An Overview of FTS Business Models in Europe. Is there an Optimal one?

1. An Overview of FTS Business Models in Europe. Is there an Optimal one? Brian Masson Multi Modal Transport Solutions Roman Klementschitz Institute for transport Studies, Vienna

2. Flexible Transport Systems

3. Selecting the most suitable mobility solution for your area should be considered after gaining a full understanding of the real needs and issues. There is no magic single solution that can work in any single area. Stakeholders need to work together to establish needs and identify any existing resources (if any) that could be used to meet demands. Business Models Must meet user Requirements!!

4. Stand alone operator (profit/non profit/municipality) Examples- Ring A Link Kilkenny, Ireland, - Purbach, Austria, - DOYK, Greece FTS Business ModelsWhat options are available?

5. Co-operative Framework Number of operators and or authorities work together sharing resources such as travel dispatch centre (TDC), staff and systems. Example- ATAF Florence FTS Business ModelsWhat options are available?

6. Tendered service Operated under subsidy from authority. Could be operated by taxis, voluntary organisation or bus operator. Example- SRM Bologna FTS Business ModelsWhat options are available?

7. Customer directly contacts company or driver, Gets answer straight away, Easy to manage, Responsible for 100% of the operation. Business Models – Stand alone service provider

8. More complex to manage, Need for contracts for stakeholders, Distribution of revenues (define rules), Managing reliability issues (complaints etc). Co-operative Framework

9. Higher degree of professionalism as all parts of the FTS operated by specific experts (e.g. Call centre for costumer contact, ticketing by local transport consortium), possibility to share costs (e.g. travel dispatch centre), Again rules and contract required. Co-operative Framework

10. Authority defines contract terms and conditions, Operators bid to meet conditions, Contract awarded based on agreed criteria, quality of vehicles, training, track record, cost etc. Tendered Service

11. FAMS Virtual Agency Business Model Virtual Enterprise Flexible Agency for Collective Mobility Services B2C Services B2B Services • resource availability • trip orders • travel plans • payments • ... • booking & reservations • service information • ... Web infrastructure DRT Planning & Operation Services VEHICLE PROVIDERS, TRANSPORT OPERATORS USER GROUPS/ASSOCIATIONS REAL-TIME DATA EXCHANGE (GSM / GPRS) PICK-UP POINT DROP-OFF POINT SERVICE NETWORK

12. FAMS Virtual Agency Business Model

13. Door-to-door (for all, for specific clients) Point to point within predefined area Corridor or route with no predefined stops Route with fixed stops Types of service

14. Use of existing vehicles – maximise the use of vehicles to provide FTS (vehicles for education transport services for night time flexible transport supply) in order to reduce costs! Conventional buses pt operators, travel operators. Minibuses (driving license!), smaller pt-operators, taxi operators, travel operators, etc. Taxis (car or van) taxi operators, car rental. Vehicles

15. Vehicles: car (Austria, Germany)

16. vehicles: minibus based on vans (Ireland, Finland)

17. vehicles: minibus based on vans, low floor (Sweden, Austria)

18. vehicles: minibus (Italy, UK)

19. vehicles: conventional bus (UK, Germany)

20. The success of any FTS is the ability to meet the needs of people in the most cost effective manner. Technology is not the main contributory factor to success. We have seen this in Almada, Purbach where all is required is access by phone direct to the driver or TDC and no significant investment in costly ITS systems. However, depending on the size of the FTS and the rules governing service delivery it may be necessary to invest in GPS, Real Time Booking and Scheduling Systems (RaL Ireland, ATAF, ATL). Feasibility Study should guide users to make the best choice of Business Model. FTS Business ModelsHigh Tech vs Low Tech

21. Evolution of FTS systems ( ( È È ( ( ( IVRS <1 hours >+1 hours > + 48 hours > + 24 hours > + 1 hours GPS position Board/alight confirmation GPS position <1 hour GPRS GSM mobile comms Phone or Fax Phone or Fax GPRS comms + 12 hours + 1 hour + 12 hours + 1 hour Fixed MDT units, GSM comms PDA devices, GPRS comms inc. mapping PRN comms No contact with vehicle 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2007

22. Ticketing system - fully integrated, - supplement charge, - stand alone. Information system- full time table integration, - footnote of existence of FTS at stop, - not at all. FTS Business ModelsIntegrated within the transport market

23. Navigation system- intermodal navigation. Booking system - online linked with information system,- telephone,- SMS. FTS Business Modelsintegrated within the transport market

24. No Single FTS Business Model exists that will meet each sites needs Feasibility Studies involving all Stakeholders should help to identify the needs to be met and the most appropriate business model to adopt. (Taxis, Voluntary Organisation, Buses or Authorities) Technology is not a guarantee of success. Keep procedures simple Multi modal ticketing may be essential to success if providing links to other modes Summary

25. Brian Masson, MMTS brian.masson@btinternet.com Roman Klementschitz, ITS-BOKU flipper@boku.ac.at Related Links: www.interreg4cflipper.eu www.famsweb.com www.flexibletransport.org www.mascaraproject.com www.wisetrip-eu.org www.bhls.eu www.icma-mobilife.eu Contact Details