DB Netz AG has informed both the train operating companies (TOC) of Germany (customer information KW 42/2014) and iRFP as the creator of the FBS path portal interface program in October 2014 that the timetable year 2018 (EIBV track order period from March to April 2017) a completely new version of the path portal interface from DB Netz is to be put into operation. More detailed information on the planned changes to exchange formats, processes for route ordering and commissioning procedures are not yet available, as is a timetable for obtaining this information. In our experience, the implementation of a complex interface requires a lead time of approximately 24 months from the announcement of the final interface documentation. Should we have received further information from DB Netz, we will of course inform you at the user conferences. If you have further questions, please contact your DBU customer service representative.

In July, DB Netz informed about a shift of one year or to the 2020 timetable (customer information KW 31/2015).

We will be pleased to provide you with information about availability and prices of the new FBS-Portal-Portal-Interface-Program at our user conferences or individually.

The FBS edition December 2014 was released today for FBS maintenance contract clients. The extended program version is available for download via the integrated update function. If no special conditions prevail against the shipment, our customers receive the updates automatically by post.

The following functions are included in the update:...

Read more … FBS-Update December 2014

For FBS maintenance contract cients today the FBS issue July 2013 was released.

The following functions are included in the update:...

Read more … FBS-Update July 2013

Since June 2009, our customers have been able to use the network-wide timetable construction with iPLAN. The majority of our customers have been convinced by the advantages of the new FBS program and have switched to iPLAN.

As announced in September 2008, we will end the maintenance and further development of the previous programmes FPL and Netz with the FBS update summer 2013. The FBS version, which will then appear, will be the last to support this programme concept. Thus, the completely newly developed BFO module will be offered exclusively in iPLAN.

If you still use FPL and NETZ, you can still use these programmes. However, we advise you to switch to iPLAN to benefit from the continuous development of FBS. You can now use your current work results seamlessly in iPLAN and the conversion effort is low. If you are interested, please contact the Dresden office for a change to iPLAN.

We would kindly ask you to make any adjustments in the FPL and NETZ programs by the end of April 2013, so that we can check them in time for implementation in the FBS Update Summer 2013.

For users of the FBS program iPLAN, the end of FPL and NETZ will not change anything - you can continue to work as usual, as well as use innovations and adaptations.

From summer 2013, the new BFO is available: unlike the previous BFO program, this module is now integrated into iPLAN. The last FBS timetable document is now created at this central location and is directly available as an FBS object with the train station assignments (DB network name: timetable for train control stations). This results in an uncomplicated comparison with the graphic timetables as well as view and print functions as in all other FBS timetable documents (freely selectable sheet format, PDF generation).

In addition to a series of simplifications, an arbitrary number of departments are now possible in a train station arrangement and any number of operation day differences in tracks and transitions. They are thus easier cases to create / display where a different track is used, if a train crossing takes place only on workdays and the train runs Monday to Friday on track 1 and at the weekend on track 2. Trains which begin / end on some days of traffic, continue on others do not have to be divided into two trains. It is also possible to change trains of a train within the train station rules (for example, other days on arrival than on departure - arrival Mo-Sa, departure Mo-Fr).