Piloting a barrier-free travel chain at Magdeburg Central Station

OPENER next is the name of the project launched by Nahverkehrsservice Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH (NASA GmbH) together with Chemnitz University of Technology. The aim of the project is to map an accessible travel chain for people with reduced mobility in the INSA app. The pilot operation took place last Wednesday at Magdeburg Central Station.

Eleven participants from Saxony-Anhalt with various degrees of mobility impairment gathered at Magdeburg Central Station at the invitation of the project partners. There, they were given a fictitious route to follow from Magdeburg Central Station to the platforms without boarding the train. They were equipped with specially prepared smartphones. Hardware was installed in the station building to ensure interference-free reception of the devices. All test persons were accompanied on their journey by the project participants, who recorded the testers' comments and obstacles. Based on the analysis, appropriate adjustments can be made to the test app before it is implemented live in the INSA app.

The research project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport, lasted almost 3.5 years and was divided into several work packages. The first step was to identify the needs of people with impaired mobility. In order to improve access to barrier data, the Chemnitz University of Technology developed an app that allows citizens to independently collect data at stops and stations, e.g. to report potential barriers. The pilot marks the successful completion of the research project. The data and findings are now being analysed.