^{Zaid Sarraf.
Operational cybersecurity expert
Cysca Technologies}

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Although our daily use of technology has been greatly simplified by the adoption of standards, some sectors would benefit from more open systems. This is particularly true for public transport.

Think of Bluetooth or USB technologies, which have become universal, allowing our devices to exchange data in real time in a simple, efficient, and intuitive way. Would you accept today that your headphones do not automatically—and indiscriminately—connect to your phone or tablet? Would you be frustrated if you had to buy a separate cable for charging or data transfer for your headphones, phone, and laptop? The compatibility of the technologies we use every day, based on standards like Bluetooth or USB, saves us a lot of time and makes our user experience more comfortable.

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The Burden of Proprietary and Isolated Technologies

The situation is quite different in the public transport sector, where the numerous onboard systems in vehicles or those used by transport agencies and authorities to manage their fleets still often rely on proprietary and isolated technologies.

Some examples:

• Surveillance camera systems and their associated analysis software often operate in closed circuits and are incompatible from one provider to another. This makes them costly to update or replace and limits integration with modern solutions, such as automatic incident detection.
• Ticketing systems specific to each transport company complicate payment management and the harmonization of fares and subscriptions across different transport networks.
• Real-time passenger information systems, whose data is fragmented across multiple platforms, are not always synchronized with transport systems (buses, trains, etc.), making updates difficult and reducing the accuracy of information.
• The lack of standardization in telematics systems poses maintenance challenges, particularly for preventive vehicle maintenance, and hinders efficient fleet management, especially when minimizing service interruptions.
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The increasing presence of technology in all aspects of our society highlights the flaws in the historical business model of public transport, which has so far favored proprietary systems. While profitable for suppliers by ensuring them stable revenues, these systems have become increasingly restrictive for rolling stock manufacturers and public transport operators.

These constraints take several forms. Physically, onboard systems take up a lot of space in vehicles, are often heavy, and require multiple connections, making maintenance complex and sometimes risky. Managing these systems is also costly: configuration, updates, and integration costs become a source of operational inefficiency, conflicting with transport authorities’ profitability imperatives.

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Moving Toward Interoperability with ITxPT

The term ITxPT (Information Technology for Public Transport) emerged about a decade ago. It refers to a set of standards and specifications that encourage public transport stakeholders to adopt an open data architecture. This means that their systems must be compatible and interoperable to share standardized data.

Adopting ITxPT offers numerous benefits to operators and public authorities, particularly in terms of:

• Operational efficiency: A simplified IT architecture with standardized and compatible systems reduces integration costs, maintenance costs and risks associated with multiple systems, while facilitating system evolution over time.
• Competition, innovation, and operating costs: Standardized systems allow transport agencies to work with different suppliers. By fostering competition, they gain access to a wider range of technological solutions while achieving  economies of scale.
• Customer  experience: Standardized data sharing between systems enables improved services for passengers, such as accurate and up-to-date information, user-friendly and interconnected ticketing systems, or onboard connectivity in vehicles and transport infrastructure.

A Coordinated, Step-by-Step Approach

System interoperability in public transport, well known in Europe, has already been adopted by transit networks in several major European cities. While interest is growing in North America, further promotion is needed among transport authorities, system suppliers, and manufacturers to demonstrate the long-term cost savings, efficiency gains, and enhanced user experience that interoperability can bring.

The role of industry associations, such as the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) in Canada or APTA (American Public Transportation Association) in the United States, is crucial in defining and harmonizing IT standards in public transport.

Ultimately, collaboration among all stakeholders is essential, as this involves changing practices across the entire industry. Cysca’s experts, with in-depth knowledge of the transport sector, can support you in this transition. Whether launching pilot projects to test integration with existing systems, assisting transport companies' IT teams in defining their architecture, providing training, or offering technical support for implementing ITxPT modules, our teams are here to drive innovation and contribute to the modernization of public transport—a critical sector for the economic development of our cities and regions.

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