Ideas for Metro
Tokyo has one of the most complex metro/subway systems in the world.
Now that Bangalore is ready to roll-out its own metro system, I thought of bringing out ideas to implement in our trains.
My two cents worth, directly pulled out from my Tokyo observations:
All of my ideas revolve around the theme “Superior Passenger Experience”.
1. Let the passengers know where exactly the doors will open. This indication will be on the platform in front of every door.
2. Care for physically-challenged, old aged, injured and pregnant women. This mandates reservation of “priority seats” for them and making them aware of it using signboards on the platform.
3. Inform the passenger on how long is it gonna take for him/her to reach a particular station. The right display is used for it and the left display is for advertisements. In this photo, the train is currently at Gotanda station and it will take 7 minutes (well, exactly – I mean it) to reach Shibuya station.
4. Inform the passenger on his relative location in the following station – showing where the exits are located including elevators, escalators, etc. Also show them the connecting trains, if any. We can show exits to nearer bus stops.
So, what is your theme and creative ideas for it?
In Singapore, there is a yellow line, placed perhaps about 6-8 inches before the edge of the platform, which commuters are strictly advised not to cross. Given our lackadaisical attitude(s), that should be a must!
@ Ravi:
So, your theme is “Passenger Safety”?
And yes… It is there in Tokyo too. In fact the thick Yellow line in the photo serves that purpose.
On the Yamanote line, before every time a train enters the platform an automated announcement is made warning people not to cross that line!
Electronic tickets can be introduced.provided they dont cost much.this will prevent the entry of vagabonds from using the stations as their bedrooms.
Well, I am originally from Kolkata, the first Indian city to get an underground. Though the metro in Kolkata is very basic but it is wery, wery well maintained (by our standards, of course) and it covers all the major parts of the city and is very well connected with areas where the metro doesn’t go directly.
When I went to Kolkata this Jan, I saw that an extension is being built near the airport, so that, people can just hope off the flights and catch a train into the city, near their destination. This is a very good idea, as the Kolkata Airport is some 25kms out of the city.
Metro in Bangalore will improve the traffic situations and the “rikkiman” will stop showing attitude. Because you have to literally beg the autorickshaws to take you anywhere and they still refuse. Taking any other transport (bus) is out of question, since they are not well connected at all. The destination and bus numbers are usually written in Kannad, so for a non-Kannad speaker like me, it is impossible and risky to board a bus. So the rude “rikkiman” is our only hope.
So the metro will do real wonders to the city.
About innovative ways to improve the metro, I think a pre-recorded voice over will be better than a computerised display, so that everyone understands. And more so a voice is always well taken to when it tells you what the next station is and how long will it take, rather than read the diaplay.
Kanth,
Yes, my overriding(pun not intended) concern is passenger safety. In hindsight, I think even a yellow ( or what looks like orange above) lines will not suffice for our folks here…coz what with the tracks being electified and live, imagine the disruption that could happen if people jump the safety lines and onto the tracks!
There are more safety features that are needed that what could be discussed here in a forum like this. I’m happy to see another metro-enthusiast like you, though. Perhaps we should create a category on metblogs for the Bangalore Metro!?
Cheers,
Ravi
Delhi Metro is kewl……
@BOI…it has pre-recorded msgs…informing passengers about the next station + some precautionary measures to be taken while getting down/boarding the train…
When it comes to India, all the above pics show a scenario that will take a few ages to develop! The Japanese will not disobey instructions. Indians? I do not need to add anything.