Operational Control

With DB Lightgate, transport companies and infrastructure operators gain, for the first time, a comprehensive, real-time-capable view of the actual occupancy of individual trains—regardless of vehicle type.

Example – Detecting Train Sequence Conflicts
It is well known that high occupancy often leads to dwell time overruns and delayed departures. However, train run forecasts often still rely on planned dwell times. By combining real-time and forecast occupancy data the actual train journey progress and potential conflicts can be predicted far more accurately.

For instance, a time–distance diagram might show that a traditional forecast based on planned dwell times (green) fails to reveal a train sequence conflict at station F. By using occupancy-based dwell time predictions (blue), this conflict can be detected early—closely aligned with the actual train movement.

The recorded data is assigned to the specific train journey in real time and is available to operational systems within seconds. This enables new operational capabilities beyond traditional timetable data:

• Dispatchers detect overcrowding early and can intervene in train sequencing if it becomes clear that an overloaded train will not reach a junction on time—thus systematically prioritizing punctuality.
• During major events or unexpected occupancy peaks, passenger flows can be monitored and managed live.
• Emergency and replacement services can be better planned and activated more quickly—based on actual demand instead of estimates.
• Collaboration with authorities such as police or security services benefits from occupancy forecasts, enabling proactive situational assessment and support during incidents (e.g., large fan travel movements, evacuations, track intrusions).

This turns isolated snapshots into a continuous data stream—forming the basis for more robust operations, more reaction time, and informed decision-making in seconds.