Many passengers in Steyr and Wels have already noticed the innovation and the feedback has been very positive across the board: Since August, the integration of real-time data has been implemented in the entire route package of Stadtbetriebe Steyr GmbH and Wels Linien GmbH. Passengers now receive real-time information on departure times and delays via mobile phone apps such as the OÖVV route planner app or via QR codes on the timetables. The real-time display is also integrated into the digital monitors at Steyr City Point and Kaiser Josef Platz in Wels. The Upper Austrian Transport Association implemented real-time data integration in all OÖVV regional buses back in 2018 and on regional trains from 2020. With the further development of the technical systems, it has now also been possible to integrate the city transport services in Wels and Steyr.
"Digitalisation and improved customer service are important pillars for advancing public transport in Upper Austria even further and encouraging more and more people to switch from cars to public transport. The real-time data integration in the line packages of the city transport services in Wels and Steyr by the Upper Austrian Transport Association is therefore another important step towards positively charging and continuously developing the overall public transport experience in Upper Austria," says Günther Steinkellner, Provincial Councillor for Mobility and Infrastructure , who is pleased about the implementation of real-time communication in public transport in Wels and Steyr.
"A well-functioning city needs a well-functioning, modern public transport system - we can reliably offer the population this with Wels Linien. The new real-time information provides passengers with more transparency and greater convenience. This makes public transport in Wels a little more attractive again and as mayor I can only welcome that," says Dr Andreas Rabl, Mayor of the City of Wels.
"With the implementation and publication of real-time information, we in Steyr have achieved another milestone in making public transport in the city region even more attractive. Following better coordination of the Steyr city bus network with the S-Bahn timetable and a significant increase in the number of connections along Steyr's "main lines" since January 2025, further improvements are planned for all customers with the next timetable change. The retrieval of the latest real-time information throughout the entire Steyr route network represents an additional improvement in the overall concept and significantly increases convenience for our passengers. With an attractive range of public transport connections, we can succeed in encouraging even more Steyr residents to switch to buses and trains, says Steyr's mayor Markus Vogl.
Initial feedback is very positive
Since the beginning of August, passengers in Wels and Steyr have been able to call up real-time information on the connections they are looking for. In Wels, this includes around 31 low-floor city buses, while in Steyr 26 vehicles, including the first e-bus, are currently integrated into the system. The feedback so far has been extremely positive: passengers appreciate the improved information situation and the ability to always receive up-to-date data via apps and display systems.
Continuous further development of real-time data communication
The Upper Austrian Transport Association has been working intensively for many years to further improve passenger information. "Since 2018, we have been gradually introducing real-time communication in all OÖVV regional buses. The technical prerequisites have now also been created to integrate partner companies such as Wels Linien and Steyrer Stadtbetriebe. Through this cooperation, we are creating considerable added value for all passengers who want to use digital services. They can find out about departure times, delays and alternative routes at any time in real time across the entire regional public transport network in Upper Austria and now also in Wels and Steyr," explains Klaus Wimmer, Managing Director of OÖ Verkehrsverbund Gesellschaft.
GPS data with the stops as update checkpoints
The introduction of real-time data transmission makes it possible to compare the target timetable with the current positions of the buses and forward this information to the Austrian Transport Information Centre (VAO) in fractions of a second. "The bus stops act as update checkpoints. GPS is used to record when the bus has entered or left the bus stop catch radius. This enables more precise information about arrival and departure times in mobile phone apps such as the OÖVV route planner app or the wegfinder app, but also in stationary information systems such as the departure monitors," explains Klaus Wimmer .
Real-time communication at the departure terminals (Wels bus terminal and Steyr city bus terminal) cannot yet be fully mapped, as consecutive journeys are not synchronised due to the different schedules of the drivers. However, implementation of this further milestone is still to follow, according to Klaus Wimmer: "We are working intensively on closing this gap and further increasing the quality of passenger information through additional automation. We are already achieving this with the connections where this data is available."
With the BUSTEC project, the Upper Austrian Transport Association is already working in the background on the next expansion stage of real-time data communication. "BUSTEC aims to modernise and standardise the technical systems in regional bus transport in Upper Austria. This will enable us to realise the most modern telematics system currently on the market in Upper Austria in the foreseeable future," says Klaus Wimmer , looking ahead to the future of digital passenger information in Upper Austria.