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Public transport

Planning and operation of public transport systems are demanding optimisation tasks and a balancing act between attractive services and economic operation. We have many years of experience in the optimisation of line networks, timetables, vehicle and crew scheduling as well as creation of fare systems. We assist authorities providing traffic services in tendering transportation and traffic services including legal advice. Moreover, we offer consulting services to newly founded traffic companies and communities. We provide profound analyses required for decision-making processes concerning revenue sharing agreements. Our services in the business field Public Transport encompass the following topics:

Data collection and passenger surveys

To provide our customers with reliable information on travel demand in their region, we carry out on-board passenger surveys in very large traffic networks, including planning, conducting and presentation of results. Standard database software ensures that our customers can easily use the edited results.

  • Reference project: Transport surveys for the VBB
    • PTV has been working with the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH (VBB) since 1999. The transport surveys for 1999/2002, 2005 and 2007 are the basis of the revenue distribution. Each project covered the following key areas: the main concept behind the survey, the coordination of the field work and the methods used to record, prepare and evaluate the collected data. In addition, we assist the VBB in the continued development of the processes for revenue distribution. In December 2009 PTV will start to carry out the transport survey 2010.
    • Client: Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH, VBB (Public transport authority, Berlin, Germany)
    • Duration: since 1999

  • Reference project: MVG passenger survey for data collection required for compensation payments in school transport
    • MVG aims to receive higher compensation payments for its school transport services. The transport operator therefore wants to carry out a survey on the number of passengers purchasing student tickets or passes at a reduced fare. The survey conducted by PTV aims to obtain information on the number of passengers travelling by bus, tram or underground and the type of ticket purchased. PTV uses handhelds for the passenger count and survey.
    • Client: Stadtwerke München GmbH, Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH (Local transport authority, Munich, Germany)
    • Duration: 02/2009 - 12/2009

  • Reference project: Transport survey for the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg 2009
    • Passenger survey spanning the entire public transport authority and more - involving the use of handhelds. The project covers the following tasks: preparing and conducting the survey, preparing, extrapolating and visualising the results as well as the revenue distribution.
    • Client: Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Sieg GmbH, VRS (Public transport authority, Cologne, Germany)
    • Duration: since 02/2009

  • Reference project: Transport survey covering all lines of the Augsburger Verkehrsverbund
    • Passenger survey spanning the entire public transport authority and more - involving the use of handhelds. The project covers the following tasks: preparing and conducting the survey, preparing, extrapolating and visualising the results as well as the revenue distribution.
    • Client: AVV Augsburger VerkehrsVerbund GmbH (Public transport authority, Augsburg, Germany)
    • Duration: since 02/2009

  • Reference project: Transport survey for the VBN Verkehrsverbund Bremen/ Niedersachsen 2007 - 2010 – Cycles 2007 & 2008
    • Preparation, design and administration of the survey
    • Use of handhelds / PDAs for recording passenger counts and questionnaire results
    • Database design, data cleaning and plausibility check, data projection and evaluation, reports
    • Cycles of survey 2007 and 2008 finalised
    • Cycles of survey 2009 and 2010 in process
    • Client: VBN Verkehrsverbund Bremen/ Niedersachsen GmbH (Public transport authority, Bremen, Germany)
    • Duration: Cycles 2007 and 2008: 12/2006 - 12/2008
    • Cycles 2009 and 2010: in process

  • Reference project: Transport survey for the Regio-Verkehrsverbund Freiburg (RVF) 2008
    • Passenger survey covering the entire network of the transport consortium based on statistically calculated random samples, separate survey carried out from Monday till Friday - results will be included in the annual extrapolation; data preparation, extrapolation and evaluation in order to assess and distribute the travel demand.
    • Client: Regio-Verkehrsverbund Freiburg GmbH (Public transport authority, Freiburg, Germany)
    • Duration: 08/2008 - 05/2009

Economic studies

  • Reference project: Standardised cost-benefit analysis for LRT Heilbronn North
    • Client: Stadtwerke Heilbronn (Public transport operator, Heilbronn, Germany)
    • Duration: 05/2008 - 06/2009
  • Reference project: Standardised cost-benefit analysis for LRT “Rhein-Haardtbahn“
    • Client: Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (Public transport operator, Mannheim, Germany)
    • Duration: 08/2008 - 02/2009
  • Reference project: Standardised cost-benefit analysis for LRT pilot line 2
    • Client: Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe AG, DVB (Public Transport Operator, Dresden, Germany)
    • Duration: 02/2007 - 07/2007
  • Reference project: Standardised cost-benefit analysis for LRT Karlsruhe 
    • Client: Kasig Karlsruher Schieneninfrastruktur Gesellschaft mbH (Public Transport Operator, Karlsruhe, Germany)
    • Duration: 07/2003 bis 01/2005

Concept and evaluation of fare systems

  • Reference project: Consulting for the public transport authority "naldo"
    • PTV has been working with "naldo" (Integrated Public Transport Network for the Neckar-Alb-Donau region) since 1995. We have supported naldo since its network foundation and have carried out numerous projects, such as:
    • evaluation of the network fare revenues and tariffs effects
    • introduction of a network-wide student ticket
    • evaluation of the effects of different tariff systems.
    • we are currently accompanying the arrangement of transitional tariffs with neighbouring networks.
    • Client: naldo - Verkehrsverbund Neckar-Alb-Donau GmbH (Public Transport Authority, Germany)
    • Duration: 1995 - ongoing
  • Reference project: Implementation of an integrated tariff cooperation in the Ostalb County
    • Client: Landratsamt Ostalbkreis (County of Ostalbkreis, Germany)
    • Duration: 04/2002 -12/2005
  • Reference project: Feasibility study for the expansion of "Hamburger Verkehrsverbund", HVV (Public Transport Authority, Region of Hamburg)
    • Client: Landkreis Harburg (County of Harburg, Germany)
    • Duration: 04/2000 - 09/2001

Traffic models and studies

  • Reference project: Railway forecast 2025 Baden-Württemberg
    • Client: Innenministerium Baden-Württemberg (Ministry of the Interior, Federal State of Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
    • Duration: 11/2008 - 05/2009


  • Reference project: Dubai Public Transport Bus Master Plan
  • Reference project: Updating of the public transport model, City of Cottbus, perspective 2020
    • Client: Stadt Cottbus, (City of Cottbus, Germany)
    • Duration: 01/2006 - 06/2007
  • Reference project: Updating of the integrated transport model, City of Dresden
    • Client: Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe AG (Public transport operator, Dresden, Germany)
    • Duration: 10/2004 - 05/2006
  • Reference project: Integrated transport model for the City and Grand Duchy of Luxemburg
    • Client: Ville de Luxembourg (City of Luxembourg, Luxembourg)
    • Duration: 07/2003 - 03/2005
  • Reference project: Strategic transport model for Peking (Beijing) with micro-simulation of the Olympic Green area for the Summer Olympic Games in 2008
    • Client: Beijing Municipal (Beijing Municipality, China)
    • Duration: 03/2003 - 02/2004

Public transport master plan

The very first generation of local transport planning saw PTV create a range of various concepts for local transport. Since then, the requirements have changed considerably and due to the modifications made in the second and third generations, it became necessary to adapt the modification process. We were able to compile extensive experiences whilst updating the in-formation for a variety of German federal states. This covered individual districts, main towns and cities as well as entire transport association areas. It was possible to successfully implement issues and questions concerning competitors and EU regulations (e.g. line bundling, direct outsourcing), with relation to the relevant legislation of the German federal states as well as amendments to the German Public Transport Law (e.g. accessibility). The planning and specification of quality standards had to be modified according to very diverse financial conditions amongst local authorities.

10/2009, Line bundling
10/2009, Public transport plans
  • Reference project: Updating of the local transportation system, City of Krefeld
    • Client: Stadt Krefeld (City of Krefeld, Germany)
    • Duration: in process

  • Reference project: Entire regional transportation system for Nahverkehrsverbund Rhein-Nahe including transportation systems for the counties of Mainz-Bingen, Bad Kreuznach and Birkenfeld and for the cities of Ingelheim, Bingen, Bad Kreuznach and Idar-Oberstein
    • Client: Zweckverband Rhein-Nahe-Nahverkehrsverbund (Regional transport operator, counties and cities, Germany)
    • Duration: 04/2007 - 01/2008

  • Reference project: Updating of the local transportation system for the capital of the Federal State of Hesse, Wiesbaden
    • Client: Lokale Nahverkehrsgesellschaft (LNG) der Landeshauptstadt Wiesbaden (Regional transport operator, Wiesbaden, Germany)
    • Duration: 09/2007 - 04/2008
  • Reference project: Concept for the generation of line bundles, county of Delitzsch
    • Client: Landkreis Delitzsch (County of Delitzsch, Germany)
    • Duration: 10/2007 - 03/2008

  • Reference project: Updating of the local transportation system and line bundling in the city of Mainz
    • Client: Stadt Mainz (City of Mainz, Germany)
    • Duration: 12/2005 - 12/2006
  • Reference project: Updating of the regional transportation system County of Potsdam-Mittelmark
    • Client: Landkreis Potsdam-Mittelmark (County of Potsdam-Mittelmark, Germany)
    • Duration: 05/2006 - 09/2006
  • Reference project: Development of a regional transportation system for the region Mittleres Mecklenburg / Rostock 2005 - 2010
    • Client: Regionaler Planungsverband Mittleres Mecklenburg (Regional Transport Authority, Germany)
    • Duration: 12/2003 - 07/2005
  • Reference project: Regional transportation system, region of Trier
    • Client: Zweckverband Verkehrsverbund Region Trier (Regional Transport Authority, Germany)
    • Duration: 12/2003 - 12/2004
  • Reference project: Updating of the local transportation system in the city of Frankfurt am Main
    • Client: Stadt Frankfurt am Main (City of Frankfurt am Main, Germany)
    • Duration: 06/2000 - 07/2003

Public transport network planning

  • Reference project: Restructuring the network 2010
    • Client: Landkreis Stendal (County of Stendal, Germany)
    • Duration: 06/2008 - 09/2008
  • Reference project: Public transport optimisation through staggering of school hours
    • Client: Landkreis Stendal (County of Stendal, Germany)
    • Duration: 04/2008 - 06/2008
  • Reference project: Entire transportation system for the city of Weil am Rhein, Update 2007, task: public transport
    • Client: Stadt Weil am Rhein (City of Weil am Rhein, Germany)
    • Duration: 09/2007 - 03/2008
  • Reference project: Bus network optimisation for the city of Klagenfurt
    • Client: Stadtwerke Klagenfurt AG (Local transport operator, Klagenfurt, Austria)
    • Duration: 09/2006 - 06/2007
  • Reference project: Evaluate a new bus network for the city of Hanover
    • Client: ÜSTRA Hannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe AG (Local transport operator, Hanover, Germany)
    • Duration: 07/2005 - 02/2006
  • Reference project: Bus network optimisation for the city of Oberhausen
    • Client: Stadtwerke Oberhausen AG (Local transport operator, Oberhausen, Germany)
    • Duration: 09/2004 - 03/2005
  • Reference project: Bus network evaluation and optimisation for the city of Saarbrücken
    • Client: Stadtbahn Saar GmbH (Local transport operator, Saarbrücken, Germany)
    • Duration: 10/2003 - 12/2004
  • Reference project: Restructure the bus network related to a new LRT network in the region of Aachen and the neighbouring countries Belgium and the Netherlands
    • Client: Aachener Verkehrsverbund GmbH AVV (Regional transport authority, Aachen, Germany)
    • Duration: 01/2001 - 12/2004
  • Reference project: Munich bus network optimization - basics for planning and characteristic values, project "Topbus"
    • Client: Stadtwerke München (Local transport operator, City of Munich, Germany)
    • Duration: 04/2001 - 03/2004

Procurement assistance

PTV assists companies and authorities tendering transport services in the development of tender documents as well as traffic companies which want to participate in biddings. Our aim is to offer complete solutions. An important basis is the close co-operation with lawyers who have specialised in public transport and public procurement law. We are thus able to provide solutions ranging from the definition of lines or networks up to public procurement. We support our customers by identifying framework and key data required for the development of tender documents or the award of transportation services. First, it has to be determined which services have to be or should be part of the allocation because this information is essen-tial for issuing an invitation to tender. PTV has a great deal of experience in network and service planning, in feasibility and economic studies for public rail transport (SPNV) as well as in road-related public transport (ÖPNV).

  • Reference project: Preparation of the EU tendering procedure for the bus network of city of Singen, renewal
    • Client: Stadtwerke Singen (Local transport operator, City of Singen, Germany)
    • Duration: 12/2004 - 09/2005
  • Reference project: Preparation of the tendering procedure LRT Stuttgart
    • Client: Verband Region Stuttgart (Regional transport authority, Germany)
    • Duration: 12/2004 - 09/2005
  • Reference project: Preparation of the EU tendering procedure for the bus network of the city of Singen
    • Client: Stadtwerke Singen (Local transport operator, City of Singen, Germany)
    • Duration: 1995
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