MTR Optimizes Stockholm Commuter Rail System with IVU.rail

A year after reallocation of the Pendeltågen network contract, MTR Pendeltågen AB is taking over operation of the Stockholm commuter rail system in December 2016. Like the previous operator Stockholmståg, the company will be using IVU.rail from IVU Traffic Technologies AG for planning, optimization and dispatching of its trains and employees.

Consisting of four lines that serve Stockholm via a radial route, the commuter rail network covers a total of 241 kilometers and 53 stations. Each day, around 300,000 passengers use this service to commute from the suburbs to the capital and back. MTR will ensure reliable, customer-friendly transportation from December 11, 2016. The contract between MTR and the Stockholm transport authority, SL, will run for an initial ten years, with the option of a four-year extension. IVU.rail has been chosen as the planning software.

Before making its decision, MTR compared various systems in a stringent selection procedure. IVU.rail came out on top. The planners were particularly impressed by the wide range of functions of the IVU solution. “IVU.rail enables us to optimally deploy our rolling stock and staff,” said Niklas Grünbaum, chief architect at MTR Pendeltågen AB.

“The system provides us with extensive options for vehicle planning and dispatching in particular.” Another factor in the decision was the high-performance optimization engine of IVU.rail, which achieved outstanding results in the comparison tests.