Rolling stock manufacturer Hitachi Rail’s smart mobility technology is being tested in the city of Genoa, Italy. Hitachi has no fewer than 663 buses, 2,500 bus stops, the subway line – which is used by 15 million people a year – two funiculars, a historic hill railway, 10 public elevators and two suburban bus routes of approximately 50 kilometers of approximately 50 kilometers. And through their iOS or Android app, users also have the option to easily rent an electric car, pay for parking and even find an electric moped.
Thanks to Hitachi’s “360Pass” smart ticketing app, traditional paper tickets are no longer necessary in Genoa – as is the tedium of “checking in and out” at different stops and downloading multiple apps for different transport services.
The app works by connecting to Bluetooth sensors placed around Genoa’s massive public transport system so that operator AMT knows when a user has boarded a particular mode of transport, how far they have traveled and where and when they got off.
In addition, the system is “multimodal” – meaning travelers can take different modes of transport while on the move, while ensuring that they only pay the best possible fare for their trip at the end of the day.
With the 360Pass app, users can access more personalized information about their planned trips, including seeing the fastest routes and getting real-time status updates.
As part of this, travelers can even check how busy bus services are before they travel, allowing them to select less crowded services for comfort or public health reasons.
In fact, a recent independent survey of passengers by London-based research institute Transport Focus found that fear of crowds after Covid was the second largest determinant of passenger satisfaction.
Hitachi Rail’s Group Head of Smart Ticketing, Alessandro de Grazia, said: “Hitachi’s Lumada Intelligent Mobility Management suite is a world first for smart mobility and can improve urban transportation in cities around the world.
“For the first time, passengers can plan and use the most convenient multimodal journey for the cheapest fare, without ever taking their phone out of their pocket.
“Today, cities face the challenges of increasing public transport use to reduce emissions, reduce congestion and boost their recovery.
“Our new solutions — proven in Genoa — provide a uniquely powerful platform for operators.
“In the UK – from London to Glasgow and Birmingham to Manchester – we can help operations connect, scale and optimize their entire transport network through a single platform.”
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The fact that the concept has already proved so successful in Genoa – a city with both a complex mix of public transport modes and a challenging geography – means it should be applicable to any city around the world.
According to Hitachi, the aim is now to roll out their smart mobility solutions and 360Pass apps city by city in collaboration with local transport authorities and operators.
The Bluetooth sensors the system relies on, they explained, are powered by batteries that last about five years — and only took six months to install in the first place.
Once deployed, the mobility suite’s “360Motion” platform enables carriers to create a digital twin of a city’s entire public transit network and facilitate power management by highlighting issues such as congestion, crowds, or service gaps.
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360Pass is co-delivered not only with AMT, but also with the Municipality of Genoa, who are supporting the system as part of a wider effort to boost the use of both public transport and private e-hire services in the city, enabling both the congestion and emissions together.
AMT President Marco Beltrami said: “GoGoGe, the name we chose in Genoa for Hitachi’s 360Pass app, offers our customers a unique travel experience with the groundbreaking hands-free technology.
“We can track our customers throughout their journey, across all transportation systems, to get a clear picture of their end-to-end journey.
“Deploying Hitachi’s technology is a great opportunity for both AMT and the city of Genoa to be a leader in smart mobility and testing innovative technologies that will make a big difference in cities around the world. to travel.”