Call #2.2 Modalsplit Challenge: Innovation in regional transport to increase the modal split
Challenge Metadata
- Challenge Name: Call #2.2 Modalsplit Challenge: Innovation in regional transport to increase the modal split
- Date: 7/3/2024 3:13:35 PM
- Administrators:
Challenge Description
Summary
Switzerland has the political goal of shifting passenger and freight transport to sustainable modes of transportation. The shift in traffic volume from road to rail is documented over time with the modal split. The modal split represents the market share of various modes of transport and can be expressed by the distance of the journey or the number of trips. Despite a steadily improved public transport offering and infrastructure expansion, no significant increase in the modal split has been observed over the past 20 years. The Federal Office of Transport (FOT) aims to significantly increase the modal split by 2050 and, according to RAIL 2050, identifies the greatest potential for increasing the modal split in short- and medium-distance travel, i.e., regional transport. To achieve this goal, the offering in regional transport must improve. The five most important factors in choosing a mode of transport are the quality of the overall offering, travel time, price, last-mile options, and the complexity of the travel chain (source: Perspectives on Increasing the Modal Split of Public Transport, 2021). In this context, it is evident that innovations in regional transport are key to improving the offering and supporting the increase in the modal split.
Challenge Partner: Swissrail, RAILplus, RhB
Starting Point
The Rhaetian Railway (RhB) operates routes in regional passenger transport that offer significant potential for increasing the modal split. Through the introduction of new technologies such as autonomous trains, RhB aims to expand and optimize its services. This endeavor poses technical as well as societal challenges. RhB has formulated 10 questions that must be considered for the successful introduction of new technologies. Using three specific application examples (S-Bahn Davos extension, Touristic experience Samaden – Preda, Automated Parking Facility Landquart), it is shown where there is a need for innovation.
10 Questions
- Technical Reliability: How can we ensure that the systems operate reliably and that no unexpected errors occur?
- Safety Systems: What safety systems are necessary to detect and avoid potential hazards, such as obstacles on the tracks or protection against environmental influences/weather conditions (rockfall, avalanches, etc.)?
- Communication with Other Trains and Infrastructure: How can autonomous trains effectively communicate with each other to avoid collisions and coordinate train traffic?
- Integration into Existing Infrastructure: How can autonomous trains be seamlessly integrated into the existing system landscape of the RhB (Rhaetian Railway) without disrupting operations or incurring additional costs?
- Emergency Scenarios: How should autonomous trains respond to emergencies, such as technical failures, medical emergencies on board, or unexpected events on the tracks?
- Liability and Legal Framework: Who is responsible if an autonomous train is involved in an accident? How should legal frameworks be designed to support the development and deployment of autonomous trains?
- Data Protection and Cybersecurity: How can passenger privacy (in on-demand services) and system security against cyberattacks be protected?
- Training and Job Loss: What impact will the introduction of autonomous trains have on the personnel currently needed for train operations and maintenance? How can retraining and support programs be designed for affected workers?
- Implementation Time: How quickly can a described use case be realized, considering technological progress, regulatory frameworks, public acceptance, and the availability of financial resources?
- Business Case: What does a business case look like from an overall economic perspective for the use cases (from the operator's and regional/touristic perspective), including lifecycle considerations?
Working Hypothesis
Since infrastructure expansion in recent years has not led to an increase in the modal split, additional measures are needed alongside the expansion steps already approved by parliament. Therefore, improving the service must continue through innovation in operations. New technologies such as autonomous trains represent an effective lever for increasing the capacity of existing infrastructure. This paradigm shift poses challenges that must be addressed with innovative solutions. Only when quality and safety standards are assured can current public skepticism be addressed and the offering of regional passenger transport optimized. The goal of the challenge is to identify groundbreaking innovations from Switzerland that demonstrate scalable solutions for improving regional passenger transport, using the example of the Rhaetian Railway.
About the Innovation Booster New Mobility Lab
The New Mobility Lab aims to solve mobility problems by promoting radical innovations from the Swiss market. With a strong network of research partners, including HSLU, ETH, HSG and other institutes, and the support of over 50 industry partners, the Lab strives to make mobility CO2-neutral and break through existing silos. The aim is to develop systemic solutions that offer added value to society. The Innovation Booster supports these projects methodically and financially in order to turn radical ideas into marketable products.
Solutions
The New Mobility Lab aims to solve mobility challenges by promoting radical innovations from the Swiss market. With a strong network of research partners, including HSLU, ETH, HSG, and other institutions, and supported by over 50 industry partners, the lab strives to make mobility CO2-neutral and break existing silos. Its goal is to develop systemic solutions that provide societal value. The Innovation Booster supports these projects methodologically and financially to transform radical ideas into market-ready products.
What projects can apply?
You are a…
Start-up, SME, or large company, a non-for profit, research team, student, city, canton or basically anybody with…
- an idea to develop a new product, service, process or business model
- that has a positive impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (3,9,11) and decarbonization and supports the climate targets of the Federal Council's Energy Strategy 2050 with regard to mobility aspects and the switch to environmentally friendly means of transport
- ideally, involving multiple stakeholders across the value chain
- potentially self-sustaining in the midterm
- willingness for co-creation, diversity and gender equality
- Intention of implementing your solution in Switzerland and beyond after the booster program...
then go on and apply for the call!
Focus of this Project Call
Any project idea with a focus on the mobility transition can apply!
Your Benefits
In order to enable and accelerate innovation, we match your project idea with appropriate experts and partners. Thanks to the approved application within the Innovation Booster program of Innosuisse, we are able to support you financially with CHF 25'000 per project if you convince our jury.
Start now!
Submit your project idea by creating a jointcreate project idea and fill in the answers to the follwoing questions into the long description field:
Project idea description
- What problem would you like to solve?
- Who are the customers and how will they profit from a solution?
- How does your project idea help to transform the mobility sector?
Current status and previous activities
- What has been tried before? What was not successful? What have you learned?
Resources needed
- What are your planned work packages?
- How can the New Mobility Lab help you?
Questions?
Contact us via maximilian.richter@building-excellence.ch
You can find everything about the process of the call and the conditions of participation here.