Experimental analysis of boarding and alighting behavior in urban public transport network: A case study

Abstract

This paper investigates the characteristics of passengers’ behavior and its effect on the metro stopping time at stations. A field survey was conducted on two mega stations in Cairo metro by video cameras photographing and a stated preference survey was performed based on design of experiments approach. The level of passenger non-compliance behavior, defined as the passengers start boarding the metro while others alighting is analyzed and its relationship with deferent affecting factors is fitted by a two-factor interaction model with a determination coefficient of 0.9234. It is found that some factors have a significant impact on passenger’s non-compliance behavior such as the number of alighting and boarding passengers, applying a penalty when not comply with the rules and the door opening shift (i.e. the train stop away from the place designated for it on the platform). Factor interactions show that alighting process does not affect passenger behavior in case of door opening shift. This may be because the alighting passengers are ready to alight from their position inside the train and have nothing to do. Delay from work is the most influential factor and has interaction with all affecting factors. Results may help for verifying passenger behavior simulation to improve the operational capacity of the metro network.