EBSF - European Bus System of the Future
Overview
Background & policy context:
EBSF was an initiative of the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. Starting in September 2008; EBSF was a four-year project with an overall budget of € 26 million (16 million of which co-funded) and is coordinated by UITP, the International Association of Public Transport.
For the first time, EBSF brings together the five leading European Bus manufacturers and forty-two other partners in 11 EU countries.
In addition to the Project Consortium, the EBSF User Group, composed of some of the major European public transport experts, follows the project development and assesses some of its major results.
Seven European cities will test and validate the project headways: Bremerhaven, Brunoy, Budapest, Gothenburg, Madrid, Rome and Rouen.
The European Bus System of the Future is: ebsf-bremerhaven2
- an intelligent system (making efficient use of information, and providing different bus system solutions adapted to specific needs of all stakeholders);
- with innovative vehicles (providing improved comfort and accessibility for drivers and passengers, and making smart use of energy on board);
- integrated in the European Urban scenarios (adapted to different modern and historical cities, taking into account the future mobility trends, featuring new services for passengers and operators, and being the core part of the whole transport network).
Objectives:
EBSF aims at developing a new generation of urban bus system adapted to the specificities of the European cities. EBSF acts therefore as a driver to increase the attractiveness and raise the image of the bus systems in urban and suburban areas, by means of developing new technologies on vehicles and infrastructures in combination with operational best practices:
- Innovative high quality bus system;
- Breakthrough design of vehicles, infrastructures and operations;
- Competitive position of the European bus manufacturers and operators by promoting a new concept of 'the European Bus System';
- Boosting European research and development expertise for urban bus networks.
To achieve its mission, EBSF carried out a deep analysis of the needs of today and tomorrow of the main stakeholders of Bus Systems: users, operators and authorities. The project identified all requirements of Bus Systems and their components (vehicle, infrastructure, operation).
Prototypes of sub-systems, demonstrator buses and infrastructures, and new operations is now tested and validated in seven European cities.
EBSF demonstrates the full potential of the new 'European Bus System' bus concept, producing a final handbook to guide and recommend authorities and operators, giving crucial keys on implementing the new generation of bus networks.
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