Optibus, a global leader in public transportation planning and operations software, is partnering with Nahverkehrsverbund Paderborn-Höxter (nph), the public transportation authority (PTA) of more than twenty cities and municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, on a comprehensive modernization program to improve network planning efficiency and better leverage data to create higher-quality, more passenger-centric public transportation services.
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Part of the Westphalia tariff (Westfalen-Tarif) network, Nahverkehrsverbund Paderborn-Höxter manages a 2,100 km bus route network in the districts of Paderborn and Höxter.
Through the partnership, nph will roll-out Optibus Planning and Scheduling across the region, and become the first public transportation authority in Germany to implement Optibus’ recently launched Strategic Planning solution, which features cutting-edge machine learning tools designed to help transportation planners enhance service access, equity, and efficiency.
A data-driven approach to enhancing service access, equity, and efficiency
At the heart of this partnership is Optibus' newly released Strategic Planning product — a comprehensive network planning solution that equips public transportation providers with advanced data analytics, visualization tools, and machine learning capabilities that balance passenger needs with operational, financial, and environmental goals.
Using Strategic Planning’s AI-powered features, including Ridership & Occupancy Analysis, Demand Optimization, and Impact Analysis, nph will be able to take a data-driven approach to network planning and tackling challenges ranging from connectivity and wait times to costs and vehicle overcrowding.
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Part of Optibus' Strategic Planning product, Ridership & Occupancy Analysis (above) will help nph identify ridership trends and helps to increase patronage.
These new technologies will be used to support service upgrades, including a redesign of public transportation in the region.
“With Optibus' Strategic Planning product, we can more efficiently analyze and incorporate ridership demand into our planning processes,” explains Marcus Klugmann, Managing Director of Nahverkehrsverbund Paderborn-Höxter. “This partnership will help us increase our service efficiency and ensure our municipalities are future-proof and responsive to demand.”
Multi-regional collaboration and communication
nph’s roll out of Optibus also aims to foster collaboration with neighboring transportation organizations, such as Kommunale Verkehrsgesellschaft Lippe (KVG Lippe) and Stadtverkehr Detmold (SV Detmold). Optibus’ unified platform simplifies data sharing and communication, allowing for smooth coordination between different municipalities and regions. This improves transparency and strengthens support for various transportation initiatives through clear, data-driven reporting to all stakeholders.
“We were particularly impressed by Optibus' ability to facilitate collaboration between different transportation organizations,” Klugmann emphasizes.
“We are thrilled to support nph in their transformation efforts,” says Charel Feiereisen, Regional Director, DACH, at Optibus. “This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to providing transportation authorities and associations with cutting-edge technologies that enable smarter planning, more efficient operations, and the sustainable networks of the future.”
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