The Mobiregio multimodal information system is a technological innovation. It is capable of calculating a cross-border journey in the Greater Region including buses and trains but also individual trips by foot, bike or car.
How does Mobiregio’s journey planner work?
The journey planner is based on five multimodal information systems already developed in the Greater Region. It compiles and optimizes the results calculated in a distributed manner by:
- www.saarfahrplan.de for the Saar
- www.vrn.de for Rhineland-Palatinate
- www.mobiliteit.lu for Luxembourg
- www.simplicim-lorraine.eu for Lorraine
- www.belgianrail.be for Wallonia
This technology was launched during the EU-Spirit European research project.
What is the EU-Spirit network?
Since 1998, the EU-Spirit network has been working towards the objective of linking existing multimodal information systems to provide routes with public transportation all across Europe. Under the 5th Framework Programme of the European Community for Community action for research, technological development and demonstration, the technology was developed around the distributed calculations and around the core components.
The EU-Spirit network is constantly expanding. The members are authorities organizing transport activities in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland and France. They each bring their financial and technological contribution to improve current features and plan future extensions.
Why aren’t there door-to-door routes in Wallonia?
Indeed, a door-to-door route is not yet available in Wallonia. SRWT-TEC and SNCB are finalizing a deal to join EU-Spirit, and will therefore quickly start to integrate all of the Walloon connections into the Mobiregio system.
The membership process and period of technology adaptation is expected to end in 2015, so that the Mobiregio system will be completed before the end of the Walloon presidency of the Greater Region in 2016.
Do the results take into account construction sites and holidays?
Thanks to the technology of distributed calculations, the route planner Mobiregio is a reflection of all the information provided by the local multimodal information systems that were questioned. The recommended routes therefore depend largely on the updating and quality of the 5 multimodal information systems of the Greater Region.
In every case, the results include construction sites, school and public holidays, line and schedule changes. So Mobiregio is always up-to-date!
Why post really long results with so many matches?
Mobiregio decided to display all possible routes from one point to another. Some trips are less attractive than others, but all are achievable. You can select the one that best fits your schedule, subscriptions and obligations, or adapt the suggestive routes and make use of other available means of transport.
This choice was also guided by the needs of planning cross-border mobility. The computer must allow Mobiregio to bring to light potential areas for improvement in the Greater Region’s public transportation system.
When will there be a price calculator?
Just like commuters coming from the border regions, the organizing authorities would like to have an integrated public transport price calculator. But this could not be created under the INTERREG IV A project "Mobility Centre of the Greater Region" for several reasons:
- Not all 5 multimodal information systems deliver pricing information
- The tariff conditions are very complex and may differ between each city
- The risk of posting incorrect prices would be very high
- Cross-border subscriptions are often more attractive than the sum of the local single-fare tickets
In the absence of an integrated price calculator, an interactive map provides detailed information on the cost per trip if you make the same journey daily, and special offers for cross-border connections are also described in detail.
