Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FAIR Stations (Future Secure and Accessible Rail Stations)

Teaser

Increasingly, railway stations are becoming complex, with some being interchanges, and in some cases commercial or shopping malls and social activities. Subsequently, there are likely to be issues with congestion, guidance and security that are not experienced in more remote...

Summary

Increasingly, railway stations are becoming complex, with some being interchanges, and in some cases commercial or shopping malls and social activities. Subsequently, there are likely to be issues with congestion, guidance and security that are not experienced in more remote stations.
The FAIR Stations project aims to develop solutions for improved users flow within the station, and at the platform train interface (PTI). This will be done putting customer satisfaction, and security & safety at the centre of the station design, paying special attention to needs of PRMs.
The project will conduct a study on the state of the art station designs, as a benchmark. Future stations design will hinge on three pillars: design for security & safety, design for congestion, and design for accessibility. Tools to be applied include:
- User needs assessment
- User flow modelling
- Station design algorithm that optimises passenger flows for continuing and emerging operational design requirements such as security, baggage handling, and accessibility.
- Engineering design of a train and/or platform based mechanism to facilitate independent boarding and alighting of PRMs, using sensors/detection systems.
As part of the demonstration, experimental and in-situ tests will be conducted. Additionally, a 3D virtual reality demonstrator will be developed.

Work performed

• Development of social dataset that includes passenger needs and expectations.
As part of WP2, primary data was collected through focus group discussions, questionnaires and observational trips. Analysis of the data resulted in well defined user needs (including PRMs). TRL 1
• Benchmarking of state-of-the-art technology and information through identification of past research, and data related to passenger crowd flow, accessibility (for PRMs) and security risk assessment in high capacity stations.
Using desktop reviews, questionnaires, past EU projects and international data, with the help with expert inputs, the various kinds of rail stations were itemised. Difference caterisation methods were also analysed from which FAIR stations proposed a common system of categorising stations. This was conducted under WP3, which also developed factors that should be considered in design of future rail stations. TRL2
• Development of crowd flow analysis tool for the general population but that takes account of PRMs, baggage handling and security.
Forming WP4, the project has analysed the behaviour of station users, with a special focus on PRMs, and developed models of crowd flows inside large railway stations: the work is still ongoing with the aim to develop simulations and validate them through innovative technologies for crowd management. TRL2
• Develop an integrated (design) solution of a complex rail station, Platform Train Interface (PTI) interface and vehicle based independent boarding system for improved crowd flow and security.
As part of WP5, three concepts for independent boarding were developed. Oneis being developed into details in readiness for prototyping. An evaluation of the door access systems has also been done, which links in with the complementary project PIVOT. TRL2
• Evaluation of design concepts to obtain one with the highest impact based on the project’s identified Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Preliminary work has started which includes links to two S2R complementary projects. TRL2

Final results

PROGRESS BEYOND THE STATE OF THE ART
1. Crowd flow management
FAIR Stations will go beyond state of the art, exploiting technologies for crowd analysis, crowd modelling and simulation, aimed at designing new train station infrastructures with optimized crowd management:
• Crowd behaviour model based on sets of real-world observations.
• Consideration of PRMs in station design, crowd modelling and management.
• Simulation of several emergency and evacuation scenarios.
• Consideration of emergency and evacuation scenarios including PRMs in station design.
• Cost-effective technologies to analyse crowd management and movement in rail stations.
• Proposals for multiple flows and crowds control and management, to optimize passenger flows.

2. Platform Train Interface
• PTI-based adjustment or lifting mechanisms, to minimize passenger flow delays and safety risks experienced at the PTI.
• Advanced video surveillance with analytics for intrusion management.
• PTI-based concepts for independent and easy access of PRMs and passengers carrying luggage, for both existing infrastructures and innovative infrastructures.
• PTI-based concepts coupled with train access door systems and adaptable gap filler.

3. Train Door Access
• Cost-effective system(s) to detect the platform position and reduce the thresholds and the gaps.
• System design to couple door access with gap filler and step compensation system.
• Adaptable gap filler based on platform edge detection.
• Detailed identification of the needs of passengers, with a specific focus of PRMs.

EXPECTED RESULTS
The innovation leap will be optimised safer and more secure station users flow through the integrated system of the station infrastructure, PTI and vehicle door access; also taking into account effects of incidents that require emergency evacuation, and needs of PRMs.
The three main outputs are:
• A novel, innovative, technical vehicle access solution for heavy rail, for autonomous usability, full integration into the vehicle, providing independent boarding for PRMs.
• Validated passenger crowd movement analysis tool that incorporates PRMs and baggage handling, based both on innovative agent-based models.
• Integration of the two above, but to include a security risk assessment and countermeasure subroutine and incorporate crowd emergency evacuation flow in response to incidents such as natural disasters and man-induced crime (e.g. terrorist attacks).
The FAIR Stations project will develop till TRL 3 a new flexible and autonomous usable boarding/alighting mechanism compatible for both new build and retrofit vehicles, taking into account different infrastructure characteristics of typical multi-modal high capacity rail stations.

IMPACT
The ultimate passenger experience and passenger flow are dependent on the way they interact independently with the way the train access and platform/station have been designed, and the crowd profile characteristics. These elements (train access, platform/station and crowd profile) interact with each other and also either collectively or individually with the human factors associated with each passenger group indicated.
Operational
Independent accessible boarding has the potential to save the train dwell time at a station increased by up to 400% when not available, thereby improving rail network capacity.
Customers
A secure, smooth and seamless passenger transportation system results in customer satisfaction, including the over 60/70 years population.
Economic
High-cost savings in multi-digit millions across the EU when applying the PRM TSI requirements, and contributing to the budgetary relief of the budgets of the stakeholders having to cope with this requirements.
Sustainability
The success of this project would create the following benefits:
• Society: more users can travel by train, whatever their possible impairment.
• Economics: increase in the competitiveness of the rail transport sector, and the promotio

Website & more info

More info: http://www.fairstations.eu.