Ele.C.Tra - IEE/12/041/SI2.644730 01 Juy 2013 – 31 December 2015

Improvements in of

the City of Miljenko Kovačević

Public has changed a lot during the last few years. The City of Zagreb, the public transport operator - ZET, and the EU have invested a lot to make it more attractive. New low-floor buses and provide more comfort and better access for all passengers. New display boards have been installed on the stops and new ticket machines in trams and buses. Security improvements were achieved by introducing CCTV cameras in vehicles, which did not exist in the past. The public transport fleet now uses less energy (energy management in trams) and emits less CO2 (buses running on bio-diesel and CNG).

Ele.C.Tra - IEE/12/041/SI2.644730 01 Juy 2013 – 31 December 2015

New low-floor trams and buses

In the last five years ZET has undergone through the most radical fleet modernization in company history. The existing fleet was gradually substituted by 142 new low floor trams. New trams are able to generate power during braking, which is then returned into the power grid and can be used for other purposes. From the electrical point of view – while braking, new trams are actually power generators and not power users.

New trams provide considerably higher quality of service. They are more powerful and faster compared with the old model trams, but also heavier (e.g. new trams have 6 engines compared with one engine in the older models). They are equipped with various systems which did not exist in the older trams: air condition system, audio-visual information system, security system (CCTV), new lightning system; drivers’ cockpit is equipped with computer and communication system.

Public transport company ZET also acquired 214 low-floor buses, of which 100 are fuelled with the mixture of regular diesel and biodiesel and 60 buses are fuelled with compressed natural gas (CNG). They now make around 50 percent of the bus fleet. Furthermore, the new buses meet modern standards regarding passengers’ comfort, safety and .

One important objective was achieved during the last year: the construction of the new CNG filling station with the capacity which allows charging the new CNG buses.

Ele.C.Tra - IEE/12/041/SI2.644730 01 Juy 2013 – 31 December 2015

Traveller information A significant step forward in improving the quality of service and increasing the competitiveness of public transport (PT) was made by introducing pre-trip information for passengers through displays at stops and on-trip information through displays in vehicles.

The traveller information system includes the control centre and the LED display panels at bus and tram stops which inform users about the arrival time of each tram or bus line. Currently, there are 150 displays in the city of Zagreb. Apart from vehicle arrival times, display panels also show the information about the line number and its final destination. Furthermore, in a case of a special event or traffic incident, display panels can be used to provide specific information, useful for the travellers. Each display panel is also equipped with a speaker; hence the control centre personnel can also disseminate audio information (this is helpful for visually impaired PT users). However, for now this sub -system is in experimental phase. The control centre is also connected to the public transport (PT) vehicles which are currently in operation, via ZET’s (Zagreb Electric Tram) own communication and control network based on TETRA radio communication system. Since PT vehicles are equipped with GPS receivers, in any given time the system knows the exact location of every PT vehicle. Furthermore, PT operator (Zagreb Electric Tram – ZET) invested into the introduction of a contact centre and information centre. This services allow citizens to quickly find out all relevant information about: who are the eligible users of free-of-charge tickets in the city, where are free-of-charge routes in the centre, what are the working hours of vending spaces, as well as information about the time tables, present traffic conditions, prices, etc.

Ele.C.Tra - IEE/12/041/SI2.644730 01 Juy 2013 – 31 December 2015

New ticket validation terminals All trams and buses were equipped with the ticket validation terminals that allow travellers to define their travelling zone and to pay tickets for more than one person at the same time. The ability to use the terminal in English language is supported as well. The introduction of the new system also required an updated ticket palette, in order to meet user requirements and needs. Generally, all old tickets were replaced by the electronic versions and some new types of tickets were added. Information regarding the new tariff system is also visible on vehicle internal displays and audio information has been broadcasted inside the vehicles, explaining where the old paper ticket could be annulled, how to use new electronic tickets and reminding passengers to register after boarding the vehicle. Security improvement in public transport New public transport vehicles (trams and buses) and 50 older trams are equipped with Closed Circuit Television system (CCTV). Apart from CCTV system, in all new vehicles the SOS button is introduced into the drivers’ cockpit. If the driver notices any incident inside the vehicle he or she will push the SOS button which will trigger different activities related to alarming local authorities and collecting evidence which can be used against the perpetrator.

A competitive travel time, convenience and affordability are often the first tangible requirements. But for modern public transport users more is expected to encourage them to change their private cars with public transport: a good level of customer service is increasingly important, covering elements such as cleanliness, helpfulness of staff, real time information and so on. On the top of this, feeling safe and secure is an important expectation.