
In this article, Andre Wang, Co-founder and CEO of Moonbility, explains how the company’s Disruption Impact Platform is supporting its mission to redefine the passenger experience by making public transport more accessible and efficient for everyone, particularly passengers with reduced mobility.
For passengers with reduced mobility and accessibility issues, public transport journeys can be daunting.
From planning complex intermodal journeys to coping with limited real-time information about accessible options, these passengers often encounter unnecessary stress and delays.
According to the most recent National Travel Survey data, people with reduced mobility tend to choose car travel over public transport, making 177 trips per person as drivers, compared to just 30 trips per person using rail or bus.
At Moonbility, our mission is to revolutionise public transport and make it more accessible by addressing the unique challenges passengers with reduced mobility face.
Presenting the Disruption Impact Platform
We’ve developed the Moonbility Disruption Impact Platform—a cutting-edge solution powered by artificial intelligence and digital twin technology. This platform provides real-time updates on journey disruptions, ensuring passengers with reduced mobility have the information they need to travel with greater confidence and ease.
This innovation enables transportation operators to improve the way disruptions are communicated to passengers, offering transparency and actionable alternatives. By addressing unplanned delays, we aim to ensure minimal disruptions to passengers while supporting operators in managing resources and providing better service.
Fragmented communication and missed opportunities
Intermodal transport industries face significant challenges in disruption management. Today, unplanned delays and fragmented communication systems make it difficult for operators to react swiftly. For example, controllers process tens of thousands of daily train updates while attempting to disseminate critical journey information to passengers. This process creates bottlenecks and leaves many passengers, especially those with reduced mobility, without the clarity they need during disruptions.
One UK train operator’s study found that up to 80% of passengers expressed satisfaction with public transport when transparency around disruptions is provided. However, during disruptions, satisfaction rates dropped to 35% without adequate communication, highlighting the importance of providing timely, clear, and actionable information.
Moonbility’s platform addresses these challenges head-on. Built using eight years of historical data, our system digests and simplifies disruption information into actionable insights for operators and passengers. Using AI-powered digital twins, we gather and visualise real-time data, such as the availability of wheelchair bays during intermodal journeys, spanning trams, buses, and trains. This capability not only provides operators with clear insights but also helps passengers plan alternative routes with confidence.
Accelerating our vision
A pivotal step in our journey has been our participation in the Clean Futures Accelerator programme, based in the West Midlands. This initiative is designed to support SMEs in advancing innovations while contributing to a regional Clean Futures Ecosystem. Through the Clean Futures Accelerator we have secured £50,000 to develop our solution, along with access to the advanced testing facilities of the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO).
Through BCIMO, we’ve had the opportunity to test our platform using a demonstration track, showcasing its capabilities in a controlled environment. In February 2025, we’ll demonstrate the platform’s performance during a live simulation at the BCIMO, with rail and bus stops included on an intermodal route. This event will allow us to showcase how real-time visualisation technology can identify wheelchair bay usage and predict service disruptions, empowering operators and passengers alike.
Transforming passenger experiences
One of the platform’s key features is its ability to communicate disruption scenarios visually, using tools like 2.5D high-fidelity maps, heat-maps, and 3D models. This makes it easier for operators to prioritise resources and plan alternative routes. For passengers, the system offers real-time updates on the status of services, such as wheelchair bay availability, making journeys smoother and more reliable.
We’ve also worked closely with BCIMO to explore future opportunities, including trials on heavy rail networks in collaboration with a national train operator. These partnerships are supporting the industry’s confidence in our technology and its potential to revolutionise transport systems.
Looking ahead: scaling innovation
At Moonbility, as we refine and expand our disruption impact platform, we aim to collaborate with train operating companies (TOCs), Network Rail, and local authorities to create a more connected, transparent, and accessible transport network. Eventually, we plan to scale our solutions further, looking to Europe, addressing similar transport challenges and empowering passengers worldwide.
The Clean Futures Accelerator and BCIMO have played an instrumental role in turning our vision into reality. Their support has enabled us to push boundaries, create meaningful solutions, and position ourselves as leaders in transport innovation. We look forward to showcasing our platform’s capabilities in February 2025 and continuing our mission to transform the future of public transport.
To find out more about Moonbility visit www.moonbility.com