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Broken display boards: digital disruption in local public transport!
Digitalization in the Main-Spessart: Removal of defective display boards, new solutions for barrier-free passenger information under discussion.
Broken display boards: digital disruption in local public transport!
In the coming weeks there will no longer be replaceable display boards at the central bus stations (ZOB) in Lohr, Arnstein and Marktheidenfeld as well as at the train stations in Karlstadt and Gemünden. The removal of digital ads is part of a comprehensive plan after problems with the technology became increasingly serious in recent years. The manufacturer of the scoreboards filed for bankruptcy, which made it impossible to repair the defective systems, such as the Main post reported.
The display boards were purchased in 2015 as part of a funding program from the city and district. But this investment is no longer paying off: the last repair work is already behind us - the last repairs were carried out in June 2023, and the systems functioned until the end of 2024. The focal points for passengers will soon be missing at important transport hubs. This not only affects the greater Lohr area, the screens have also already been dismantled at the train stations in Karlstadt and Gemünden.
Need for alternatives
The discussion about possible replacement solutions for the defective scoreboards is in full swing. Alternative information channels are also being considered. An acoustic information system that was previously available, particularly for visually impaired people, will also be removed and not replaced. However, a supporting smartphone app with a reading function should make it easier to access the necessary information. The transport companies' digitization strategy also includes a barrier-free homepage for the Mainfranken local transport association.
The development of access points is a central concern in order to enable people with disabilities to participate equally in public life. As the VDV Academy emphasizes, local public transport (ÖPNV) is an essential part of public services. This is also underpinned by the new Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG), which comes into force on June 28, 2025.
Global developments in passenger information
In contrast, there are new developments in other cities. ESWE Verkehr put a modern digital passenger information system into operation at Wiesbaden main station. This replaces 20-year-old displays and provides both visual and audio information. As in a report by ESWE traffic As can be seen, an acoustic demand announcement system was developed specifically for people with visual impairments.
The new technology includes an innovative color and information approach to improve both orientation and information flow. The city and transport companies are working closely together to promote these solutions and to take into account further developments in native apps and analogue information formats.
The upcoming changes in Mainfranken raise the question of how passenger information in the region can be made more intelligent and adaptable in the future. The needs of people with disabilities in particular must always be the focus in order to significantly improve accessibility.