The Mälartåg network, a key component of Sweden’s rail infrastructure, is a crucial transportation artery, carrying 12.5 million passengers annually across five major lines. Connecting Stockholm with major cities such as Uppsala, Norrköping, Linköping and Örebro, the network’s 63 trains play an essential role in the region’s daily commute.
Identifying goals
In February 2024, following financial challenges faced by the previous operator, the Mälardalstrafik public transport authority awarded Transdev the contract to manage the Mälartåg network. Transdev successfully launched operations in June 2024 and officially assumed maintenance responsibilities in December 2024. Transdev integrated 700 employees from the former operator as part of the transition, ensuring continuity and expertise in service delivery.
To support this important transition and ensure a smooth experience for passengers, Transdev chose Octave Attune EAM, an industry-leading SaaS solution. The platform is trusted by more than 120 transit operators worldwide for its reliability. Transdev selected Attune EAM under an existing framework agreement within the group.
Overcoming challenges
Octave and Midport Scandinavia, an Octave alliance partner, executed a swift and agile implementation of Attune EAM for Transdev within a tight timeframe.
At the project’s start, Octave’s business value assessment identified operational maturity gaps and guided strategic decisions. A best-in-class approach allowed rapid deployment while maintaining flexibility for future expansions.
“With such a short time frame, we needed partners who could respond very quickly and that was the case with Octave and Midport,” said Carl-Fredrik Bernmar, Director of Asset Management at Transdev. “They provided excellent support, working in an agile way to meet our urgent needs. What also made Octave stand out compared to other EAM platforms, which might excel in one area but lack a full suite of capabilities, is its broad range of capabilities and extensions, making it the right platform for future growth.”
Realizing results
Today, Attune EAM provides comprehensive functionality covering maintenance, procurement, warehouse management, finance and supplier management. Its ability to integrate with Transdev’s ERP and with FORD, Sweden’s central system for monitoring rolling stock, was also pivotal in Transdev’s decision.
Rail maintenance presents unique challenges, with each train composed of multiple components such as carriages, bogies, wheels and bearings—all requiring individual tracking within set hierarchies. This complexity makes it all the more important to rely on a platform that has been tried-and-tested by operators worldwide and can integrate with precision measurement tools.
Moving forward
This successful implementation will help Transdev elevate its maintenance practices in its bus operations and continue to grow with additional capabilities, including planning tools and mobile solutions.
Octave’s cloud-based platform is expected to enable more proactive maintenance strategies and support the transition to electric buses and their increased complexity—including the need for meticulous tracking of batteries, chargers and other high-value components.
