A New Era of Announcements
The initiative marks an important milestone in KVB’s multi-year digitalization program aimed at optimizing customer information. At its core, the project replaces the many previously heterogeneous announcements with a single, unified voice that can be adapted in real time.
Aristech secured this demanding contract in early 2024 through a public tender. The company implemented an AI solution that now enables KVB to instantly convert written texts into naturally sounding speech and broadcast them across its network.
The “Corporate Voice” Behind It
The unmistakable sound now shaping mobility throughout Cologne belongs to Sandra Rosenthal, an editor at Radio Cologne. She was selected as KVB’s official “Corporate Voice.”
Creating this unique and friendly synthetic voice required a significant effort: over the course of three weeks in a recording studio, Rosenthal recorded more than 4,000 text fragments, stop names, and common words. Specialized software processes these recordings to generate any desired text in her digital voice. The result is high speech quality—clear, friendly, and characteristically Cologne-like.
More Than Announcements: Real-Time Information and Accessibility
The integration of AI-based TTS technology is a central component of KVB’s large-scale digitalization project. The new announcements are directly connected to a complex ITCS control system (Intermodal Transport Control System) and a central data hub. This delivers two key benefits:
Real-Time information: Announcements are based on up-to-date timetable data and respond immediately to disruptions or detours. Passengers receive consistent, current information via the app, on digital display boards (DFI/MFA), and now also acoustically.
Accessibility: Reliable, uniform, and high-quality audio information fulfills the so-called two-senses principle. This is an important step toward making public transport more accessible for people with visual impairments and improving mobility for all residents of Cologne.
The Role of the de:hubs as Ongoing Support
The successful implementation of Aristech’s technology also highlights the importance of strong partner networks. The startup is part of the de:hub Artificial Intelligence Karlsruhe, whose support has been a constant since the beginning of the partnership in May 2022. In addition to numerous consultations and individual support measures, Aristech particularly benefited from targeted matchmaking activities with research institutions for joint concept submissions. Furthermore, the team led by Hub Manager Sebastian Felzmann continuously works to increase Aristech’s visibility and position the startup as a suitable implementation partner. This ongoing networking as part of an ecosystem, combined with targeted support, is a decisive factor in the successful transfer of AI solutions into widespread application.
Innovation in Everyday Life: Startup Spirit Meets Urban Mobility
This project is an outstanding example of how innovation from the German startup ecosystem can deliver tangible, everyday impact. Aristech’s technology ensures that tens of thousands of passengers benefit daily from smarter communication.
The rollout of the new voice on trains, buses, and at stops in the coming weeks heralds a new era of passenger information and underscores KVB’s commitment to future-proofing urban mobility with state-of-the-art speech technology. It is a great collaboration that demonstrates how targeted networking—very much in the spirit of the de:hub initiative—can accelerate the transfer of AI solutions into broad application, creating real added value for business and society.
