DESIGNING PASSENGER INFORMATION FOR DWELL TIME TO SUPPORT THAMESLINK HIGH CAPACITY INFRASTRUCTURE

The Thameslink High Capacity Infrastructure Team is responsible for delivering the infrastructure to support the Thameslink 2018 timetable of 24 trains per hour (tph). This includes enhancements to the information provided to... [ view full abstract ]

The Thameslink High Capacity Infrastructure Team is responsible for delivering the infrastructure to support the Thameslink 2018 timetable of 24 trains per hour (tph). This includes enhancements to the information provided to passengers on platforms at Inner Area stations (St Pancras A&B, Farringdon 3&4, City Thameslink 1&2, Blackfriars 1&2 and London Bridge 4&5).
Network Rail’s Ergonomics Team identified the need for ergonomics technical input and guidance on how to achieve the passenger performance required to support the overall 24tph Thameslink objective.
The work included analysis of passenger behaviour, analysis of the future train service, and in consultation with stakeholders the identification of key operational requirements for the Thameslink Inner Areas stations in relation to dwell time which together provided the framework for requirement specification, option identification, option selection, acceptance and assurance.
The requirements identified for platform customer information screens (CIS) included optimising platform utilisation and the distribution of passengers, providing information so that passengers know where to wait on the platform for different length trains and optimising passengers ability to identify whether a train calls at their destination.
This paper outlines the Human Factors approach to selecting platform CIS screens that was developed in the context of dwell time for Thameslink, how the approach was developed, and how it can be applied to other platforms.


Key words: dwell time, passenger information, boarding and alighting, user trials, screen design