Since 24 September, passengers have been able to use light sensors at selected pilot stations to see how full their S-Bahn train is and where there is still room before boarding. This is made possible by a new technology called ‘Lightgate’.
Light sensors measure the capacity utilisation of the Berlin S-Bahn trains in real time and display this directly on the train destination displays on the platform: Green stands for a carriage with plenty of space, yellow for medium capacity, red means the carriage is already very full.
For test purposes, the S-Bahn has installed ten sensors between Jannowitzbrücke and Hauptbahnhof and between Tempelhof and Neukölln. They provide real-time capacity data for trains arriving from both directions at Alexanderplatz, Hackescher Markt, Friedrichstraße and Hermannstraße stations as well as for westbound trains at Bellevue and Hauptbahnhof. When the train passes through the light barrier, the system recognises the real utilization of each car.
To measure capacity utilisation, S-Bahn Berlin uses a technology that was developed by S-Bahn Hamburg and is already being used successfully there. The “Lightgate” sensor is a light barrier in the track area that scans the passing train with barely visible light. As less and less light penetrates through the windows as patronage increases, it is possible to measure how full the train is. The intelligent sensor can also recognise the number of carriages, the train production series and the speed of the train in addition to the occupancy rate. The real-time capacity utilisation per carriage is then transmitted wirelessly to the electronic train displays on the platform of the next S-Bahn stop.
Apart from the obvious advantages for the passengers on a platform awaiting the next train the data also provides valuable insights into how busy individual trains are at certain times. This enables even better passenger information within the VBB network, as the timetable information can direct passengers to less busy connections. Based on this real-time capacity data, the bus replacement services can also be better planned in future, as the S-Bahn services in general.
Deutsche Bahn and the states of Berlin and Brandenburg are investing around 900,000 euros in the “Lightgate” pilot project, which is scheduled to run for several years. The project partners are continuously checking the reliability of the data and which sections of track are suitable for further “Lightgate” sensors.
“Lightgate” is being tested by us in close cooperation with the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg (VBB) and as part of the SAFIRA project, which is researching passenger information and passenger guidance based on capacity utilisation data.
(Info: DB / S-Bahn Berlin Press)
