BLS – LOPAS mobile app for the locomotive crew

All important information and resources for the locomotive crew in one application: LOPAS is a modern and portable solution for displaying shift plans and schedules.

Challenge

With LOPAS (locomotive personnel assistance), the BLS locomotive crew can view staff planning and display a specific train journey with all the relevant information. \ The mobile application can also receive recommendations for drivers from adaptive control, a system developed by SBB to avoid unscheduled stops.

Solutions

In the initial phase, our user experience studio We are Cube examined the concept, created mock-ups and carried out usability tests with train drivers. This enabled operation to be optimised, resulting in a very intuitive and simple design. The implementation phase took into account the specific needs and requirements of the locomotive crew during the journey in the driver’s cab: 

• Offline availability of data (settings, rotas and schedules)
• Encryption of offline data
• Login only once per day
• Screen must not dim in schedule (during train journey)
• Simple brightness control via gestures
• Daytime and night-time view

During the implementation phase, drivers had the chance to test a beta version of the application in the field as part of a pilot run. Feedback and requests from drivers were evaluated on an ongoing basis and implemented swiftly.