The impact of gap dimensions on passengers boarding and alighting using different mobility aids at railway stations by laboratory experiments

ABSTRACT

The main objective of the research is to study the impact generated by the dimensions of the horizontal (distance between the train and the platform) and vertical (height between the train and the platform) gap on passengers who use different mobility aids. The aim is to find standard dimensions in the design of the platform train interface, allowing an accessible boarding and alighting process for users with disabilities or reduced mobility. The method is based on experiments performed in a controlled environment at the Human Dynamics Laboratory (LDH) in Universidad de los Andes (Chile), through a mock-up configured with representative characteristics of a train and its adjacent platform. Using cameras arranged on the ceiling, the boarding and alighting process was registered according to a new accessibility level. The results allow obtaining scenarios with a ‘desirable gap’, as well as scenarios with inaccessible gaps.

KEYWORDS:

• Passenger
• mobility aid
• platform train interface
• design
• vertical gap
• horizontal gap
• experiment
• railway station

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the participants who were part of the experiments done at the Human Dynamics Laboratory in Universidad de los Andes (Chile). This study is supported by the Fondo de Ayuda a la Investigación Universidad de los Andes (Chile), ANID (Chile) Fondo de Apoyo a la Formación de Redes Internacionales entre Centro de Investigación Proyecto REDES190054, ANID (Chile) FONDECYT Proyecto 11200012.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.