Transdev Bassin Annécien runs the fare-free winter bus network of Morzine, in the Portes du Soleil ski area. Pysae real-time AVM went live on 15 December 2023, two months after the contract was signed.
We needed an intuitive, responsive tool to handle traffic disruptions caused by changing crowds and weather. For example, a chairlift closed for technical reasons can mean quickly moving passengers to another one. Communicating vehicle arrival times to waiting passengers is essential.
A seasonal network for 24,000 tourist beds
Morzine has about 3,000 permanent residents, but its capacity climbs to 24,000 tourist beds in winter, with 80% winter occupancy. The resort sits in the Portes du Soleil, Europe's largest cross-border ski area. The winter network runs 8 lines with 12 vehicles and 19 seasonal drivers.
What makes a ski-resort bus network hard to run?
- Varied passengers: city dwellers used to public transport, families new to it and international holidaymakers who want a smooth ride to the slopes
- Fast driver onboarding: seasonal drivers arrive only one week before service starts
- Snow and weather: road conditions and unplanned lift closures force quick passenger rerouting
A light AVM built for a small seasonal network
Pysae deployed a light version of its AVM (SAEIV), focused on real-time passenger information and sized for a small seasonal network.
- Accurate ridership and punctuality data to adjust lines to passenger flows and weather
- Ergonomic driver interface: seasonal drivers are operational in under a week
- Ridership measurement on a fare-free network with no ticketing data
How did the AVM go live in 2 months?
- Mid-October 2023: quote signed
- November: configuration and setup
- Early December: driver training
- 15 December 2023: network launch
Results: 80 daily app users within weeks
After a few weeks, passengers had adopted the tool quickly: the Pysae app is used by about 80 people a day.
- 12 vehicles on 8 winter lines
- 19 seasonal drivers trained in under a week
- 80 daily app consultations