Analysis and Modeling of the User-Perceived Level of Service for Foot Over Bridge Stairways Inside Intercity Railway Stations

Abstract

Rail transportation being the economic means of transportation, the majority of pedestrians rely on them in countries like India. Unlike metro stations, in intercity railway stations exists a wide degree of heterogeneity in pedestrian traffic. Pedestrians walking speed on stairways depends on various factors grouped under pedestrian, infrastructure, and environmental characteristics. Understating pedestrian perception of quality of service on existing facilities provides the planners to incorporate pedestrian bothered factors for comfortable access in the design. In this research work, pedestrian perceived level of service on six different stairways in intercity railway stations was analyzed. The questionnaire survey was adopted to understand the individual pedestrian perception towards the level of service on each stairway. Pedestrian characteristics such as age, education qualification, preference of usage between stairway and escalator, and stairway characteristics such as width, inclination, and side friction significantly affect individual’s perception of the serviceability of a stairway. A regression model was also developed by considering the significant factors affecting the pedestrian's perceived level of service of the stairway. Results of this study help in evaluating a stairway facility and arrive at better planning, design, and management to increase its efficiency. This study also helps in making design policies and guidelines for new stairways for better accessibility.

Waiting for signalized crossing or walking to footbridge/underpass? Examining the effect of weather using stated choice experiment with panel mixed random regret minimization approach

“…The results may seem counterintuitive, but they point to the fact that "occupation/employment", which is often included in studies of pedestrian route choice, potentially captures the effect of the differences in walking habits for people of different employment statuses. The association between occupation/employment and route choice is unclear, as revealed by the recent systematic review by Basu et al, 2022, but it may be potentially associated with other factors, for instance, the experienced 'time pressure' for different trip purposes (Eswar and Shankar, 2021), differences in perceptions about walking and pedestrian facilities (Tsukaguchi et al, 2013), and variation in the utility of walking by time, distance and degree of convenience among different employment statuses (Hatamzadeh et al, 2017). In addition, a cross-country study by Guo and Loo (2013) documenting subjective walkability, including ratings of the numbers and waiting time of street crossings, revealed the effects of differences in cultural background and resident lifestyle.…”

Incorporating Climate Change Resilience in India’s Railway Infrastructure: Challenges and Potential

“…The integration of adaptation strategies into railway planning and design in India is essential for building climate-resilient and sustainable railway infrastructure [68]. With the increasing impacts of climate change on transportation systems, it is crucial to incorporate adaptation measures into the early stages of planning and design to enhance infrastructure resilience and ensure long-term functionality [69]. This research explores the integration of adaptation strategies into railway planning and design in India, focusing on key considerations, approaches, and benefits.…”