Grabe, Hüttmann and Pasquay – ENTWICKLUNG UND ERPROBUNG EINES AUTOMATISCHEN FAHRPLANINFORMATIONS- UND AUSKUNFTSSYSTEMS (AFI) FÜR DEN ÖPNV IN VERKEHRSRAUM DES HAMBURGER VERKEHRSVERBUNDES 1979

Description

Authored by leading experts from the Hamburg Transport Association (HVV), Hamburger Hochbahn AG (HHA), and Dornier System GmbH, this seminal 4-page German journal article from 1979 offers a fascinating historical look at pioneering efforts in public transport automation. It meticulously details the development and testing of an Automatic Timetable Information and Enquiry System (AFI) for Hamburg’s extensive public transport network. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Research and Technology, the paper outlines the system’s architecture, including automated terminals, a telephone information service utilizing early voice synthesis (VOTRAX), and sophisticated route search algorithms. Enhanced by clear technical diagrams, system schematics, and operational flowcharts, this document provides invaluable, trustworthy insight into late 1970s urban mobility innovation. It’s essential reading for researchers, historians of technology, and transport professionals interested in the foundational stages of digital information systems in public transit.