Norway opts for software system from Funkwerk AG

Karlsfeld, August 2014 - Funkwerk AG has been commissioned by the Norwegian railway infrastructure company Jernbaneverket to supply a modern nationwide control system for passenger information.

In a modern information society, passengers expect not only traditional timetable data but also information about the current traffic situation, especially current arrival and departure forecasts, not only at the station but on all available information channels.

Passengers' information requirements cover the entire travel chain, starting with the current timetable data, the train composition and the situation at the destination station.

Funkwerk's system is supplied with current timetable and train composition data from the customer's systems via its network interfaces. The data structure corresponds to the open RailML® - standard. In addition, deviations from scheduled operation are communicated via this interface.

Based on the train position reports received from the customer's train control systems as well as from continuously received GPS position data, the Funkwerk system calculates current arrival and departure forecasts.

This is used to determine acoustic and visual passenger information for over 300 stations on the nationwide railway network and inform passengers there in real time.

Text-to-speech technology will be used for the announcements. A new corporate voice is to be developed for this in collaboration with Jernbaneverket. In addition, the latest passenger information will be available via Jernbaneverket's internet platform.

In order to ensure networking with other rail transport companies, data will be exchanged with third parties via the open European standard for service interfaces SIRI.

The project will provide Jernbaneverket with one of the most modern passenger information systems in Europe, which has already proven itself in daily railway operations in many other countries.