Suburban Trains Research Articles

A case study of Elphinstone Road Foot-Over-Bridge (FOB) Stampede in Mumbai

Planning or implementation delays of critical infrastructure (CI) projects resulted in misfortunes such as accidents, stampedes or deaths. In this descriptive case study, an incidence of the stampede at the suburban train station in Mumbai has discussed. An endeavour has been made to examine underlying causes which instigate direct causes reinforced by contributing causes. Indian Army was being roped in for constructing additional foot-over-bridge (FOB) after the stampede. This case features the earnestness of appropriate and timely development of associated infrastructure in and around suburban stations in Mumbai proportionate to abundant passengers commuting. Post stampede reports from newspapers, televisions channels and the internet have largely used to build this case. Pre and post cause analysis discussion on Elphinstone Road FOB stampede case is an eye-opener to justify sustainable emergency management and associated infrastructure development in Mumbai.

Train Delay Prediction using Machine Learning

Indian Railways operates both long distance and suburban passenger trains and freight services daily in the country. Trains get delayed frequently due to several reasons such as, severe weather conditions such as fog, traffic, signal failure, derailing of trains, accidents, etc, and this delay is propagated from station to station. If we can predict this in advance - it would be of great help for the commuters to plan their journey either for an earlier departure or postpone, and also lets railways to take measures to avoid delays further. In this paper, we used decision tree, a machine learning method used for predicting train delays, and Recurrent Neural Networks distinguished with various fixtures. For predicting train delays, Recurrent Neural networks with 2 layers and 22 neurons per each layer gave best results with an average error of 122 seconds.

APPLIED ASPECTS OF APPLICATION OF THE THEORY OF OPTIMAL PRIORITY IN ECONOMY

All human activity is planned in time: without this, the coordinated work of enterprises and production sites is impossible, the construction of large factories and playgrounds, children's playgrounds, strictly time-bound studies, even the time of leaving home to work for a worker and an employee, are determined according to the schedule urban transport, suburban train traffic. Obviously, the better the schedule, the higher the productivity, the less costs associated with a particular activity, the better the results. So you need to be able to schedule schedules, and most optimally. However, to do this, you must first set the task of making an optimal schedule as a mathematical problem. Tasks for scheduling, which are strictly ordered in some papers, are called priority tasks. Priority tasks include the following simple and primitive tasks, based on which complex problems are considered. There are different ways of formally presenting the tasks of the order – it is enough to mention the so-called schedules, football calendar or television program, schedules of work of urban transport or movement of suburban trains. But it should be noted that the condition of the priority task is difficult to represent in the form of a formula. Therefore, there is a method for solving them, called the method of selection. Simple problems and, at the same time, comparatively new ones for mathematics, methods of solving them, based on elementary ideas, are considered. These problems are related to the theory of optimal sequence – the section of mathematics, which is of great applied importance. The application of the method of selection to the solution of the priority tasks is considered, that is, the tasks for composing permutations that reduce the ordering of some works. Tasks that are solved by the simple method of selection often include the tasks of designing communication lines, transport lines, tasks that ask the task of establishing the order of processing of various details, the task of the distribution of products between these stores, etc. After proper formalization, the task of priority is reduced to finding the optimal permutation. The tasks and methods of solving them, proposed in the article, are not as difficult as complex, and they are solved by non-standard, non-traditional methods. Each of them requires a unique approach to solving. Their solution is based on the permutation sorting method. However, such tasks can lead us to the broad path of studying the theory of discrete optimization. Keywords : priority task, orderly rearrangement, method of selection, method of optimal selection.

Modelling passenger interaction process (PIP) framework using ISM and MICMAC approach

This research paper seeks to build a theoretical framework considering the contextual relationship between outcome/enabler(s) that encompasses during passenger interaction process (PIP) while using Mumbai suburban train services. On-site observations, self-travelling experience and opinions of daily travelling passengers have been used to form structural self-interaction matrix (SSIM). Interpretive structural modelling (ISM) has been adopted to develop PIP quality model framework and subsequently, MICMAC approach is used to investigate driving and dependence power of the outcome/enabler(s). The PIP quality model framework portrays that passenger satisfaction is top level consequential outcome perceived through passenger safety, comfort and security which is derived from smooth PIP. However, smooth PIP is reliant on a combination of enablers. The understanding of outcome/enabler(s) and their hierarchical relationship, driving and dependence power should instigate authorities to reengineer PIP especially for overcrowded suburban stations in Mumbai.This topic is researched keeping in mind daily apprehensions of millions of passengers those who travel by Mumbai suburban trains. Undoubtedly, findings of this research may lay down a foundation for authorities to reengineer PIP to enhance passenger satisfaction. In future, this study can be extended and validated by undertaking simulation and experimentation in the real environment.

The birth of Mass transit system or the imperative of technology: a look back at the design of suburban train stations in the 1970s

ABSTRACT This article looks at the suburban train stations built or rebuilt in the Paris Region during the 1970s. Through the analysis of articles from the railway trade press, it reveals how the railway engineers, mostly operationals seeking primarily to tackle fast-growing traffic volumes, have designed new kinds of sociotechnical objects to deal with metropolisation processes. In particular, it shows how their standardized nature contributes on the one hand to the erasure of the territories they serve, and how, on the other hand, their layout as channelling systems tends to obscure the figure of the user. In doing so, it demonstrates how important it is to take into account both technology and usage when designing transport spaces.

Exploring the behavior of suburban train users in the event of disruptions

Little research has examined the behavior of public transport users in response to a service disruption that has just occurred. This article aims to identify the different ways in which suburban train passengers cope with service interruptions or delays and to identify the factors involved in their decision-making process. We conducted a study mixing two methods: a revealed-preference questionnaire that asked 185 participants about their choices during the last major disruption they encountered and a diary study in which participants described all disruptions they experienced during a two-week period. Eighty disruptions were reported in detail by 38 users. We analyze our results using multiple correspondence analysis and ascending hierarchical clustering to construct eight suburban train passenger behavioral profiles. Additionally, we compare different cases of disruption (in a multiple-case study). We identify three categories of factors affecting suburban train user behavior: individual-specific factors, journey-specific factors and information-specific factors. The findings show that user expertise, car availability, perception of service recovery time, opinions on passenger information services, available transport services, time constraints, and the moment and place at which communication about the disruption is received influence user behavior.

Boarding Mumbai trains: the mutual shaping of intersectionality and mobility

ABSTRACTThis article analyses how intersectionality and mobility shape each other in the case of deaf women who board the Mumbai suburban trains, which have separate compartments reserved for women and for people with disabilities. These compartments being adjacent, deaf women often make last-minute decisions where to board, and even happen to switch compartments at a further station. Here, intersectionality shapes mobility in that it entails a complex and changeable, context-dependent set of strategies and decisions. Mobility shapes intersectionality in that by being mobile, people assert or develop different aspects of their lived experiences, preferences and aspirations.

Investigating the Randomness of Passengers' Seating Behavior in Suburban Trains.

In pedestrian dynamics, individual-based models serve to simulate the behavior of crowds so that evacuation times and crowd densities can be estimated or the efficiency of public transportation optimized. Often, train systems are investigated where seat choice may have a great impact on capacity utilization, especially when passengers get in each other’s way. Therefore, it is useful to reproduce passengers’ behavior inside trains. However, there is surprisingly little research on the subject. Do passengers distribute evenly as it is most often assumed in simulation models and as one would expect from a system that obeys the laws of thermodynamics? Conversely, is there a higher degree of order? To answer these questions, we collect data on seating behavior in Munich’s suburban trains and analyze it. Clear preferences are revealed that contradict the former assumption of a uniform distribution. We subsequently introduce a model that matches the probability distributions we observed. We demonstrate the applicability of our model and present a qualitative validation with a simulation example. The model’s implementation is part of the free and open-source Vadere simulation framework for pedestrian dynamics and thus available for further studies. The model can be used as one component in larger systems for the simulation of public transport.

More than travel time: New accessibility index capturing the connectivity of transit services

Various qualities of transit services, including travel time, frequency, and the presence of alternative paths, affect accessibility—how easily passengers can reach their destinations by transit. Traditional accessibility metrics, such as gravity-type and cumulative-opportunity indices, rely exclusively on travel time as a proxy for travel impedance, failing to consider other qualities of transit services. This study develops a comprehensive transit-based job accessibility index that accounts for the number of feasible alternative routes and their frequency in addition to in-vehicle and out-of-vehicle travel times. It uses the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data and Dijkstra's shortest path algorithm to compute these components of tract-to-tract transit trips in the Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). We demonstrate that conventional accessibility indices considering only gross travel time overestimate job accessibility in the job rich downtown area and suburban train hubs, while they tend to underestimate job accessibility in places mainly served by a suburban bus system. Logistic regression analysis shows that our refined job accessibility measure explains the likelihood of transit commute considerably better than conventional measures.

Walking to a public transport station

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the actual walking distance to public transport (PuT) stations and to report passenger perceptions on route choice.Design/methodology/approachA systematic case study has been conducted after administrating a tailor-made paper-based intercept survey in a German city (Munich). It can determine the interrelation between the accessibility of the transit service and evaluation on walking distance acceptance. Statistical analysis and geo-spatial approach were completed for obtaining major findings.FindingsStatistical and geo-spatial analysis shows that respondents living in low-density areas walk longer than residents living in nearby inner city areas. In terms of PuT modes, residents walk longer for suburban train and subway/metro (U-Bahn) than for bus/tram services. Transit users accept a longer walking distance to reach a train station than other PuT modes and they choose the most direct and quickest route to reach PuT stations.Research limitations/implicationsFindings of this study would help to formulate future strategies and standards for the sustainable planning of public transportation systems in the context of Munich and many other cities around the globe with similar conditions. However, future research should be conducted using a large-scale survey for evaluating the comprehensive picture of walking patterns to PuT stations. Accessibility to PuT stations can also be modeled and evaluated by adopting open data and voluntary social media information. Unfortunately, this study only presents a partial evaluation of walking focused on accessibility at selected PuT stations in different settings of the urban fabric.Social implicationsThis empirical study can be considered as an initial finding in the favor of the city transport authority to provide a design scale for improved accessibility of transit users; however, further investigation should be conducted using a large-scale survey for evaluating the comprehensive walking patterns.Originality/valueA systematic case study has been conducted after administrating a tailor-made paper-based intercept survey in a German city (Munich). Findings of this study would help to formulate future strategies and standard for the sustainable planning of the public transportation system in the context of Munich and many other cities in the globe with similar conditions.

The Effectiveness of Energy Exchange Processes in Traction Electric Drives with Onboard Capacitive Energy Storages

Regenerative braking with return of energy to an aerial contact wire in principle makes it possible to reduce the energy consumption for traction needs, but in real conditions the effectiveness of this braking type as a means of reducing the consumption of energy resources is often limited. The electric braking of rolling stock is more effective and independent of the external conditions in which the generated energy is stored in onboard energy storages. The largest reduction of consumption of energy resources for traction needs when using onboard energy storages composed of traction the electric drives can be achieved for rolling stock operating with frequent starts and stops. These types of rolling stock include suburban electric trains, subway trains, and urban electric transport, to the specific operation of which capacitive energy storages based on supercapacitors correspond best. This work considers the processes of energy exchange in traction drive systems with onboard capacitive energy storages during acceleration and electric braking of rolling stock. The energy exchange processes are considered in relation to resistive charging–discharging circuits and circuits with reactors, and the main attention is devoted to the effectiveness of energy exchange processes. The energy consumer in an energy-storage discharging circuit and the source of energy in the charging circuit are represented by an EMF source, which in general can change with time. The dependences of energy effectiveness of charging and discharging processes of capacitive energy storage on its initial voltage and on the rate of change in the EMF of energy consumer are obtained.

Train Operation Control on-based of Logical-Linguistic Model

The article presents a new approach to control of train movement based on a combination of terminal (finite) and fuzzy control methods using a logical-linguistic model whose numerical parameters are determined on the basis of search optimization and simulation modeling. The results of computational experiments are presented and given recommendations to the application and further development of the proposed approach. In particular, the proposed logicallinguistic model can be used in the construction of on-board systems of suburban electric trains.

Review of asset management for metro systems: challenges and opportunities

ABSTRACTMetro systems play a crucial role in the movement of millions of passengers worldwide as commuters rely on a fast, reliable, and convenient underground railway for their daily transportation. However, in many cases, the quality of the service that can be delivered, including performance, attractiveness, and customer satisfaction, are constrained by poorly maintained infrastructure. Meanwhile, effective planning to maintain, rehabilitate, replace and expand existing systems must respect technical, social, political, financial, and management constraints. There is a lack of a comprehensive framework for managing metro assets. This is mainly due to the multiplicity of components; the complexity of their interdependencies; common lack of historical data and performance indicators; and unavailability of a unified framework that integrates forecasts of future demand with decision-making systems. The main objective of this research is to review available studies and models for underground rail systems, identify the main strategic-operational planning gaps, and propose critical tasks for a comprehensive asset management framework. The platform developed in this research is suitable for further studies in urban railways such as Rail Rapid Transit (underground and surface), Light Rail Transit, and suburban trains as well as other modes of transport (e.g. traditional buses, Bus-Rapid-Transit).

IMPROVEMENT OF SUBURBAN RAILWAY SERVICES BY INFRASTRUCTURE AND TIMETABLE MODIFICATIONS BASED ON SIMULATION MODELLING

As part of this research, a computer model of the existing bidirectional single-track railway line section between Zagreb Glavni and Turopolje railway stations has been developed, and it has been modified with the aim of developing a new model of the double-track line on this line section, and which in relation to the existing conditions also includes additionally the new stop Donja Lomnica. The purpose of developing the new model of the double-track line is to study the possibility of introducing a new plan of cyclic timetable of the suburban and regional trains that would significantly improve the quality of existing service in railway suburban traffic of the city of Zagreb. The procedure of single-track line model modification has been performed based on simulation of railway operations in the station areas with the aim of improvement of line capacity necessary for introduction of new solution of the cyclic timetable. Within this approach, the solutions for modification of railway infrastructure in stations have been selected which have proven to be the best regarding the achievement of the mentioned purpose. As part of this work, a new solution of cyclic timetable of suburban and regional trains on the new model of the double-track railway line has been proposed by taking into consideration the existing characteristics of traffic of other trains on the observed railway line section, as in Zagreb Glavni railway station which represents the main node in the network. Stability of this cyclic timetable has been tested by the application of three different simulation scenarios. The results of this research have proven that the introduction of the new model of double-track line can enable stable application of the proposed cyclic timetable.

SCHEMATIC SCHEDULE OF SUBURBAN TRAINS ON WEEKENDS

[For the English abstract and full text of the article please see the attached PDF-File (English version follows Russian version)].ABSTRACT A special feature of suburban transportation is uneven distribution of passenger traffic over the seasons of the year, the days of the week and the hours of the day. In view of such differentiation by the hour of the day, the schedule of suburban trains on pre-weekend and weekend days differs significantly from the schedule on working days. The article proposes a technique for maximizing the number of suburban trains in the traffic schedule for the weekend with a fixed number of trains, which allows for a smooth transition from the basic traffic schedule to the schedule during the peak period without increasing the number of trains in circulation. Keywords: railway transport, suburban trains, transportation process, organization of passenger transportation.

Exploring Spatiotemporal Patterns of Long-Distance Taxi Rides in Shanghai

Floating Car Data (FCD) has been analyzed for various purposes in past years. However, limited research about the behaviors of taking long-distance taxi rides has been made available. In this paper, we used data from over 12,000 taxis during a six-month period in Shanghai to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns of long-distance taxi trips. We investigated these spatiotemporal patterns by comparing them with metro usage in Shanghai, in order to determine the extent and how the suburban trains divert the passenger flow from taxis. The results identified 12 pick-up and six drop-off hotspots in Shanghai. Overall, the pick-up locations were relatively more concentrated than the drop-off locations. Temporal patterns were also revealed. Passengers on long-distance taxi rides were observed to avoid the rush hours on the street as their first priority and tried to avoid the inconvenience of interchanges on the metro lines as their second priority.

Регулирование движения поездов на пригородных участках

Objective: There is a necessity to determine an approach to the development of train traffic control theory at suburban sections, on the basis of the analysis of conventional methods of train traffic control and service situations. Methods: Simulation methods, design theory and train traffic graphing were applied in the study. Results: The possibility of developing the conventional method of commuter service organization on railroads was demonstrated by means of a new data modeling approach, underlying the system of traffic handling capacity of suburban districts. It was shown, that the basis of such a technology is a train schedule modification. It was established that the schemes on selecting schedule modification, compiled in accordance with the standard methodology, may in some cases present the solutions different from conventional. It was concluded that an unexpected result might be achieved in case of simultaneous alteration of both the initial length of suburban zones and initial number of zone trains, that is zone schedule modeling, and elements of traffic schedule within regions, assigned in accordance with its periods and called configurations. The necessity in determination and modeling of configurations was justified by practical demand in traffic volume account of different types of trains at suburban sections. The simplest example of schedule modification and capacity values response to mutual position of trains and schedule elements in configurations was introduced. Practical importance: New theoretical conclusions, obtained as a result of the analysis of suburban areas’ length modeling results, the number of zone suburban trains and their position in configurations along with freight and passenger trains, provide justification of and scientific background for efforts of creating a new methodology of train traffic control at suburban sections. Such a methodology, built on the principles of zone schedule integrated modeling and the introduced traffic schedule configurations, makes it possible to considerably increase the flexibility of commuter service organization, achieve the reduction of passenger time spent on a trip and train expectation with guaranteed execution of the fixed schedule. According to the conducted analysis, the introduced approach may have positive influence on the capacity of suburban sections as well.

Mammon and God

In “The Artificial Nigger,” Flannery O’Connor provides directions for the reader to precisely follow her characters’ circuitous route from the city center to the suburban train station where they end their journey. While the Heads find themselves in three of the city’s shopping centers, O’Connor is careful to keep them from coming within sight of any of the city’s churches. O’Connor uses this commercialized Atlanta to examines the claim that commerce can make people “too busy to hate.” She then moves into an allegorical register in which the market represents judgement and the Heads experience grace only after leaving it.

EVALUATION OF PASSENGER SATISFACTION WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES

[For the English abstract and full text of the article please see the attached PDF-File (English version follows Russian version)].ABSTRACT Based on existing domestic and European standards of quality assessment, the article justifies the approaches to improving the work of public transport. The authors’ method of analyzing factors, which affect the characteristics of the transport service of the population and the satisfaction of passengers with the services of suburban electric trains and the metro, is demonstrated. The data of the conducted surveys allow to argue a step-by-step scheme of improvement of the expected quality in the quality system, which is achieved through conscious quality, and that in turn is regulated by realized quality. The level of the latter is determined by the impact on operational and infrastructural factors. Keywords: public transport, suburban electric trains, underground, quality of service, passenger satisfaction.

When transport becomes a destination: deaf spaces and networks on the Mumbai suburban trains

ABSTRACTThis article considers dense social interactions in commuter trains and their crucial role within city-wide networks. Literature on social interactions in public transport has focused on how commuters have short interactions with each other, or constitute groups of train friends, but without situating them in wider geographies. The article focuses on deaf people in the Mumbai metropolis who travel in compartments reserved for disabled people, chatting and exchanging news and information. These spatial practices are facilitated by the peninsular geography and train infrastructure of Mumbai. In order to produce deaf spaces, where deaf sociality and sign language use are the organizing principles, deaf people strategically board particular trains and particular compartments, and sometimes remain in the train beyond their original destination. Mobile phones are used to coordinate these meetings. The diversity of people meeting in the train is high, such as with regard to gender, age, religion, caste, class and divisions are either perpetuated or abated. Because these compartments provide a diverse range of deaf people a space for daily meetings on the way to and from their (mostly hearing) work places and families; they are very important spaces to maintain and expand networks in the wider Mumbai deaf community.