SFK Online Timetable - Configuration and Usage

The SFK Timetable is not a static schedule that is based on just the expected times or routes of the ferries. This timetable is meant to empower the SFK customers to gather most current information about connections between one pier and a specific destination. In case of delays or other inconvenient circumstances the costumer is informed quickly and therefore can reduce severely the amount of standby time.

The displayed ship positions and the expected times of arrival at a specific destination are calculated new every 20 seconds considering the position information send by the ferries. This information is much more accurate than a regular schedule.

The accuracy of the system increases with decreasing distance between the expected ferry and the monitored pier because a delay might arise directly proportional to the overtime at the pier that has just been left (due to many people or lots of bicycles that need to be taken aboard).

Workplace Requirements

Webbrowser – Versions

To use the enhanced online timetable from private or professional workplaces wou will only need to have a Web browser installed.

To the current date two Browsers are officially supported:

n      Mozilla Firefox 1.5+

n      Internet Explorer 5.5+

Other Browsers can be used, but we do not offer technical support in case of problems or corrupted display.

Internet Explorer – Necessary settings in ‘Internet Options’

n      Tab „Security Options“, Zone i.e. Internet, chapter “Scripting”: “Active Scripting” must be activated.

n      Tab „Advanced“, chapter „Browsing“: Choose and activate „Open links in same window“.

n      Tab „Advanced“, chapter „Multimedia“: Choose and activate „Show Images“.

Internet Explorer – Suggested settings

n      Tab „Advanced“, chapter „Multimedia“: Choose and deactivate „Show Image Toolbar“.

n      Tab „Security Options“, Zone i.e. Internet, chapter “Miscellaneous”: Deactivate the Popup Blocker.

n      Tab „Security Options“, Zone i.e. Internet, chapter “Miscellaneous”: “Allow META Refresh” must be activated if the timetable needs to be refreshed automatically.

n      Please try to avoid using your own Stylesheets or fonts.

Other

n      The recommended screen resolution is 1024*768 pixels. The online timetable is optimized for exactly this resolution. Especially displaying the timetable at the SFK-piers “Bahnhof”, “Möltenort” and “Laboe” on 19 inch flat panels is one of the major intentions.

Configuration parameters

You can visit the online Timetable by browsing the SFK Homepage http://www.sfk-kiel.de. There you can choose “Fährlinien”->”Online Fahrplan” in the menu.

The page that shows up contains an Input form that allows to choose a current timetable for a specific pier.

There are the following Options to choose from:

n      The list of piers.

o       Shows all piers that are served on the current day by means of currently valid SFK-schedule.

o       Please choose the pier that you would like to have accurate timetable information about.

n      Check Box „Nur aktuelle Verbindungen anzeigen“

o       This Option is activated by default.

o       If you choose to deactivate this Option all connecting ferries are shown for the specified pier. The displayed inofrmaiton includes time of arrival and departure as well as a complete list of destinations. Depending on the current time of the day this list may be quite long and confusing. Therefore you might have to scroll down to get to the required information.

o       The activated Box configures the System to display all information without the need to scroll (only if you use the recommended screen resolution). The information is filtered in a way that only the next available connection is shown completely. All other information is reduced to display the intermediate arrival and departure as well as the arrival at the final destination. The amount of connections is reduced to a number that fits on the screen. Therefore later connection can not be displayed.

n      List of Rate of Refresh:

o       The online timetable refreshes after the chosen period of time by itself without the need of interaction by the user.

o       By default the list iss et to „without automatic refresh“. This is fully sufficient if only current information is required.

o       Otherwise you can choose between 20 Seconds and 30 Minutes in useful gradations.

n      Sending the form („Fahrplan erstellen“)

o       Button „Fahrplan anzeigen “ shows the timetable in the same browser window.

o       Button „Fahrplan (Vollbild)“ opens a new browser window. By pressing the “F11”-key you can toggle between the regular view and a full screen view. Within the full screen view you can deactivate irritating browser components like the address bar by choosing the context menu (right mouse button).

o       By choosing the full screen view the Check Box “Show only current connections” is set automatically to reduce the amount of irritating objects.

o       The full Screen view was mainly developed for usage by the SFK terminals at pier “Bahnhof”, pier “Laboe” and pier “Möltenort”.

 

Reading an Online Timetable

The online timetable consists of two parts. Both parts are refreshed individually during the chosen slot of time. A high rate of screen refreshes can be irritating and may produce screen flickering.

n      On the left hand side a sea chart of the Kiel fjord is shown with all piers, ferrylines and ferries that are in use today.

n      On the right side you can see the current timetable.

o       The headline shows the name of the current pier, the current time and the time when the timetable was generated. If the timetable is displayed without automatic refresh then it is shown in bright red.

o       Right beneath the headline you can find the structure for the ferrylines, shown as framed table (block/square). Ususally a pier is only served by one ferryline but there are two at the junction of “Fördelinie” and “Schwentinelinie”, the pier “Reventlou”. Because of that there are two separated blocks for pier “Reventlou”. The upper block shows the timetable for the “Fördelinie” and the lower for the “Schwentinelinie”. If only one ferryline is still active, then the other block will disappear for pier “Reventlou” also.

o       In one ferryline block all connections for this pier and on this ferryline are displayed. The next Arrival and Departure is the one on top.

o       In the left row the destination of the ferryline connection is shown in bright red. Right next to the destination you can find the name of the ferry as well as arrival and departure times.

o       Underneath the most current connection there can be a small table with arrival times for the final destination and for possibly other intermediate destinations as well.

n      Leaving the timetable

o       Full Screen View: Choose F11 and leave the Full Screen Mode. Close the window by clicking the X in the right upper corner of the browser window.

o       Normal Mode: Close the window by clicking the X in the right upper corner of the browser window.

n      Choosing a different pier

o       Full Screen View: Please follow the steps for “Leaving the timetable”. Because of the separate window that has been opened for the Full Screen Mode, the configuration page should still be available in the background.

o       Normal Mode: Please do not use the browser buttons for navigating forth and back. If you like to go back and choose a different pier, then use the link within the page for the timetable. It is located in the upper right corner of the timetable page (right next to the ‘help’ link) and is named ‘Zurück in die Anlegerauswahl’.

Frequently Asked Questions

Currently no Frequently Asked Questions have been evaluated.

Support Addresses

The SFK does not offer a support hotline for this free service.

You can contact the SFK by E-Mail especially if you have further questions.

If we were able to help you, your question will be published in chapter “Frequently Asked Questions”.

We are also glad to receive your feedback, corrections or critics.

Adresses of contact towards the following themes:

 

Help on Usage

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