Abstract
The paper evaluates the impact of real-time crowding information (RTCI) provision based on a pilot study at a Stockholm metro station. During a 6-day test period, RTCI for each car in the next arriving train was provided through a visual display and speakers. The impact is evaluated in three dimensions: (1) passenger attention is analyzed using video analysis; (2) passenger valuation is evaluated with traveler surveys; (3) passenger action is analyzed with in-vehicle passenger load data. It is estimated that around 25% of the passengers noticed, understood and considered the provided information useful for their travel decisions. Further, RTCI had a statistically significant positive impact on the boarding distribution between cars and, as a result, on the downstream in-vehicle crowding in the trains. RTCI reduced the share of passengers boarding the first, most crowded car by 4.3% points for trains that were crowded on arrival, and increased the share of passengers boarding the second, less crowded car by 4.1% points. The findings also suggest that many passengers may value the provided crowding information positively even though it does not change their travel decisions. The results indicate that RTCI may be a useful technology for public transport operators and agencies for increasing the utilization of available train capacity and reducing crowding.
Highlights
As populations increase in many cities world-wide, the ability of public transport systems to provide mobility to the users is put under pressure
During a 6-day test period, real-time crowding information (RTCI) for each car in the arriving train was provided through a visual display and speakers
The impact is evaluated in three dimensions: (1) passenger attention is analyzed using video analysis; (2) passenger valuation is evaluated with traveler surveys; (3) passenger action is analyzed with in-vehicle passenger load data
Summary
As populations increase in many cities world-wide, the ability of public transport systems to provide mobility to the users is put under pressure. 77% of the respondents reported choosing a specific car intentionally; among these, 70% stated that their motivation was to minimize walking distance at the destination station, 17% sought to minimize walking distance at the origin station, and 13% stated that they sought to maximize comfort during the trip Together, these results suggest that more uniform passenger load distributions between train cars would have positive impacts on passenger wellbeing as well as dwell times, service reliability and on-time performance. Real-time information systems for vehicle arrival and travel times are available in many public transport systems world-wide, and have been shown in several studies to have positive effects on perceived waiting times, safety and security, impacts of service disruptions, and general satisfaction (e.g., Dziekan and Kottenhoff 2007; Zhang et al 2008; Watkins et al 2011; Cats and Jenelius 2014; Eboli and Mazzulla 2015).
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