Keolis Commuter Services awarded GIRO a contract for a new HASTUS-Rail installation to optimize scheduling and efficiently manage daily operations of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) commuter rail system, which Keolis operates and maintains.

The contract is the result of an international request for proposals that sought an in-depth examination of worldwide solutions. Keolis selected HASTUS-Rail after receiving on-site demonstrations of the software handling various scenarios that showed significant efficiency gains, cost savings and flexibility to adapt to Keolis’ operations, including compliance with the Federal Railroad Administration’s hours of service regulations, according to the company.

“Keolis is focused on safety and adopting word-wide innovations that will make MBTA commuter rail the best that it can be,” said Keolis GM Gerald C. Francis. “GIRO’s HASTUS-Rail allows us to advance the way we can optimize scheduling and better manage our daily operations in a way that few other solutions could.”

Keolis’ key objectives in choosing the HASTUS-Rail software suite are to increase efficiency, decrease costs and facilitate data exchange with its other systems.

The HASTUS-Rail modules that Keolis selected will allow it to build efficient vehicle schedules, cover them with optimal crew assignments and manage any changes to planned rosters promptly and effectively. By eliminating a paper-based system, the modules will also optimize the process that employees use to bid on work shifts and give employees access over the Internet to enter their bids, check their current and next-day assignments and sign in using mobile devices.