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What matters for Commuter Rail Sucess?
Written By kbsyed61 - 2 June, 2012
Bangalore CRS alignment Routing Commuter rail
"..most important things in success of commuter rail is, geographic location, geographic location and geographic location."
Sounds very familiar? Similar to Divya Balan's famous lines from the movie, Dirty Picture. But that precisely is the conclusion of a study conducted by Rowan University's Geospatial Research Laboratory, New Jersey.
The study was undertaken to examine the 3 rail alignments that have been proposed by the Delaware River Port Authority and determine how each of these alignments affect potential usage.
Courtesy - Study by, John Hasse, Ph. D, Geospatial Research Laboratory, Rowan University.
Study Title - A Geographic Evaluation of Gloucester County Commuter Rail Options
This study makes very important revelations about things to be considered for implementing the mass transit systems, specifically commuter rail service. Here are some excerpts from this study report.
Questions that defines the success of commuter rail service
- How well the alignments/routes link people with activity centers?
- Which alignments/routes will most successfully improve access to core areas of employment?
- Which alignments/routes will most successfully improve access to core areas of redevelopment?
- Which alignments/routes best serves commercial, institutional and medical activity centers?
People don't like to change
- Change of travel mode or interchange is the major impediment
- 58% of commuters were willing to only one transfer
- Ridership drops by half for every transfer of travel mode
Conclusion - Success of commuter rail will depend upon on the geography of its location.
After going through this study, I had only one question for Bengaluru Commuter Rail Service:
How well the upcoming RITES report will address these factors?
COMMENTS
Similar analysis of proposed routes?
kbsyed61 - 3 June, 2012 - 03:20
Sanjeev,
If we were to make similar analysis of proposed routes (as done in PRAJA's Call to Action Report), we would find that each one exceeds the criteria proposed in the above study.
Each one of the 6 routes touches - commercial, educational, industrial and residential pockets. From a geographic location point fo view, these routes pass through some of the densely populated localities on both ends.
In coming days will give a try to draft such an analysis on proposed Namma Railu routes.
rackstar - 4 June, 2012 - 10:33
People dont like to change trains, so the routes should be as long as possible. So instead of changing train in yesvantpur/yelahanka etc, there should be pass thorugh trains. Tumkur-Bangalore-Hosur, Ramangar-Bangalore-Bangarpet, Chikballapur-Bangalore-Ramnagar, Dodballpur-Bangalore-Hosur. This arrangement is better than terminating local trains in stations inside city limits.
devadas jeppu - 4 June, 2012 - 12:27
Change of Transit Mode Vs Change over!
kbsyed61 - 4 June, 2012 - 15:03
rackstar, devadas jeppu,
The point made in the report is about 'Change of Mode'. Pls pay attention to the wordings and details in the report.
Lets not confuse 'Change over to different Transit Mode' Vs 'Change Overs to same transit mode.
I must point out that the length of the direct route is determined not just by one criteria rather by different needs - Demand, Optimum Efficiency and availability of pit lanes etc. I would like to get your attention to Praja's call to action report which takes this into consideration and has proposed a maximum of one change over if one is required to go from one town to the town (From Chikaballapur to Hosur, Bangarpet, Ramanagaram, Tumkur , Vice-Versa).
What this study helps us understand is to design CRS in such a way that keeps the change over to minimum and if possible zero change overs to other transit system, except for last mile connectivity. What is being pushed is making the mass transit system as last mile connectivity. Repeated attempts from different quarters both in Gov and outside are to restrict commuter rail's reach and objectives.
From the information that is reported in press from time to time, it is clear that commuter rail will be run but not the way it should run. Instead of running through the city they would like to stop it at the periphery of the city where Metro Stops. Design is to force commuters to change over to Metro from CRS. This is clearly way to kill CRS when it can't be wished away.
Very good inputs to the policy makers
Sanjeev - 2 June, 2012 - 03:42
Thanks Syed providning this usefull info, Urban Transport policy makers should go thru this study report to understand better how Bangalore Commuter Rail should be planned.
Most important outcome from that report which directly tells how Bangalore Commuter Rail should be :
geographic alignment is pivotal for system success.
People don't like to change
- Change of travel mode or interchange is the major impediment
- 58% of commuters were willing to only one transfer
- Ridership drops by half for every transfer of travel mode
Above things brings clearly : Most of the Citizens will like to use public Transport if they can cover the daily or regular travell by doing one or two interchange only not more then that.
Geographical allignment will change the tarvell pattern by commuters. Take example of Yesvantpur - Hosur Trains, which takes just 60 Mini, makes more attractive for Commuters to reach the nearest station on this segment to use the trains, instead of travelling on the Hosur Road by Vechile.
Simillarly, if Chikbanavar - Whietfiled / Yelahanka - Whietfiled Commuter Trains exists, then Gegrophical allignment and residing of peopel will change drastically.
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