Linden Calling: ITxPT, Interoperability, & Data-Driven Public Transport

04/06/2025

Blog, Transportation

2 min

The public transportation industry is undergoing a digital transformation, and open standards are at the heart of it. With last month’s Linden release, the ITxPT (Information Technology for Public Transport) specifications become even more vital in ensuring seamless, interoperable systems that drive efficiency and innovation.

The 2025 annual Linden release introduces improved service interfaces and enhanced data model alignment, making it easier for different onboard and back-office systems to communicate out of the box. These upgrades help transit operators adopt plug-and-play components with greater confidence and less integration overhead.

Linden further strengthens the foundation for true interoperability across vehicles, networks, and service providers.

Driving Efficiency and Reducing Costs Through Standardization

ITxPT was designed to enable plug-and-play interoperability between on-board systems, and its impact is far-reaching. By adhering to a common framework, public transport operators can streamline system integration, reduce vendor lock-in, and eliminate the need for redundant hardware.

The ITxPT ecosystem encourages modular growth, so operators can start small and scale up without disrupting existing systems.

In addition, having a unified, standards-based approach means data is more accessible, reliable, and easier to integrate into higher-level analytics platforms—helping operators make informed decisions that improve route planning, passenger comfort, and overall service reliability.

Fully Committed to the ITxPT Vision

Linden was officially released in early April. Just a few weeks later, we implemented updates in a new firmware, 2.9. The pace of implementation reflects Xovis’ strong belief in the ITxPT’s role in shaping the future of public transportation for the better.

One of the key highlights is the addition of the release is an ITxPT-compliant time server discovery mechanism using DNS-SD, which simplifies synchronization across devices.

Linden also introduced capabilities for receiving the door open status directly from VehicleToIP or FMSToIP services as a mandatory requirement for Automatic Passenger Counting systems (APC). This marks the first time that our ITxPT-certified APS sensors can actively use data from other ITxPT services. This two-way communication marks a milestone in our integration into the ITxPT ecosystem and showcases the powerful potential of a truly connected vehicle environment.

Our commitment to ITxPT is not just a statement—it's backed by action. As of January 2025, our APS sensors became officially ITxPT certified, a label that confirms APC technology meets the highest standards of interoperability and performance.

This is just the beginning. With the Linden release, we’re setting the stage for more intelligent, responsive, and connected transit systems. We’re already exploring new features that will deepen our integration into the ITxPT framework and offer even more value to transit operators around the world.

Public transportation is evolving, and ITxPT is one of the driving forces behind the exciting changes in the sector. Xovis is proud to be at the forefront of these exciting developments—building smarter systems, together.

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Jan Karsch

Jan Karsch, Product Manager at Xovis, is an electrical engineer with over 25 years of experience developing and implementing Automatic Passenger Counting technology. Following studies at Technical University Chemnitz, Karsch held various positions at DILAX—including the role of CTO between 2007-2011—and served as Product Manager at Hella Aglaia Mobile Vision GmbH between 2011 and 2024.