Train Trial Could Help Commuters
Transport for London (TFL) has just launched a trial of new information service that holds some promise for the weary rush-hour traveller.
A new display system has been introduced at Shoreditch High Street station on the Highbury & Islington to Surrey Quays Overground service.
Like most station destination boards today, the next three trains that are due in each direction are shown, along with how long there is to wait before arrival and what their final destinations are.
What is different, though, is that a visual indication of each train is also given, carriage by carriage from front to back, showing how busy each compartment is estimated to be.
They are portrayed on the graphic display as green for plenty of room, amber for getting a bit busy or red for very little room at all.
The aim is to allow passengers to choose a quieter carriage or even wait for a quieter train coming behind.
This system uses a combination of data from the trains and stations.
Carriages are in-built with detectors measuring the load on the axles from above for safety monitoring purposes. Data from these is combined with other information from on-board wifi usage, station CCTV monitoring and ticketing to provide best estimates of the number of passengers on the train and their distribution along it.
If the trial, which runs until December, is successful, TfL will consider rolling it out across its network.
Hopefully, other rail operators would consider doing the same.
A similar solution could also be handy for high frequency main corridor bus services, such as the 6, 37 and 71/72 into Solihull, for instance.
