Ministerial Statement: Platform arrows help passengers board and leave ...

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
14/04/2008

Platform arrows help passengers board and leave trains safely

Commuters this morning would have noticed large yellow arrows on platforms at Queensland's busiest railway station to remind passengers boarding a train to stand to the side and allow others to leave the train first.

Minister for Transport John Mickel said the new signage was being trialled on platforms 1 and 2 at Central station to help passengers quickly and safely enter and exit their train.

Mr Mickel said the platform arrows were part of QR's "6 Steps to a Better Journey" campaign that encouraged commuters to follow six simple steps to enjoy their train journey.

In addition to allowing others to step off the train safely, other steps to a better journey include buying a valid ticket before boarding, placing bags under the seat, keeping feet off the seats and turning down the volume on portable music players.

"Trains are busy, particularly during peak hour, and people are generally in more of a rush now than ever before," Mr Mickel said.

"However, it is quicker and safer to show a little courtesy and allow others to leave the train before you board.

"This is an effort by QR to help passengers depart from and arrive to their destinations safely."

Mr Mickel said passengers would notice sets of arrows along the platforms, positioned near the carriage doors of a train once it had arrived and stopped at the station.

In each set, one large arrow directs passengers to leave the train while two smaller arrows either side diagonally point in the opposite direction to the carriage door.

"They were installed on the weekend and you won't miss them - they are a vibrant yellow, making them easy to spot and compliant with disability standards.

"They will be on trial for three months and if they pass the test, you'll see them on more platforms in the future.

"A protective transparent layer, designed to take the impact of the high number of passengers using Central station, has been applied over the arrows to prevent them from peeling. It is also slip resistant."

The "Six Steps to a Better Journey" are featured in posters at stations and on trains.

April 14, 2008

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[ozbob]

Two photographs of the arrows referred to in the Ministerial Statement above.

Platform 2 Central

Photographs R Dow 14 April 2008

[ozbob]

I think this is a good idea! Good to see new ideas being rolled out!

Might help to get folks to stand aside whilst the masses spill out ...

Well done!!

[stephenk]

Thanks for getting pictures Ozbob!

I've seen better designs of these. This looks like it would actually encourage people to block the doorways as there are no lines indicating where passengers should stand behind whilst people are alighting.

London Underground are testing lots of different designs on the Jubilee Line to see which ones work the best, maybe QR should do the same (or look at London Underground's results).

[ozbob]

It would be interesting to watch the reaction of the passengers.  I won't be able too tomorrow due to other commitments but I am sure anyone who can get there at peak we would be interested in reports.

[Mozz]

The other issue I see at central  is the increasing general lack of urgency of those on the train who are wanting to get off, I have seen many instances of people gettng up out of their seats to detrain 5 -10 - 15 seconds after the train doors open - and then looking surprised at the influx of people wanting to get onto the train.

On another issue, I stained one of my business shirts by foolishly grazing it against the window on the train home this afternoon, where the windows were covered with softdrink residue which had obviously been liberally sprayed around the inside of the carriage which topped off the old 6.44am bombay all stations from Oxley to Central this morning with the pushbike rider to add to the congestion

[ozbob]

Radio 612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast Announcer Spencer Howson has added a photograph of the arrows to the breakfast show blog --> http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2008/04/new-arrows-on-c.html

Complete blog is here --> http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/612_breakfast/index.html

Thanks Spencer!

[ButFli]

I wonder if these arrows should be continued onto the floors of the carriages and down the aisles. It never ceases to amaze me how much mental retardation a lot of passengers must be suffering from after I have to pack a rugby scrum to get on the train of a morning only to find the aisles completely empty and some spare seats! Why don't people move away from the doors?

[ozbob]

I think that is a great idea ButFli to continue the arrows. It might encourage passively punters to move down the aisles.

[Zoiks]

When I used to live at Auchenflower, I would jump on the train and if there was sufficent room, hang around the doors simply because I would only be on the train a matter of minutes and wanted to leave seats for people who would be on longer