Glossary: Intermodality, Multimodality and Combined Transport

Are you a bit lost with all these new terms that come with the emergence of new technologies and new ways to travel?

Don't worry, Tictactrip, a pioneer in intermodality for passenger transport is here for you!

Let's discover together the definitions of these terms before getting to the concrete description of Tictactrip's innovative service!

Well yes, before anything else, we should think about defining these terms!

The concept of intermodality is not new! Indeed, it had been relevant for a long time in the freight transport sector. Its novelty is therefore its application to passenger transport.

The concept is then quite simple to understand and Wikipedia explains it best by saying that:

« Intermodality is the use of several modes of transport during the same journey.».

This new concept encouraging the use of different types of public transport during the same journey, allows both to reach your final destination easily, which is often not the case when using only one type of transport, but also to pollute less! This last point is moreover one of the challenges that Tictactrip wishes to continue developing its services for!

For your trip, choose a combination of bus 🚌 and train 🚄 or even train to the mountains 🚞 and shuttle 🚎 to go up to a ski resort!

So, did you understand the principle of intermodality? Let's discover together the differences with multimodality.

Now it's a matter of multimodality, always more new complex terms…

Let's start with the definition of multimodality given to us by the Internet Encyclopedia, Wikipedia:

"Multimodality refers to the presence of several different modes of transport between two locations."

Multimodality is then characterized by the fact that you are given a choice! Indeed, you have the choice between different modes of transport for the same route. However, to make this route, you will only have the possibility to choose a single type of transport. This is also where transport comparators like Tictactrip are of great use to you! This is where the whole difference lies with the principle of intermodality which gives you the possibility to use the transport networks to your advantage to optimize your route by combining them! Are you still following us? Great!

For a trip, are you more carpooling 🚗, bus 🚌 or train 🚄?

In our opinion, nothing can better illustrate these two principles; of multimodality and intermodality, than the site and service of Tictactrip.

Tictactrip, which launched in 2016, aims: both to open up French and European territories, but also to develop eco-responsible transport while allowing travelers to travel at the best prices 💰 and for the best journey durations ⏱ !

But how does the Tictactrip site highlight the principles of multimodality and intermodality?

Well it's quite simple, Tictactrip is first and foremost a ground transport comparator. As a result, we compare for you, for the same route, bus, train and carpooling offers: this is the multimodal side!

And, alongside these comparisons, you can discover our special tab: « combined »! This uses our intelligent combination algorithm to offer you routes combining different modes of transport: This is the intermodal side!

So that you better understand what we're talking about, here is the service proposed by the Tictactrip site in image:

On this image, which shows the Tictactrip website in action, you have plenty of information about the route you selected.

This is the route you chose to compare on our site. This is where you'll find comparisons of transport types: bus, train and carpooling, as well as our combined route suggestions. Let's discover together the different features of our transport comparison tool!

• You can see the different tabs, by transport type. On these, you will find two pieces of information: the cheapest price we found and the travel time that goes with it. If you click on it, the information and route suggestions for this single transport type will be displayed! On this image, no train or bus makes the complete route, which is why there are no results.
• Also, there is also a "combined" tab. Like the others, it shows the cheapest price we found by combining different types of transport and the corresponding travel time. If you click on it, as shown in the image, combined route suggestions will be displayed. You can therefore discover that for this example route, we decided to offer you a combination of an OuiGo TGV train from Lille to Lyon, then an Altibus bus from Lyon to your favorite ski resort of Méribel les Allues. 🎿

So, convinced of the efficiency and usefulness of our service and the possibilities it offers you? Don't hesitate to discover it and use it yourself, but be careful, such small prices for travel quickly become addictive!