Digitalization and innovation

Digitalization is an important factor in the German local transport market. The increasing demand for integrated mobility concepts, the growing importance of passenger information and sustainability efforts are generating positive impetus for innovation and digital solutions. In conjunction with the sector, politics, passengers and suppliers, DB Regional is striving to act as a driver of innovation. In this context, DB Regional aims to consolidate its role as market leader through a consistent digitalization strategy. Against the backdrop of general cost pressure, both customer-side innovation needs, for example in the area of integrated everyday mobility, as well as potential for the further development of core processes are to be addressed. These are to be strengthened in terms of performance, speed and efficiency through automation and the use of new technologies. DB Regional wants innovative digital solutions that quickly create visible, tangible added value and meet the need for efficient fulfillment of transport contracts.

The following progress was made in 2024:

• Rail substitute service: As part of the New Replacement Service program, IT products were developed that have contributed to the success of the rail substitute service in the Riedbahn corridor. Examples of this include live tracking of substitute transport buses, video-based routing and monitoring of substitute transport services in the control center. The IT products developed form the basis for efficiently supporting future substitute measures and offering a uniform, high-quality implementation of substitute services. With the “West” lot, DB Regional was able to secure a further two-year high-performance rail substitute transport service in 2024, which will start in 2026.
• Real-time data exchange platform: With the Instant Dynamic Data Integration (IDDI) initiative DB Regional aims at taking steps towards becoming a data-driven company. Efforts are geared towards using operational data effectively and distributing it between important regional applications. IDDI is a central event streaming platform for real-time data exchange within DB Regional. In 2024, new data sources were successively connected. The first applications, such as improving the safety situation overview by automatically forwarding disruption reports are currently being implemented.
• Digital schedule: The digital schedule transfers a wide range of multiple unit driver-relevant information into a user-friendly working environment with just a single application. The developed solution bundles, for example, information about temporary slow stops, schedule arrangements and schedule notifications. This enables multiple unit drivers to retrieve all documents relevant to their train journey in just a few steps. Operational testing has started on the Südostbayernbahn and the Munich S-Bahn (metro).
• Transport contract management: As part of the Integrated Contract Performance (ICP) project, DB Region­al developed an integrated system for recording, evaluating and invoicing transport contracts. This tool now enables the pilot region North to conduct an integrated analysis and (prospectively complete) invoicing of currently seven different transport contracts.
• Safe Together: As part of the Safe Together project, conductors in local transport are equipped with an emergency app. This makes it possible to get help quickly in a critical case, either from the train control center or from people on the train who have registered in the Safe Together app.
• SMILE24 model project: In the Schlei region, NAH.SH and two districts have been testing a service for integrated everyday mobility since the end of March 2024 in the SMILE24 model project financed by Federal Government and Federal state funds. The project is regarded as a model for public transport in rural areas throughout Germany, as it combines express bus and tourist bus routes with on-demand services, barrier-free mobility hubs at junctions, including car and bike sharing, thus offering a door-to-door travel chain. There are 15 new e-buses and 30 new electric on-demand shuttles in op­era­tion. DB Regional is a project partner in this new approach to a scalable model region for integrated every­­day mobility. This will enable the about 120,000 people in this region and numerous tourists to enjoy reliable, flexible and more sustainable mobility, even in rural areas.
• New load factor forecast: Since February 2024, a load factor display has also been available to local transport customers for bookings and travel information. These forecasts for the next 21 days are based on historical data and are displayed on bahn.de and in the DB Navigator.
• ioki: ioki’s on-demand platform recorded 2.5 million users in 2024, highlighting the demand for connected, customer-­­oriented mobility. In 2024, ioki equipped 33 on-demand areas with its software. These include SMILE24 (Schles­wig-Holstein), the expansion of kvv.MyShuttle (Karlsruhe) and HELMO/ISMO (North Rhine-Westphalia). The expansion of ioki’s portfolio in 2024 addresses important market needs such as the optimization of school transport, service quality and tourist mobility. In addition, ioki Route has been further developed for bus route navigation.