Co-funded by the European Union, the NEXUS project seeks to redefine metro transportation in European cities. As part of the European Rail’s Joint Undertaking, the European partnership on rail research and innovation, the project’s goals and priorities align with their vision and efforts to harmonise rail operations, integrate advanced technologies, and address societal challenges.
The project’s current focus is on investigating and optimising various aspects of metro operations, with the purpose of placing passenger needs at the center of planning, as understanding passenger behaviour plays a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of metro operations.
Why Passenger Behaviour Matters
Passenger behaviour is central to achieving the goals of the NEXUS project. Efficiently designed metro vehicles and platforms can reduce changeover times, directly improving system capacity and operational stability. By gaining insights into passenger behaviour, the project aims to enhance distribution on platforms and within vehicles, which in turn reduces dwell time (which refers to the amount of time that the vehicle stops to serve passengers) at stations.
Optimized platform and vehicle designs can lower passenger density inside carriages, improving comfort and encouraging greater use of metro systems. Moreover, a more efficient metro system uses fewer resources, supporting environmental sustainability and reducing the ecological footprint of urban transportation.
Key Insights from Passenger Surveys
The “Passenger Requirements and Behaviour” survey is divided into four main categories, each addressing important aspects of metro operations:
1. Acceptance of Autonomous Metro Systems: The goal of this category is to examine public perception, trust, and potential benefits of driverless metro systems.
2. Real-Time Information Systems: Here, we want to investigate how real-time information can improve passenger distribution on platforms and reduce crowding.
3. Safety Improvements through Platform Design: This category of questions assesses how measures such as platform screen doors and reduced platform crowding contribute to increased safety and smoother passenger flow.
4. Vehicle Layout Preferences: Finally, we want to explore how different seating and standing configurations impact passenger comfort, accessibility, and overall travel experience.
These factors are interconnected, and their combined influence is essential for designing efficient, safe, and passenger-friendly metro systems.
Applying Insights to Metro Design
The survey results will provide actionable insights for metro system design. For example, the placement of entrances and exits on platforms significantly influences passenger distribution within vehicles. Poorly positioned access points can lead to uneven passenger distribution, increasing the amount of time that the vehicle must stand at the station serving passengers. To address this, staircases, escalators, and elevators can be strategically positioned across stations to encourage balanced passenger flow.
Real-time information systems also play a critical role in improving platform distribution. By guiding passengers to less crowded boarding areas, these systems help reduce congestion at specific vehicle doors.
Vehicle layout is another important consideration. Insights into passenger preferences for standing and seating arrangements enable the design of interiors that minimize congestion near entry points and promote even distribution throughout carriages. These improvements can contribute to faster boarding and alighting processes and greater overall efficiency.
Overcoming Challenges in Data Collection
Designing the survey posed several challenges due to the complexity of passenger behaviour and requirements. The diverse experiences and perspectives of team members made it difficult to define a clear focus initially, but multiple revisions and extensive collaboration ensured the survey addressed relevant topics effectively.
Distributing the survey across European cities such as Genoa, Sofia, and Barcelona requires significant coordination with various partners. Translating the survey into multiple languages added another layer of complexity, requiring clear definitions and plain language to avoid misunderstandings. Despite these challenges, the team’s commitment resulted in a comprehensive and well-received survey.
To ensure a diverse range of perspectives, the survey will be distributed across multiple European cities and promoted through posters, flyers, social media, and newsletters. Although the survey aims to capture a wide array of passenger experiences, there is room for improvement regarding the level of accessibility to individuals without smartphones or familiarity with QR codes.
Shaping the Future of Urban Transport
The insights derived from these surveys will significantly contribute to other key aspects of the NEXUS project, such as adaptability analysis and the integration of AI and data science in metro operations. By prioritising passenger needs and behaviour, the project aims to optimise platform and vehicle designs and implement real-time information systems to reduce dwell times and enhance the overall travel experience.
These advancements will help address crucial challenges and guide European metros toward a more inclusive and transformative future. Interested in contributing to this initiative? Share your thoughts by participating in the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/nexus_general