Overview
Stadtwerke Schweinfurt is a regional utility company providing a range of public services, including public transportation, in the city of Schweinfurt, Germany.
Designed more than thirty years ago, Schweinfurt’s public transportation network no longer aligned with modern mobility needs.
As of January 2025, the network has been completely redesigned using Optibus Planning and Scheduling to reduce delays, increase network efficiency, and make services more accessible.
Challenge
Schweinfurt’s bus network was due for an update. Stadtwerke Schweinfurt needed new tools and technology to address issues including:
1. Outdated Network No Longer Served Passenger Needs
Timetables and routes designed more than thirty years ago no longer reflected modern demands. Demographic changes – including an increasing number of passengers using wheelchairs or strollers – were impacting boarding and alighting, rendering timetables inaccurate. Delays on one line often impacted the entire network due to the high amount of interlining.
2. Cumbersome, Inflexible Planning Processes
Schweinfurt’s old legacy system was heavily manual and error-prone, making service updates time-consuming and complex. In one case, an eight-week detour required six to eight weeks of planning. The system left no room for error, as adjustments were extremely difficult to make once plans were implemented.
3. Real-Time Passenger Information
Manual processes made it impossible to meet passengers’ expectations for fast, real-time service updates.
Solution
Mirko Hrnjak, authorized officer and head of operations, oversaw the modernization of Stadtwerke Schweinfurt’s public transport unit, implementing two Optibus solutions to improve efficiency and align services with passenger needs.
- Optibus Planning: Featuring tools to view and adjust services directly on the map, the platform supports smarter, faster decision-making and generates efficient, accessible services. Every change made in Planning connects seamlessly with Scheduling so teams can move from strategy to execution without losing time or accuracy.
- Optibus Scheduling: Transforms high-level service plans into optimized, cost-effective schedules for vehicles and drivers. Optibus Scheduling can process countless scenarios in seconds to help users create optimal schedules while following operational rules and labor agreements.
Optibus Planning and Scheduling introduced operational benefits including:
- Optimization algorithms for vehicle and crew scheduling
- Scenario comparison tools for planners to easily test and adjust ideas
- Modern cloud-native software architecture with built-in security and no server maintenance
- User-friendly interface that facilitates software onboarding and adoption
Results
1. Time Savings: Faster Planning and Disruption Response
- Reduced planning time by 30–50%, with the most significant improvements seen in crew scheduling.
- Rapid scenario testing and faster service adjustments freed up time to focus on service improvements and innovation.
- Service changes for roadworks and disruptions are easier and take a fraction of the previous time.
2. Network and Schedule Efficiency
- Redesigned thirty routes into nine routes and increased interlining. This reduced delays, as lateness on one route could no longer impact other routes, and improved passenger satisfaction by improving mobility connections and shortening transfer times.
- Increased crew and vehicle efficiency with powerful optimization tools.
3. Passenger Satisfaction: Accurate Timetables and Better On-Time Performance
- Timetables have been updated to factor in longer boarding and alighting times for passengers in wheelchairs or with strollers, ensuring passenger safety and helping drivers maintain punctual schedules.
4. High Usability and Easy Onboarding
- Planners of different technical levels found Optibus intuitive and easy to use. This smoothened the transition from legacy software to a more advanced solution and has boosted team morale and productivity.
5. Future-Proof & Cost-Effective System
- Optibus’ cloud-native system reduced IT workload, costs, and security concerns, thanks to its cloud-native architecture designed for security, continuous updates, and zero maintenance.
