Future stations and accessibility (IP1 and IP3) - S2R-OC-IP3-02-2017

Deadline: Mar 30, 2017  
CALL EXPIRED

Specific Challenges: 

High capacity stations have become destinations in their own right and dynamic places of commercial, retail and social activities. They are likely to have issues with congestion, guidance and security that are not experienced in more remote stations. The challenge is to improve security in large stations with the use of big data, digital analysis and technologies providing models for human behaviour. Another challenge is to improve the customer experience at high capacity stations with regard to boarding the train with ease and safety, in particular for persons with reduced mobility (PRM).This has to be achieved giving due consideration to the safe integration of the proposed solutions in the infrastructure subsystem. 

Scope: 

The proposed research activities should address all of the following work streams, in line with the Shift2Rail Multi-Annual Action Plan (MAAP): 

1. Crowd flow analysis in large train station areas (TD3.11) 

The activities are expected to provide an in-depth technical review of best practices and latest research in order to: 

 Study the crowd flow in large stations and describe the main behaviours and characteristics in the movement of people. 

 Develop the modelling of multiple people flows in large stations and the ways to manage crowds particularly in emergency situations which are causing evacuation. 

 Identify available enabling technologies to analyse crowd management and people’s movement in stations. 

The activity is expected to request a contribution of indicatively € 0.4 million in order to develop an analysis, specification and demonstration of concept up to TRL3 (experimental proof of concept). 

2. Improved Accessibility to Trains 

a. Platform-based design solutions for Platform-Train Interface (TD3.11) 

The activities should focus on developing and evaluating new designs for platform-based solutions to resolve issues related to the Platform Train Interface (PTI). These solutions should: 

 be consistent with the requirements and approaches developed within work streams 2.b and 2.c (see below) 

 support the need for accessibility of PRM 

 support the needs of passengers currying heavy luggage. 

 support the handling of light-cargo (Bikes, Parcels, etc.) and train supply logistics. 

The activity is expected to request a contribution of indicatively € 0.4 million in order to finish with design solutions for platform based PTI, up to TRL3 (experimental proof of concept). 

b. Train Access Door System for an independent and easy access (IP1-TD1.6) 

The activities should focus on the following elements, complementary to the activities expected to be developed following the topic S2R-CFM-IP1-01-2017: 

i. Define the exact needs (admissible slope, cant, vertical and horizontal gaps, thresholds, warning signals, passenger information, functionalities...) for independent and easy access of persons with reduced mobility. Consider application to existing infrastructure for the short term and innovative infrastructure for the long term. 

ii. Support and validate the overall specification of the future Train Access Door System equipped with its adaptable gap filler. 

iii. Support and validate the adaptable gap filler specifications with a detailed analysis of the needs of all passengers including persons with reduced mobility 

iv. Evaluate the preliminary design of the adaptable gap filler that is expected to be developed following the topic S2R-CFM-IP1-01-2017, with a representative panel of users. 

The activity is expected to request a contribution of indicatively € 0.2 million in order to finish with a validation of the access door and adaptable gap filler by a representative panel of users up to TRL3 (experimental proof of concept). 

c. Research on platform detection technologies for station platform height and position determination (IP1-TD1.6) 

The activities should focus on the following elements: 

 Develop/upgrade sensors, detection systems and/or SDO (selective door operation) system, in order for the door system to detect the platform position and to reduce the thresholds and the gaps. Identify the best compromise between cost, precision and reliability. 

 Perform specific tests of the developed solutions. 

The activity is expected to request a contribution of indicatively € 0.2 million in order to finish with technology validation up to TRL3 (experimental proof of concept). 

The action that is expected to be funded under this topic will be complementary to the actions that are expected to be funded under the topics: 

 S2R-CFM-IP3-01-2017: Smart Systems for Energy Management and Future Stations Solutions 

 S2R-CFM-IP1-01-2017: Development of new technological concepts towards the next generation of rolling stock, applied to major subsystems such as Car-body, Running Gear, Brakes, Doors and Modular interiors. 

As specified in section 2.3.1 of S2R AWP for 2017, in order to facilitate the contribution to the achievement of S2R objectives, the options regarding 'complementary grants' of the S2R Model Grant Agreement and the provisions therein, including with regard to additional access rights to background and results for the purposes of the complementary grant(s), will be enabled in the corresponding S2R Grant Agreements. 

An indicative scheduling of the deliverables is suggested below46: 

46 The scheduling of the deliverables is provided to facilitate the complementarity with the CFM actions and it is not binding. Additionally, each deliverable may have some flexibility in the scheduling. 

 Deliverables under points 1 and 2a are expected by month 18 

 Deliverables under point 2b, as follows: 

 Deliverables under point “i” are expected by month 6 

 Deliverables under points “ii” and “iii” are expected by month 12 

 Deliverables under point “iv” are expected by month 18 

Expected Impacts: 

The most significant benefits expected from these actions, once the technologies developed are fully implemented and deployed, are: 

 Increased passenger flow and station capacity, reducing the passenger related incidents and impacts on service reliability and punctuality; 

 Increased safety and security in stations through improved crowd management; 

 Improved travel experience by station users through the usage of better communication and reduction of physical barriers; 

 Improved passenger experience thanks to independent accessibility for PRM and new access systems functionalities. 

Specific metrics and methods to measure and achieve impacts should be included in the proposals, with the objective to achieve by the end of the S2R Programme the quantitative and qualitative targets defined in the S2R MAAP related to TD1.6 and TD3.11 in line with the relative Planning and Budget. 

Type of Action: Research and Innovation Actions