Smart platform information

Purpose and goal

The project aims to investigate two solutions for enhancing travelers experience and managing crowd congestion at a commuter train station. The first solution involves implementing floor markings to clearly indicate the exact location of train doors on the platform. The more advanced solution focuses on providing visual cues to travelers regarding the occupancy levels of each train carriage. Through extensive research in this domain, the project aims to enhance the overall journey experience for travelers while minimizing congestion both on the platform and inside the trains.

Expected results and effects

Unlike some previous studies, floor markings and platform signs had no objective impact on dwell times and had a very limited effect on travelers´ behavior during the wait for the train. Factors such as short testing periods, the design of the interventions or information provided during the tests, may have influenced the negligible effect of the measures. However, many travelers understood the solutions, and most of them considered the measures useful, indicating that many travelers can value the provided measures positively even if it does not affect their travel decision.

Planned approach and implementation

To fulfill the purpose of the assignment, impact evaluation, process evaluation, and a number of reference group meetings with experts and practitioners in the field were conducted. The impact was evaluated through: - Pre- and post-implementation observation studies: Filming the platform to study travelers´ behaviors and movement patterns on the platform. - Interviews with travelers (subjective evaluation). - Objective data: Analysis of SL´s train traffic data (dwell times, boarding and alighting, and occupancy levels upon arrival).