Pinch points in our public transport interchanges limit the network’s capacity. Our Associate Director of transport advisory suggests a way to relieve the pressure at these crucial bottlenecks, providing faster and more reliable journeys.
The capacities of major cities’ public transport systems are limited by particular bottlenecks, often at interchanges between modes of transport or tube lines. For example, staff at Victoria underground station in London often have to shut the station during busy periods when the flow of passengers arriving from the mainline station grows too great – leading to delays for passengers and creating risks as large crowds build up.
Some transport authorities have already recognised the potential of this approach: Transport for London, for example, publishes a metro map listing the time it takes to walk between stations. But such initiatives could have much more impact if people were provided with specific, targeted information that’s relevant to their journeys and incentivised to walk around particular bottlenecks at busy times.
To encourage people to walk around bottlenecks, transport authorities could provide rewards for taking the pressure off public transport.