Boarding and disembarking program, a “success”

The project “ Efficient Boarding and Disembarking at Coaches ” developed by the Institute of Applied Mathematics and Systems (IIMAS) of the National Autonomous University ( UNAM ), which launched a pilot program in December 2016, today reports a success in 15 stations of the Mexico City subway .

After launching first in the station Balderas , the program became a permanent fixture at some of the busiest stations and interchange station, and the following now have ”platform signs", according to a press conference:

1. Balderas – lines 1 and 3
2. Candelaria – line 1
3. Centro Médico – lines 3 and 9
4. Hidalgo – line 3
5. Juárez- line 3
6. Miguel Ángel de Quevedo – line 3
7. Salto del Agua – line 1
8. San Lázaro – lines 1 and B
9. Tacubaya – line 1
10. Zapata – lines 3 and 12
11. La Raza – line 3

Basically, this measure is about placement signs in the platforms, in contrasting colors and with as little text as possible, to divide the platform into disembarking and boarding areas, so passengers are able to egress first. Intuitively, people know where to wait for the train and where to leave a space for alighting passengers, according to Tania Pérez Jiménez.

From the beginning, pursuant to the developers of this project, users adopted this process favorably and not only did they remained within the designated area: they also queued . Thus, the new disembarking and boarding model has minimized shoves and thrusts almost entirely.

Moreover, effective boarding and disembarking times are reduced by 10% and as a consequence, obstructions while doors are closing have reduced between 15% and 25% – the main reason behind delays, according to Gustavo Carreón of the Institute of Economic Research and member of the project team.

Carlos Gershenson, reasercher at the IIMAS, said people have begun to exhibit this behavior at stations with no signs. “It's encouraging to see passengers changing their behavior after a minimal intervention.”

Gershenson has also said they are devising new proposals for the authorities of this transport system to try and regulate the behaviors of passengers and improve other aspects such as passengers allowing people to walk through the left lane at escalators .

Other proposals are to implement the system at the Metrobus .

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