Enhancing rail safety in Frankfurt

The challenge

Stadtwerke Verkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt am Main mbH (VGF) is the city’s public transportation company and service provider, responsible for managing and operating Frankfurt’s nine underground and 10 tram lines, including all rolling stock and stationary infrastructure. It is one of the largest employers in the region and transports more than 200 million passengers each year.

For many years, the company has maintained a command and control centre with video surveillance to ensure constant monitoring of the transportation system. To enhance safety further, VGF sought to directly link threat detection with incident management capabilities, including coordination with police, fire and other emergency services, to ensure faster and more effective response.

The solution

To evolve its command and control centre, VGF selected Hexagon’s industry-leading computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system to strengthen its safety and security IT infrastructure and operations. The CAD system offers a suite of tools and capabilities that improve dispatcher efficiency through streamlined and automated processes.

Integration with other systems, such as voice communication and video surveillance, is key. The CAD system is connected to SOS pillars in the subway and tramway stations, and passengers can use the pillars to report an emergency or talk to a dispatcher for general information. It is also integrated with VGF’s vast video surveillance system, which processes a significant amount of data from 350 high-end IP cameras.