Call-prep brief · checked 2026-07-19

Verkehrsverbund Pforzheim-Enzkreis (VPE)

Grade F · 52.7 / 100

Up 0.1 points since 2026-07-18 (F to F).

For this call: lead with the grade and the three fixes below, then confirm the feed is current and the rider information is complete. Each fix is framed as a next step, not a failure.

What changed since the last check

Correctness no change
Freshness no change
Rider experience no change

Top three things to fix

Set wheelchair_boarding to 1 (accessible) or 2 (not accessible) for every stop. A field survey can start with the busiest stops.
2423 of 2448 stops don't say whether a wheelchair user can board there. Riders who use wheelchairs can't plan a trip when accessibility is marked 'unknown'; apps show no information at all.
Effort: A column in stops.txt; your scheduling software likely has it.
Add fare_attributes.txt (or Fares v2 files) with your fare structure. If your service is fare-free, ask to have it marked fare-free instead.
The feed contains no fare information. Riders see 'fare unknown' in trip planners and can't budget their trip; visitors are most affected.
Effort: A small file for most flat-fare systems.
Delete the empty calendars or set their service days.
Some service calendars have no days of the week switched on. Trips tied to these calendars never run; they are dead data that can mask real schedule problems.
Effort: A few minutes in your scheduling software.

Key facts

Feed URL: https://www.nvbw.de/fileadmin/user_upload/service/open_data/fahrplandaten_mit_liniennetz/vpe.zip
Last checked: 2026-07-19
Service window: 146 days of service data remain. Last service date 2026-12-12.
Feed version: 20260706
Location: Baden-Württemberg, Germany

A data-quality and completeness read to support an agency conversation. Not an official compliance determination. Rubric v1.2, validator 8.0.1.