Tracing trends in passenger information: 14th HAFAS User Conference

The HAFAS User Conference 2011 set a new record: About 180 participants from 82 companies and 13 countries followed the invitation of HaCon to the 14th HAFAS Conference in Hannover. On 29 and 30 March the latest product developments related to the timetable information system HAFAS were in the centre of attention of participants from transport companies and networks as well as technology and logistics companies.

Innovations relating to the timetable information system HAFAS
For two days the HaCon team introduced innovations from the areas of Internet, mobile applications and print. Among other things it was about intermodal journey planning connecting public transport with private travel opportunities. Furthermore, mobile applications determine the trends for timetable information, such as the DB Navigator for iPhone and iPad by Deutsche Bahn as well as applications for timetable information on smartphones and tablet PCs based on Android, Windows Phone 7 and more. 

Real-time information and push-services were broader central topics of the User Conference. It was shown for example a solution that brings news about delays or other traffic disruptions directly to the smartphone of the customer and uses push-notifications for iPhone or Android. The customer doesn't have to inform himself constantly but receives a message from the transport company with HAFAS Push in case of disruptions.

Opportunities to link social network tools and timetable information were also highlighted, as well as multi-dimensional ways of searching for connections that open up new perspectives for the use of public transport. Which opportunities HAFAS provides as a managing and editing tool for timetable content, showed the presentations on the new HAFAS Information Manager HIM. It was introduced recently at Deutsche Bahn to further optimise customer communications.

Presentations of transport operators from Belgium, Germany, France, Austria, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland showed how HAFAS-clients benefit in practice from the system with its various components, such as Live Maps for dispatchers, Smart- ITCS-systems for connection assurance, real-time information and barrier-free journey planners. Time still remained between and after the lectures for personal exchange of HAFAS-users with each other and with the HaCon-team now exceeding 140 employees.