Zürich is renowned for its high-quality public transportation — and at the core of its evolving network lies powerful digital transformation led by Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VBZ). With a combined 510 kilometers of tram, bus and trolleybus lines and over 436 stops, VBZ is leveraging Octave Alto Mass Transit (formerly HxGN Mass Transit), Octave’s transit asset management solution, to enhance data accuracy, streamline operations and ensure sustainable growth.
Since the platform’s introduction in November 2018, VBZ has continuously expanded its capabilities and has advanced through various developments. It is a major accomplishment in VBZ’s mission to maintain one of Europe’s most advanced urban mobility systems.
“A state-of-the-art transportation network is crucial in Zürich, where we are tackling the challenges of urban mobility,” said Christian Heimlicher, project manager at VBZ. “Octave Alto Mass Transit allows us to improve data quality and make information accessible across our organization and beyond.”
With 2,600 employees and up to 400 vehicles operating simultaneously across the city, the need for precise, up-to-date infrastructure data is paramount. From switches and overhead lines to stops and network geometry, all critical assets are now maintained through a centralized GIS-driven model for transit asset management.
Alto Mass Transit empowers VBZ’s 24/7 command and control center to monitor, analyze and optimize transport operations in real time — enabling 90,000 kilometers of daily rail vehicle travel and serving over 900,000 passengers each day.
By consolidating infrastructure data into a single authoritative transit asset management system, VBZ is enhancing its reporting, planning and service quality — delivering a safer, smarter and more efficient experience for Zürich’s residents and visitors alike.
