Real time information to encourage passengers to choose less crowded services

[ozbob]

Discussion on this.

[SurfRail]

Discussion on this.

Use telematics to monitor the brake cylinders to work out how many people are on board (roughly) and let people know at any time ...

Implement proper real-time tracking for each service (a la the Cairns bus trial) is a minimum, easy to do job.

[Golliwog]

I don't think letting people know at the station if the train is crowded or not is going to do anything. They're still going to be there, waiting. I think what they should do is maybe once a month update something online showing each service and how it fills up and empties out along its run. That way people can plan in advance roughly what time they can go down and know they're more likely to get a seat/fit on.

[Matt]

How do you use brake cylinder info to determine passenger load, just curious.
Matt

[Fares_Fair]

I don't think letting people know at the station if the train is crowded or not is going to do anything. They're still going to be there, waiting. I think what they should do is maybe once a month update something online showing each service and how it fills up and empties out along its run. That way people can plan in advance roughly what time they can go down and know they're more likely to get a seat/fit on.

Good idea, but possibly too complex to be a realistic option.
The real time information display and format will be interesting to see how this eventuates for trains.

[somebody]

I don't see any need for real time info.  V/Line have average info per service, but that is second best to merely adding additional services.

[Fares_Fair]

I don't see any need for real time info.  V/Line have average info per service, but that is second best to merely adding additional services.

The real time concept (as an option) was raised in the CRR2 review.

[somebody]

I'd call that CRRlite, and the post above is my response.

[petey3801]

How do you use brake cylinder info to determine passenger load, just curious.
Matt

The brake cylinder pressures adjust (when the brakes are applied, that is) depending on how heavy the train is (read: how many people are on board).

[ozbob]

How do you use brake cylinder info to determine passenger load, just curious.
Matt

The amount of pressure required to brake the train is dependent on the passenger load.  Some one will know the exact details but as I understand it the drivers can gauge reasonably accurate the loadings as a  function of the pressure required to brake.

[Matt]

Thanks guys, well done.
Matt.