A Route Choice Support System for Use During Disrupted Train Operation

This paper presents a route choice support system designed to provide information for passengers when train operation is disrupted due to some accidents, disasters or other incidents. The authors note that a wide range of accurate information must be included, such as the possibility of train operation resuming, the predicted status of train operation after restart, possible detour routes, and the method of travel and time needed to reach the destination using the detour route. The support system is designed to help passengers determine whether they should wait for service to resume on the disrupted line or take a detour route to their destinations. The system consists of an optimal route computation engine and diversified man-machine interfaces, each of which is designed for a specific guidance application. Typical application of the system might include variable signs for many and unspecified passengers at stations, support systems for station staffs engaged in passenger guidance, or personalized guidance systems using passengers' portable terminals. The system arrives at decisions after computing estimated travel times to specific stations in a regional railway network where some parts of the train services are disrupted. The authors describe field tests in which users use their mobile phones to access the system and learn their route options during a disruption in train services. Results of field tests show that approximately 65% of all users taking the advice arrive at their destination at the same time as, or earlier than, the time estimated by the system and approximately 80% of them evaluated the system as useful. The authors conclude that even though the information represents only possible scenarios and the degree of certainty is not 100%, this route choice support system can be accepted and effectively utilized by passengers.

• Corporate Authors:

  ITS America

  1100 17th Street, NW, 12th Floor
  Washington, DC  United States  20036
• Authors:
  • Tsuchiya, Ryuji
  • Sugiyama, Yoichi
  • Arisawa, Riichiro
• Conference:
  • 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems and ITS America's 2008 Annual Meeting
  • Location: New York NY, United States
  • Date: 2008-11-16 to 2008-11-20
• Publication Date: 2008

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 12p
• Monograph Title: ITS Connections: Saving Time. Saving Lives

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Advanced traveler information systems; Decision making; Detours; Field tests; Passengers; Railroads; Real time information; Route choice; Schedules and scheduling; Traffic delays; Travel time
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Railroads; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01135975
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 28 2009 9:26AM