Exploring Melbourne Metro Train Passengers’ Pre-Boarding Behaviors and Perceptions
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Review of Relevant Literature
3. Methodology
3.1. Pre-Boarding Assessment Framework
3.2. Passenger Survey
3.3. Data Analysis
4. Results
4.1. Pre-Boarding Behaviors and Perceptions
4.2. Pre-Boarding Behavior Differences by Traveller and Trip Characteristic Variables
4.2.1. Gender-Based Differences Revealed in Pre-Boarding Variables
4.2.2. Pre-Boarding Behavior Differences by Age Group
4.2.3. Pre-Boarding Behavior Differences by Travel Frequency
4.2.4. Pre-Boarding Behavior Differences by Travel Time
4.2.5. Pre-Boarding Behavior Differences by Waiting Time
4.2.6. Pre-Boarding Behavior Differences by Group Travel
4.2.7. Pre-Boarding Behavior Differences by Carry Small Item
4.2.8. Pre-Boarding Behavior Differences by Carry Large Item
4.2.9. Overall Assessment
5. Key Findings and Discussion
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A
Items | Category | Frequency | (%) |
---|---|---|---|
Gender | Male | 176 | 41.0 |
Female | 253 | 59.0 | |
Age Group | 18–29 | 108 | 25.2 |
30–44 | 191 | 44.5 | |
45–59 | 74 | 17.2 | |
60 and over | 56 | 13.1 | |
Travel Frequency | Occasionally | 112 | 26.1 |
less than once a week | 65 | 15.2 | |
1–4 days per week | 139 | 32.4 | |
5 days per week or more | 113 | 26.3 | |
Travel Time | less than 15 min | 18 | 4.2 |
15–30 min | 162 | 37.8 | |
30–45 min | 172 | 40.1 | |
more than 45 min | 77 | 17.9 | |
Waiting Time | less than 5 min | 48 | 11.2 |
5–10 min | 261 | 60.8 | |
10–15 min | 101 | 23.5 | |
more than 15 min | 19 | 4.4 | |
Travel in Group | Never | 36 | 8.4 |
Rarely | 95 | 22.1 | |
Sometimes | 167 | 38.9 | |
Often | 102 | 23.8 | |
Always | 29 | 6.8 | |
Carry Small Item | Never | 41 | 9.6 |
Rarely | 68 | 15.9 | |
Sometimes | 139 | 32.4 | |
Often | 111 | 25.9 | |
Always | 70 | 16.3 | |
Carry Large Item | Never | 172 | 40.1 |
Rarely | 135 | 31.5 | |
Sometimes | 66 | 15.4 | |
Often | 43 | 10.0 | |
Always | 13 | 3.0 |
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Survey Questions | Intended Insights | Implications |
---|---|---|
Q1.1 Select the most suitable option—How familiar are you with the station layout? | Insights into passengers’ comfort and ease in navigating the station environment | Providing better navigation system and direction sign at station |
Q1.2 Select the most suitable option—Have you experienced unexpected delays or extra waiting time on the platform? | Understanding the general experience of delays | Improving service frequency and schedule planning |
Q1.3 Select the most suitable option—How often do you have to wait extra time on the platform due to the platform is too crowded? | Insights into the frequency of delay caused by overcrowded platform | Shaping the strategy to manage crowd on the platform and better managing dwell time. |
Q2.1 Agree or disagree—I prefer the shortest path if there are multiple routes to the platform. | Understanding the trade-off in choosing the route to the platform (prioritize time/walking distance) | Designing clear signage and providing wayfinding information |
Q2.2 Agree or disagree—I prefer the less crowded path to the platform. | Understanding the trade-off in choosing the route to the platform (prioritize comfort/safety) | Provide clearer and wider pathway |
Q2.3 Agree or disagree—I notice that passengers are not evenly distributed along the platform. | Perception of uneven passenger distribution on the platform | Improving platform layout for efficient use of available space |
Q2.4 Agree or disagree—I don’t mind waiting for the next train if the current one is too crowded. | Assessing passengers’ willingness to wait for the next train under the scenario of crowded carriage | Help determine the need to increase service frequency or carriage capacity |
Q2.5 Agree or disagree—Regardless the crowd level, I just want to get onboard as soon as possible. | Understanding passengers’ boarding behavior (prefer boarding sooner than waiting) | Guide boarding process and manage passenger flow |
Q2.6 Yes or no—Do you have a preferred waiting area on the platform? | Identifying the chance of having a preferred waiting area | Signage pointing to various waiting areas |
Q2.7 Agree or disagree—I would rather walk longer distances for a less crowded waiting area. | Understanding the preferred choices in the selection of waiting area | Improving and optimizing waiting area design |
Q2.8 Agree or disagree—I’d like to sit down and wait for the next train. | Exploring preferences for sitting down while waiting | Increasing or decreasing seating on the platform |
Q2.9 Agree or disagree—I am often confused as where to line up for boarding. | Assessing passengers’ level of confusion when it comes to queuing and boarding | Boarding queue indication/floor marking |
Variable | Survey Questions | Category | Frequency | (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Station Familiarity | Q1.1 How familiar are you with the station layout? | Not at all familiar | 6 | 1.4 |
Slightly familiar | 42 | 9.8 | ||
Somewhat familiar | 71 | 16.6 | ||
Moderately familiar | 124 | 28.9 | ||
Very familiar | 186 | 43.4 | ||
Delay_ Frequency | Q1.2 Have you experienced unexpected delays or extra waiting time on the platform? | Never | 24 | 5.6 |
Sometimes | 270 | 62.9 | ||
Often | 135 | 31.5 | ||
Delay_ Crowded Platform | Q1.3 How often do you have to wait extra time on the platform due to the platform is too crowded? | Never | 54 | 12.6 |
Rarely | 144 | 33.6 | ||
Sometimes | 161 | 37.5 | ||
Often | 56 | 13.1 | ||
Always | 14 | 3.3 | ||
Preferred Waiting Area | Q2.6 Do you have a preferred waiting area on the platform? | No | 119 | 27.7 |
Yes | 310 | 72.3 |
Variable | Survey Statements | Mean | SD |
---|---|---|---|
Choice_ Shortest Path | Q2.1—I prefer the shortest path if there are multiple routes to the platform. | 4.09 | 0.768 |
Choice_ Less-crowded Path | Q2.2—I prefer the less crowded path to the platform. | 4.10 | 0.761 |
Platform Passenger Distribution | Q2.3—I notice that passengers are not evenly distributed along the platform. | 3.86 | 0.837 |
Choice_ Wait Next Train | Q2.4—I don’t mind waiting for the next train if the current one is too crowded. | 3.25 | 1.187 |
Choice_ Boarding ASAP | Q2.5—Regardless the crowd level, I just want to get onboard as soon as possible. | 3.40 | 1.114 |
Choice_ Walk Longer | Q2.7—I would rather walk longer distances for a less crowded waiting area. | 3.79 | 0.975 |
Choice_ Sit for Waiting | Q2.8—Agree or disagree—I’d like to sit down and wait for the next train. | 3.59 | 1.012 |
Boarding Confusion | Q2.9—I am often confused as where to line up for boarding. | 2.79 | 1.146 |
Gender | Age Group | Travel Frequency | Travel Time | Waiting Time | Group Travel | Carry Small Item | Carry Large Item | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Q1.1 Station Familiarity | −0.088 | −0.010 | 0.178 | 0.039 | −0.142 | −0.074 | 0.066 | −0.123 |
Q1.2 Delay_Frequency | 0.118 | −0.172 | 0.268 | 0.017 | 0.130 | 0.098 | 0.231 | 0.273 |
Q1.3 Delay_Crowded Platform | 0.095 | −0.181 | 0.298 | 0.074 | 0.212 | 0.222 | 0.240 | 0.318 |
Q2.1 Choice_Shortest Path | −0.106 | 0.019 | 0.116 | 0.032 | 0.022 | 0.093 | 0.029 | 0.124 |
Q2.2 Choice_Less-crowded Path | −0.026 | 0.034 | 0.059 | 0.027 | 0.037 | 0.018 | 0.095 | 0.002 |
Q2.3 Platform Passenger Distribution | 0.051 | −0.022 | 0.091 | 0.051 | 0.073 | 0.031 | 0.127 | 0.059 |
Q2.4 Choice_Wait Next Train | 0.116 | 0.027 | 0.244 | −0.068 | 0.002 | 0.195 | 0.060 | 0.237 |
Q2.5 Choice_Boarding ASAP | −0.011 | 0.005 | −0.026 | −0.074 | −0.115 | −0.048 | −0.044 | −0.024 |
Q2.6 PreferredWaiting Area | 0.019 | −0.084 | 0.318 | −0.014 | −0.029 | 0.061 | 0.108 | 0.174 |
Q2.7 Choice_Walk Longer | 0.032 | 0.015 | 0.009 | −0.013 | −0.040 | 0.075 | 0.011 | 0.010 |
Q2.8 Choice_Sitting for Waiting | −0.040 | 0.014 | 0.045 | −0.028 | 0.069 | 0.042 | 0.069 | 0.050 |
Q2.9 Boarding Confusion | 0.117 | −0.109 | 0.130 | −0.044 | 0.125 | 0.148 | 0.034 | 0.246 |
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Yang, J.; Shiwakoti, N.; Tay, R. Exploring Melbourne Metro Train Passengers’ Pre-Boarding Behaviors and Perceptions. Sustainability 2023, 15, 11564. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511564
Yang J, Shiwakoti N, Tay R. Exploring Melbourne Metro Train Passengers’ Pre-Boarding Behaviors and Perceptions. Sustainability. 2023; 15(15):11564. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511564
Chicago/Turabian StyleYang, Jie, Nirajan Shiwakoti, and Richard Tay. 2023. "Exploring Melbourne Metro Train Passengers’ Pre-Boarding Behaviors and Perceptions" Sustainability 15, no. 15: 11564. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511564
APA StyleYang, J., Shiwakoti, N., & Tay, R. (2023). Exploring Melbourne Metro Train Passengers’ Pre-Boarding Behaviors and Perceptions. Sustainability, 15(15), 11564. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511564