BVG public mass transportation Berlin

ACCS underground network

With almost a billion passengers a year, the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG, Berlin public transport authority) is one of the largest local transport enterprises worldwide. At present, the company is serving a conurbation with far more than four million inhabitants and covering an area of about 900 square kilometers.

November 1996 was the starting point for the gradual connection of all of Berlin's underground stations to the 4 so-called SIS (Security, Information and Service) centers. This system was implemented via a multimedia network set up by Siemens PSE Germany and the applications based on it (ACCS system). Each of the SIS centers is a stand-alone control center. All underground stations are subject to CCTV surveillance. If the need arises, acoustic information and warnings are provided. Emergency call and information boxes are available in the stations for passengers to make inquiries or emergency calls. In the latter case, the relevant video images will be instantly displayed at the SIS center.

The ACCS system makes a major contribution

• to increasing passenger security, and
• providing the necessary information links between passengers and the BVG.
  

Since 1999, the ACCS system has been operational on all 191 underground platforms and the 4 SIS centers 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. 589 emergency call and information boxes and 650 cameras are connected to the ACCS system.