Measuring train crowding unevenness: A Stockholm metro case study

Abstract

We propose a methodology for quantifying the unevenness of the crowding distribution among the cars of rail transit vehicle. The proposed train crowding unevenness metric is defined as the total experienced crowding, normalized between 0 and 1 across all possible distributions of the same total train load. The methodology is demonstrated for the metro network in Stockholm, Sweden based on automated car load data. Train crowding unevenness is found to be lower at departure from inner city metro stations and especially during the highest peak of the morning rush hour; this finding suggests that the uneven distribution of passengers in the train is critically affected by the total passenger load inside the vehicle. Investigating this interaction, we found that train crowding evenness increases with the on-board passenger load. Certain metro stops are exceptions to the aforementioned finding which could be explained by the existence of a popular or a single station access point that leads to skewed distribution of passengers on the platform prior the arrival of the train. These insights may be used by transit planners and operators to increase the understanding of how passengers are distributed in the train along the metro line and eventually increase the capacity utilization of the trains through investments in infrastructure or operational interventions and thereby reduce the experienced on-board crowding level.