ioki: Large-Scale On-Demand Service in Castile

DB subsidiary ioki has now launched the largest on-demand service in Spain to date in the Castilla-La Mancha region. The catchment area is twice the size of Saarland. The software specialists under the railway umbrella provide the technology for up to 15 conventionally powered shuttle buses, which are intended to improve public transport in 112 small towns in the greater Cuenca area of Spain. For the project, ioki is working closely with the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha. The Spanish coach company Rubiocar is taking over the operation and is supported by mobility service provider MUFMI, the winner of Spain's national mobility award.

Public Transport on Demand

The new on-demand service, which is fully integrated into the existing public transport system, will significantly improve public transport in the region. The pilot project has a duration of two years and aims to provide valuable insights into new forms of mobility in rural areas of Spain. In the long term, the regional government plans to expand the service to the entire Castilla-La Mancha region. This could benefit around two million residents with a new digital and integrated public transport system, the provider outlines further.

"Managing public transport in large parts of our region is a challenge due to the low population density. This project makes Castilla-La Mancha Spain's new leader in rural mobility, as it combines the latest digital technologies with the best practices for public transport management," believes Nacho Hernando, Minister for Economic Development of the Castilla-La Mancha region.

The DB subsidiary provides the app and digital operating system for the project, in which both traditional line services and on-demand services are used. During peak times, the buses operate on regular routes, while outside peak times, the minibuses operated by Rubiocar run without a fixed route or schedule, based on passengers' requests. The algorithm consolidates requests, thereby sustainably improving local transport services in rural areas.

"With our platform, we are making a decisive contribution to improving public mobility in sparsely populated regions. Simple and flexible booking and integration into the existing public transport increase attractiveness and reduce emissions from individual transport," promotes Benjamin Pfeifer, Chief Commercial Officer and part of the management team at ioki.

The Deutsche Bahn subsidiary is continuously advancing its vision of a digital and improved public transport system both in the DACH market and in other European countries. In 2021, 25 new on-demand services were launched with the ioki platform, including projects in Germany, Switzerland, and France. In 2022, further groundbreaking on-demand projects are expected to follow in Spain.