Experiences of Demand Responsive Transport System

(DRTS) in Keski-Uusimaa/Finland

Basis of Keski-Uusimaa DRTS

• service is available even for one customer’s request

• traffic dispatch centre (TDC) tries to put several passengers one vehicle

• service is part of the scheduled PT

DRTS basis in Keski-Uusimaa

1. Passengers can choose free:– their place of departure and

destination in the operation area

– time of the departure during the operation time

2. If scheduled PT is available, passenger has to use it

3. Dispatcher tries to combine the trips and agrees the suitable departure time with the passenger

Operational criteria in Keski-Uusimaa

Authorities decide the regulation of the system:• The trip must be booked at least 3 hours in advance

before the wanted departure time– For handicapped persons the pre booking time is 2 hours

• Dispatcher can change the departure time +/- 35 minutes

• TDC is open– Mo – Fri. 6.00 – 20.00– Sa 8.00 – 16.00

• Trips can be made:– Mo – Fri 5.30 – 22.00– Sa 8.00 – 18.00

• Passenger pays in the vehicle– Price is lower than taxi price and higher than bus ticket

DRTS concept in Keski-Uusimaa area

Customer

TDC:-Optimization-Combination-Choice of vehicles:The nearest suitable

Booking: phone, SMS, email

Transportoperation

Operations made in Keski-Uusimaa/Nurmijärvi

1. Cut down routes which have only few passengers and focus to main routes

1. Today we need 34 buses for bus lines2. Before we had 48 buses for bus lines

2. From areas which are out of scheduled bus services, is dogging system to buses with DRTS

3. Results1. Better service to passengers2. Better economy to bus lines3. Municipalities save money, when it is paying

only the trips which are needed

Bus lines today – bus lines before

Advantages to the passengers in the DRTS

• people can make their trips, when it is suitable for them, not only when the bus or train is scheduled to go by

• equal public transport services for all citizens

• the level of public transport service is better compared to the traditional scheduled bus and train system

Advantages for the municipalities and

authorities• DRTS brings the equality of PT to all citizens

• DRTS gives better service for less money in PT than today especially in rural areas

• Cut down of special transport costs (for disabled and elderly)

• Cut down of administrative work

• Diminished cheating of social money

Advantages when TDC responsible for all operations

• Authorities have only one partner, who has the responsibility of all operations -> easy to tender -> easy to negotiate for the

authorities• Forces to more and more

economic operation -> cheaper price to the authorities

• Quality can easily be controlled and is good

Demands for the TDC1. Cost-effective operation

in the TDC2. All information should

be given to the passenger during the first call

3. The call should be as short as possible

4. Digital map is optional5. Easy and reliable

connection between TDC and vehicles

6. Software is flexible

Demands for the Software1. Easy to operate for the dispatchers

– The dispatchers should be involved in developing

2. Concept and software must be developed all the time

3. Software must allow the concept development. Easy to modify for different kinds of operations.

4. Can be used to different kinds of transportation (and other) operations.

5. Can handle fast a lot of passengers if needed