many tools will keep the users and the driver informed before and during their trips about the real-time location of the vehicles and traffic/incidents information, enabling the passenger to make the best modal choice. Thanks to the EBSF innovative system the Central Control Station of CRTM will manage the information coming from different operators/modes, communicating and integrating very different Automatic Vehicle Monitoring Systems (AVMS) for each operator.
Press Conference for the launch of the EBSF Use Case, 18 October 2011, Majadahonda (Madrid). Relevant local authorities and EBSF partners will speak about the project and the implementation of the Use Case, followed by a technical visit to test such new system.
Contact: Maeva Zebrowski
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The EBSF Use Case of Madrid |
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September 2011
Providing multimodal real time passenger information (including for buses, trains and traffic) to allow the user to choose the best mode depending on the real situation of the network, encouraging the use of public transport, is the main objective addressed by EBSF in the Madrid Use Case.
In addition, the modular AVMS system, which is connected to the Integrated Public Transport Management Centre, can coordinate services across all transport modes, managing incidents with operators and emergency services (fire brigades, ambulances, police etc.) in the whole region.
During the test, six bus lines connect Majadahonda with Moncloa interchange: 651,652, 653, 654 and 655 using the BUS-HOV system, and 651A which does not use the BUS-HOV lane.
All improvements make the bus system more attractive, and the innovative infrastructure offers a new way of travelling adapted to passengers' needs.
The EBSF Use Case Event in Madrid will take place on 18th October 2011.
For more information, please contact to
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Spanish Mobility Week |
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More than 800 cities will participate in the European Mobility weeks, which is held from 16th to 22nd September 2011. This year, the theme chosen is "Alternative Mobility". Spain is the country with more cities (more than 500) which will join to the event. Therefore, the main activities which take place in several Spanish cities are as follow:
Madrid
Several exhibitions and a seminar on Public Transport Quality and Certification will take place in the Spanish Capital.
The city will also present the new sustainable mobility initiatives, like promoting the use of bikes as a way of transport, or the initiative with Metro defining "green routes" related to several metro stations.
Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona)
"Save petrol, give clean air" is the slogan of the Sustainable and Safe Mobility of Hospitalet de LLobregat. During a week, there will be several exhibitions by alternative ways of transport like the bikes, buses, motorbikes...
Special consideration is given to people with reduced mobility. A session where the city will disclose the future proposal of transport for the group, will take place on 29th September. To know more, click here.
Don't forget that we have an appointment on 19th September with the second worldwide Flash Mob of Y4PT! As 17 cities in the world are going to participate, you can't miss it! |
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Road Transport: new tachograph rules will save companies more than £500 million per year |
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Brussels, 19 July 2011
The European Commission has proposed to revise the tachograph legislation to make full use of new technological opportunities such as satellite positioning. This will make fraud more difficult and reduce the administrative burden, which is expected to save companies £515 million per year. By ensuring better compliance with rules on driving times and rest periods, drivers will be better protected, road safety increased and fair competition assured.
Nowadays, six million European trucks and buses are equipped with tachographs in order to enable the control of compliance of professional drivers and transport undertakings with the social road transport legislation.
Location recording by satellite positioning, remote communication, specific interface, higher standards for workshops entrusted to install and calibrate the tachograph will reduce fraud and manipulation, merging the driving licence with the driver card, and continuous update, are the main novelties that the proposal provides.
To read more, click here |
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European Mobility (16th -22nd September) |
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European Mobility Week has been running for nine years and aims to influence mobility and urban transport issues for the long-term as well to improve health and quality of life of European citizens. It is organised each year from 16th to 22nd September and represents a perfect opportunity to present sustainable alternatives to European citizens. It gives people space to think about what our urban streets are really for and to debate concrete solutions for tackling urban challenges such as air pollution. [Read more]
With ‘Alternative Mobility' as theme of the 2011 campaign, the 10th edition of the European Mobility Week will focus on the importance of energy-efficiency in urban transport. For this, the event wants to foster the shift towards more sustainable modes of transport, including public transport, cycling and walking.
EBSF and UITP will actively participate in the Mobility Week with special activities and a communication campaign. Furthermore, EBSF will collaborate with the Y4PT in the second edition of the Worldwide Flash-Mob.
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More information about the Mobility Week on http://www.mobilityweek.eu/ and http://www.uitp.org/advocacy/Public-awareness.cfm#0 |
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Focus on the EBSF IT Platform |
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Paris, 18 November 2011
The "EBSF IT architecture" is a fundamental achievement of the project. Twenty-two EBSF partners led by Veolia Transdev have joined forces to develop this telematic platform for urban buses which relies on full IP architecture, standard interfaces, interoperability and modularity.
Based on open source technology, the EBSF architecture makes it possible to use data related to public transport through common mechanisms, standard rules, unique protocols in any place in Europe. Developed to be installed on-board buses, the EBSF IT architecture is also suitable to tramway technology.
Thanks to the use of a single standard IT architecture, innovation can be now concentrated on the applications (real multimodal information, telediagnostic solutions, fleet management applications, ticketing etc...).
EBSF works closely with the European Committee for Standardization, in order to integrate the results of the project with existing European standards.
The EBSF telematic architecture has completed its validation on a test bench and will be presented to the public in Paris on the 18th November 2011.
More information about the event and the IT architecture, please write to
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