Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Thoughts on the MRT...
So a couple of days ago, I was reading this thread on SPUG that was talking about the local public transport and fare hikes. I was reminded of that thread today while on the MRT and decided to give it a bit more thought since I was doing nothing much except staring at someone else' hair anyway.
Essentially, the discussion got to a point where we were discussing about how to increase the efficiency of MRT by carrying more passengers per train, clearing more passengers per hour etc etc.
The following are some of the suggestions tossed out, and my opinion on the viability of each opinion.
1) Utilise foldable seats such that seating capacity may be increased during off peak hours, and standing capacity may be increased during peak hours.
A good idea that would probably take quite some time to fly. Singaporeans would probably pull down the seats and sit on them during peak hours anyway. Come on, touch your heart and you know what the answer will be, don't you?
2) Increase number of cars per train to carry more passengers.
Basically anything that increases capacity can't be a bad idea. Just that our stations will need major modifications.
3) Increase frequency of trains.
Now surely this is the perfect answer for everyone? More trains equate increased passenger capacity. Additionally, if the train were to travel faster, we'd all get to where we wanted to go faster!
Now, someone raised a valid concern. Frequency of trains can only be increased to a certain level. Beyond that, it is just not possible. However, I am not able to provide you with the answer. Although some people have suggested that 1.5 - 2 mins should be easily achievable. We'll leave that question to the experts shall we?
Anyway, the concern was that, sometimes you get stuck on a train that can't pull into a station because the preceding train is still in the station. Now we're all on a train, true, but we're still not getting anywhere faster. Personally, I don't mind waiting on a train but yes, I do understand what they mean. However, I feel that in order to increase frequency of trains, increasing the travelling speed of the train is not the only factor that will contribute to the 'waiting time'.
First, I think that if there were more trains per hour, then if the number of people filling the train platform remains constant, we will have a smaller crowd waiting to board each train. This will translate to a lesser delay while the trains wait for passengers to board and alight and the trains should technically be able to move off faster.
Next we will touch on the issue that got me to thinking more about this subject. Letting people alight first.
Now, why in the world would that even matter, one might wonder. See, it's simple. The faster you let people get off, the faster you can get on. The faster you get on the train, the faster the train can move off. The faster the train can move off, the faster the next train can come in. The faster the next train can come in, the higher the possibility that you can actually get on a train without having your face stuck to the door till the next station. Wonderful solution ain't it?
How do we let people get off trains faster? First, you do NOT attempt to board the train when people are trying to alight. The idea here is to keep the doorway clear for them so that they can bugger their way out of the train faster, to make space for YOU! So that YOU can board the train! Without your face stuck to the door no less! Yay!
Next, to further ensure those irritating people alighting get out of your way faster, you should keep away from the exodus path. This means that you should let them have an area to spill out onto the train platform. I shall use some simple symbols to try and describe what I mean.
The crowd around and gawk situation.
This is where people will crowd around the train doors and gawk at the alighting passengers, being very reluctant to let them leave. It will look something like this:
........Door
Crowd\..../Crowd
.......Crowd
This usually tends to cause the alighting people to slow down and bask in your attention. Also means that you get on the train slower. So train leaves station slower. Next train comes slower. Everyone is stuck on the platform staring at each other.
The get outta their way situation.
This is where people actually make way for the alighting passengers. That's right, admire them from afar and wish them godspeed in getting outta your way.
..........Door
Crowd/.......\Crowd
This usually translates to a smoother flow of people you don't want to share space with off the train. If they are not on the train, guess what happens? YOU get space on the train. Yay! They get off faster, you get on faster, train moves off faster, next train comes in faster. We're all happier cos more people get on trains every hour.
Makes sense any?
Unfortunately, this solution has one horrible weakness.
We're in Singapore.
Darn.
Back to the drawing boards!
1 Adorations
So a couple of days ago, I was reading this thread on SPUG that was talking about the local public transport and fare hikes. I was reminded of that thread today while on the MRT and decided to give it a bit more thought since I was doing nothing much except staring at someone else' hair anyway.
Essentially, the discussion got to a point where we were discussing about how to increase the efficiency of MRT by carrying more passengers per train, clearing more passengers per hour etc etc.
The following are some of the suggestions tossed out, and my opinion on the viability of each opinion.
1) Utilise foldable seats such that seating capacity may be increased during off peak hours, and standing capacity may be increased during peak hours.
A good idea that would probably take quite some time to fly. Singaporeans would probably pull down the seats and sit on them during peak hours anyway. Come on, touch your heart and you know what the answer will be, don't you?
2) Increase number of cars per train to carry more passengers.
Basically anything that increases capacity can't be a bad idea. Just that our stations will need major modifications.
3) Increase frequency of trains.
Now surely this is the perfect answer for everyone? More trains equate increased passenger capacity. Additionally, if the train were to travel faster, we'd all get to where we wanted to go faster!
Now, someone raised a valid concern. Frequency of trains can only be increased to a certain level. Beyond that, it is just not possible. However, I am not able to provide you with the answer. Although some people have suggested that 1.5 - 2 mins should be easily achievable. We'll leave that question to the experts shall we?
Anyway, the concern was that, sometimes you get stuck on a train that can't pull into a station because the preceding train is still in the station. Now we're all on a train, true, but we're still not getting anywhere faster. Personally, I don't mind waiting on a train but yes, I do understand what they mean. However, I feel that in order to increase frequency of trains, increasing the travelling speed of the train is not the only factor that will contribute to the 'waiting time'.
First, I think that if there were more trains per hour, then if the number of people filling the train platform remains constant, we will have a smaller crowd waiting to board each train. This will translate to a lesser delay while the trains wait for passengers to board and alight and the trains should technically be able to move off faster.
Next we will touch on the issue that got me to thinking more about this subject. Letting people alight first.
Now, why in the world would that even matter, one might wonder. See, it's simple. The faster you let people get off, the faster you can get on. The faster you get on the train, the faster the train can move off. The faster the train can move off, the faster the next train can come in. The faster the next train can come in, the higher the possibility that you can actually get on a train without having your face stuck to the door till the next station. Wonderful solution ain't it?
How do we let people get off trains faster? First, you do NOT attempt to board the train when people are trying to alight. The idea here is to keep the doorway clear for them so that they can bugger their way out of the train faster, to make space for YOU! So that YOU can board the train! Without your face stuck to the door no less! Yay!
Next, to further ensure those irritating people alighting get out of your way faster, you should keep away from the exodus path. This means that you should let them have an area to spill out onto the train platform. I shall use some simple symbols to try and describe what I mean.
The crowd around and gawk situation.
This is where people will crowd around the train doors and gawk at the alighting passengers, being very reluctant to let them leave. It will look something like this:
........Door
Crowd\..../Crowd
.......Crowd
This usually tends to cause the alighting people to slow down and bask in your attention. Also means that you get on the train slower. So train leaves station slower. Next train comes slower. Everyone is stuck on the platform staring at each other.
The get outta their way situation.
This is where people actually make way for the alighting passengers. That's right, admire them from afar and wish them godspeed in getting outta your way.
..........Door
Crowd/.......\Crowd
This usually translates to a smoother flow of people you don't want to share space with off the train. If they are not on the train, guess what happens? YOU get space on the train. Yay! They get off faster, you get on faster, train moves off faster, next train comes in faster. We're all happier cos more people get on trains every hour.
Makes sense any?
Unfortunately, this solution has one horrible weakness.
We're in Singapore.
Darn.
Back to the drawing boards!
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