On the Path to the Future of Public Transportation
Interview with Sarah Höring, Managing Director of IOV Omnibusverkehr GmbH Ilmenau
Mobility is one of the important topics of our time. Individual transport is reaching its limits – new ideas are needed. This applies equally to cities and rural structures. With the forward-looking model of highly automated minibuses, IOV Omnibusverkehr GmbH Ilmenau is setting standards. In addition to the existing network of city lines and regional buses, the municipal company is exploring new ways to offer even better solutions to citizens in the future.
Sarah Höring, Managing Director of IOV Omnibusverkehr GmbH Ilmenau, is enthusiastic: "Our success is primarily due to our great team. Even in difficult moments, we stand together. Only if the motivation is right can we deliver the performance that appeals to our customers." Especially in terms of proximity to customers, the transport company has made significant progress in recent years and maintains service centers at the two important locations, Ilmenau and Arnstadt, that are continuously accessible for passengers from 7:30 AM to 6 PM.
High-Quality Offer
It is a complex offering that IOV maintains for its customers. Around the two larger cities of Ilmenau and Arnstadt, there are many smaller municipalities that are also connected to the public transportation network. In the city areas of Ilmenau and Arnstadt, IOV operates three city bus lines each. "Additionally, we maintain a bus route with two highly automated minibuses," the Managing Director adds. "This moves us towards autonomous driving. However, we are not yet completely autonomous. These minibuses can transport six passengers each, plus an operator. These buses already operate automatically without a driver, although the operator can intervene in difficult situations. So far, there are only a few transport companies that test highly automated driving under real conditions." Moreover, for the surrounding areas, IOV operates a total of 27 regional lines, partly with subcontractors.
Founded in 1929
The nearly 100-year-old public transport system has a varied history. It started as a private bus company in 1929, and in 1960 was incorporated into VEB Kraftverkehr, caring for duties like passenger transport, taxi services, and forwarding with 500 employees. After the German reunification, the company was dissolved, and Matthias Höring – father of the current managing director – founded IOV. In 1994, a new operational yard with a gas station, car wash, and workshop was opened in Ilmenau, and in 2012 a bus depot was initiated in Großbreitenbach. Since 2018, IOV has been 100% a municipal enterprise, whose main shareholder is the Ilm-Kreis. Of the 154 employees, currently 107 are working in the driving service and 16 in the workshop. The remaining employees are involved in administration and service. The next generation is also part of the team, as IOV trains automotive mechatronics technicians, professional drivers, and office staff. The vehicles cover an average of about 3.8 million km in the territory, the Ilm-Kreis, annually.
Flexible Working
Where there used to be only weekly, monthly passes, and single tickets, IOV has significantly expanded its range. "Discounted tickets for seniors and mobility tickets are subsidized by the district," explains Sarah Höring. Recipients of social assistance receive the Germany ticket at a discounted price. "We want to make mobility accessible," the managing director describes public activities. "Together with kindergartens and schools, we teach children how to ride the bus. We have also developed simplified timetables for schools." IOV has arrived in the digital world, not just with its highly automated minibuses. Where possible, processes and workflows are organized digitally. The workshop operates very modern with special software and even personnel management is handled digitally. Additionally, flexible working has been introduced, as desks with fixed computers have been replaced by docking stations and laptops. Team meetings are also partly conducted over virtual platforms.
A Fare For Everyone?
After the test phase with the highly automated minibuses, Sarah Höring desires a real inception of autonomous driving solutions for public transport. The managing director also advocates for a significantly higher acceptance and usage of the provided offers: "I think it's important to have dreams and visions that might sometimes go a bit beyond the goal." The managing director can quite imagine that in ten years, there might be a national uniform fare that applies across all public transport systems. "Our mission is to provide mobility to the people. Therefore, it's absolutely necessary to cut old ties and look for new solutions. In this regard, integrated systems with different types of transport play a very important role."