[workingtoohard]

I am sure everyone has been griping about the squeeze during peak hours, that apparent 101% capacity in every train that passes by forcing you to wait for the next. Although it is known that SMRT attempts to do their part in providing more frequent service, basing of reports by both SMRT and the Public Transport Council, they seems to paint a picture of perfect loading which begs the question, are the metrics incorrect? Or are these organizations oblivious to the squeeze people are currently feeling? Either case, I am sure many do believe that a more accurate assessment of the day to day (particularly peak period) situation should be made which is why I have decided to start this case study all of us can get involved to provide a clear transparent message with facts and figures regarding the situation of SMRT loading. If successful, upon completion of case study, we can present this to SMRT and PTC for their analysis and response or to the media if you so choose.

Current Loading Assessment
Source: Public Transport Council

as can be seen by PTC's review, it appears SMRT train loading has never exceeded 95% loading in their day to day operation which I am sure many beg to differ or for that matter if 95% is a realistic target to begin with. Per PTC's Operating Performance Standards (OPS), SMRT could be fined $100 for each non-compliant day on each non-compliant route.

SMRT Train Design Specification
Source: Wikipedia

Sorry couldn't find better source. Nonetheless, per source, SMRT design is that of Alstom Metropolis C751A. This train is said to have a capacity of 1920 passengers with a total of 6 cars, each 22.8m x 3.2m with exception of the head and tail which are 1.65m longer.

With a calculator in hand, this would make out to an average of 4.33 passengers per meter square, or 316 passengers max in middle cars. With that understood, based on PTC's 95% loading, that would mean SMRT is expected to have at most 300 passengers in one car at any one time. So what do you think?

General Occupany Limits
Source: Wisegeek

One general rule of thumb in determining maximum occupancy is a simple formula of multiplying the room’s width in feet by the length in feet. The answer can then be divided by thirty-six to arrive at a basic occupancy figure. Keep in mind this approach simply sets the stage for the consideration of other factors and is not necessarily a firm and final maximum occupancy. Only the fire marshal will be able to quickly identify other factors and determine a maximum occupancy that is both equitable and safe.

As I am unable to locate a Singapore source, and there could very well be no rules for occupany limits and this be a very inaccurate comparison. Regardless, take this is a general idea just to put things into perspective as there are much more factors that come into play. Therefore, once again, with calculator in hand and accounting for the unit differences, that would amount to 21 passengers to the space allocated inside a car.

21 passengers to an SMRT car is obviously way too ridiculous to utilize the space. But is 300 passengers to an SMRT car (or 4.2 passenger per meter square) a better value? Does SMRT still account for comfort when dealing with maximum per PTC cases?

Train Load Estimation
Source: Singapore Polytechnic

It has been mentioned in SMRT's Annual Report 2009 that there has been a joint project between Singapore Polytechnic and SMRT to develop a train load estimation system. I am unable to locate access to details of the Trainload Estimation, Fare Determination and Apportionment System (TLFDA), so am unable to determine the accuracy of this system. But mention it nonetheless if someone else could fill us in one this.

What can I do to help?
Voluntary assistance to gather data to complete this case study. No pressure and no need to go out of your way. This can easily be completed by those who are already tackling the jam and could conveniently collect data while at it. If no one collects data, then the study will just end here.
1. Help correct any errors I have made.
2. Verify the number of cars to a train to ensure the math is correct.
3. Video sweep or pictures of people in car during peak period so we can do a head count of actual number of people in a car during peak period.
4. Find out details of TLFDA.
5. Picture of 4 people standing in a 1 metre x 1 metre space, every body part must be inside the space.
6. Pictures of peak hour capacity from outside just so everyone gets the general idea of the squeeze.
7. Anything else you would like to contribute that can help this study.

So what is the point of all this?
To provide a more accurate assessment of the situation that could help improve metrics currently used by SMRT and PTC. Also, with better accuracy and assistance of PTC's OPS, SMRT would be incurring the necessary fines that could help expedite work to rectify the issue. Or at the very least, an answer to what they feel regarding this report.

I personally can't participate as I am not in the country, so thanks to all those who contribute!

[christmas_]

Here are some of my small opinions, workingtoohard.

Simple opinions actually. Hope you don't mind about that

Originally Posted by workingtoohard

SMRT Train Design Specification
Source: Wikipedia

Sorry couldn't find better source. Nonetheless, per source, SMRT design is that of Alstom Metropolis C751A. This train is said to have a capacity of 1920 passengers with a total of 6 cars, each 22.8m x 3.2m with exception of the head and tail which are 1.65m longer.

With a calculator in hand, this would make out to an average of 4.33 passengers per meter square, or 316 passengers max in middle cars. With that understood, based on PTC's 95% loading, that would mean SMRT is expected to have at most 300 passengers in one car at any one time. So what do you think?

I did a check on all of the existing models and more or less, they are built in such a way that every square metre can have approximately 4 passengers.

I am very sure, at any point of them, there won’t be even 300 passengers within 1 middle car. I doubt the number of passengers even go beyond 250, to be honest.

However, even without 300 passengers in one middle car, it is packed already. Why ?

1) The area of a middle car, 22.8m x 3.2m = 72.96m is the total area. What about the total area of the poles, bars and the seats ? Shouldn’t we deduct away them as well to really have the REAL FIGURE of the remaining spaces for passengers to stand ?
2) 4 passenger per square metre – is this based on the assumption that every passenger is carrying virtually nothing with them ? Furthermore, don’t forget that not every passenger have the same body size
3) Don't forget a particular group of people who likes to open up their newspaper and read it wide open, eating up more space

I measured out 1 square metre space in my room. To be honest, if I were to carry a backpack or my laptop bag, and in addition to my body size, I would have taken up nearly 50% of 1 square metre. (Since average is 4 per square metre, considering if there are 4 of myself, same body size, carrying same load, 1 square metre is not enough.)

Also, when a train moves, if you have nothing to hold and want to keep your balance, would you stand with your feet close together ? One would open up his legs apart to keep his balance. That also eats up part of a square metre. Therefore, is it really really really the case whereby 4 passengers can share standing a square metre space ? I don’t think so.

I can even say, even if everyone squeeze at the doorway, I doubt it is still 4 passengers per square metre, because people are bound to carry items like handbag, laptop bag, backpacks and these also take up space. Furthermore is the different body size of different individuals.

Originally Posted by workingtoohard

What can I do to help?

2. Verify the number of cars to a train to ensure the math is correct.

For those trains on North-South line, Northeast Line and East-West line, there are 6 cars to a train – 1 head, 1 tail, 4 middle.

For those trains on Circle line, there are 3 cars to a train – 1 head, 1 tail, 1 middle.

Nevertheless, the average number of passengers per square metre is roughly the same – 4 per square metre

Originally Posted by workingtoohard

What can I do to help?

3. Video sweep or pictures of people in car during peak period so we can do a head count of actual number of people in a car during peak period.

Type in the correct keywords on Google and you can find pictures of how packed trains are during peak hour.

Try that out.

Originally Posted by workingtoohard

What can I do to help?

5. Picture of 4 people standing in a 1 metre x 1 metre space, every body part must be inside the space.

Hmm, I believe this, you can ask your family members to help.
Remember, find 4 people with different sizes.
Measure a 1 square metre space at home and ask the 4 people to stand inside.

To make things more real, all 4 must carry something with them, be it a sling bag or handbag or laptop bag or backpack. Also, stand with legs apart (by doing so, one can stand more firm and keep balance better on a moving a train)

Try that out.

[workingtoohard]

thanks for the opinion xmas. i personally don't have all the answers. afterall this is meant to be a collaborated effort.

Originally Posted by christmas_

What about the total area of the poles, bars and the seats ?

yea, i purposely omitted that as i do not have the figures. also provide a best case scenario to work off from. which could further reason the skewed metrics PTC uses. but without facts or evidence, all we have now is just plain speculations.

Originally Posted by christmas_

For those trains on North-South line, Northeast Line and East-West line, there are 6 cars to a train – 1 head, 1 tail, 4 middle.

thanks for verifying im leaving out circle line like im leaving out buses right now as well. but thanks for verifying circle line too.

Originally Posted by christmas_

Type in the correct keywords on Google and you can find pictures of how packed trains are during peak hour.

well, what i would like is actually time stamped photos of current situation. and would hope everyone who post their pictures to list out location and time. this way we have concrete evidence of the issue occurring right now. SMRT has been fined in the past for non-compliance (very few times only thou), so what has passed is past. but yea, to start things off, photos like this would definitely help.

Source:AskMeLah

Also, if you guys see someone else posting somewhat similar picture, nevermind! post yours as well. nothing speaks better than 1000 pictures to prove the same damn point!

Originally Posted by christmas_

you can ask your family members to help.

would love to except i don't live with family hence why i started this as i need more help from all you guys other than myself

[terry826]

Am in a east-west line train at the moment. the cabin (middle cabin) i'm in currently has about 60 standing commuters (not including the cabin interconnecting area) .there's stil ample space to move around, so i guess it can easily hold another 40 commuters before gets pack. as for seats, i did a simple calculation. should be about 50 seats.

hope this helps.

[ssian]

you should have taken photos in situations whereby the door closes so quickly that by the time people came out of the cabin, people who wanted to enter are not able to

[workingtoohard]

Originally Posted by ssian

you should have taken photos in situations whereby the door closes so quickly that by the time people came out of the cabin, people who wanted to enter are not able to

arn't there sensors where people can prevent that from happening? nonetheless, would be nice if we could get a picture or video of what you mentioned.

[workingtoohard]

Originally Posted by terry826

Am in a east-west line train at the moment. the cabin (middle cabin) i'm in currently has about 60 standing commuters (not including the cabin interconnecting area) .there's stil ample space to move around, so i guess it can easily hold another 40 commuters before gets pack. as for seats, i did a simple calculation. should be about 50 seats.

hope this helps.

thanks for the quick head count it sure seems a single car can't hold the supposed 300 number. what time was this? if not too much trouble, was wondering if you could snap a few pictures with your phone during peak hours next time? this way we have more solid evidence for the study

[iamSerenity]

Wait till school starts. I'll have tons to post by then.

[workingtoohard]

Originally Posted by iamSerenity

Wait till school starts. I'll have tons to post by then.

sweet! looking forward to the pictures! thanks in advance!

[terry826]

Originally Posted by workingtoohard

thanks for the quick head count it sure seems a single car can't hold the supposed 300 number. what time was this? if not too much trouble, was wondering if you could snap a few pictures with your phone during peak hours next time? this way we have more solid evidence for the study

It was about 4pm. The count was done at ard Redhill stn. I seldom take trains during the super peak period, so don't think would be able to take any photos. I think there is a 10 to 20% possibility that it can hold 300, but it'll definitely look like tuna in a can.

[christmas_]

Originally Posted by workingtoohard

arn't there sensors where people can prevent that from happening? nonetheless, would be nice if we could get a picture or video of what you mentioned.

Good question, workingtoohard. Is there any sensors on a MRT door ?

Lets compare with sensors on a bus's back door.
For the bus door sensor, if someone stands too close to the door, the door won't shut.

Lets compare back with the sensors on the MRT.
I see doors able to shut with people standing extremely close the the doors of the MRT. Maybe they are using different sensors compared to the ones used on the buses

But then I think there are sensors. Sometimes the door shut and reopen and shut again.
Possibly something was caught stuck in between the doors...

Anyway, I remember wasn't there a case where someone's arm of leg got stuck in between the doors ? Can't remember clearly

But:
http://www.singsupplies.com/showthread.php?p=515681
http://politics.sgforums.com/forums/2080/topics/318230

There are incidents when sensors failed.

Originally Posted by workingtoohard

thanks for the quick head count it sure seems a single car can't hold the supposed 300 number. what time was this? if not too much trouble, was wondering if you could snap a few pictures with your phone during peak hours next time? this way we have more solid evidence for the study

Holding even 200 commuters can barely be done due to
1) different people's body sizes
2) people are bound to be carrying items with them, eating up more spaces

christmas_ added 121 Minutes and 36 Seconds later...

Sadly I have no camera to take photos of crowded MRT trains

[workingtoohard]

Originally Posted by christmas_

There are incidents when sensors failed.

man.. that's quite scary but SMRT reply with mention about the safety measures in place.

Originally Posted by terry826

I think there is a 10 to 20% possibility that it can hold 300, but it'll definitely look like tuna in a can.

Originally Posted by christmas_

Holding even 200 commuters can barely be done

depending on the response on this study, im actually hoping for a finale where we can gather 300 sgclub members to squeeze into one car!

[workingtoohard]

some new information to share (although more like digging old information)

Regarding: Loading Limits of SMRT
Source:Parliamentary Report 2010-07-19
Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: As a result, the maximum train passenger loading on the most congested stretches of the NSEWL during the morning peak-of-peak has also crept up from about 1,400 per train in 2008 to about 1,450 to 1,500 currently. These loadings levels are within the regulatory limits of 1,600 passengers per train, or the equivalent standing space of about 5pax/sqm, as stipulated under the LTA's Operating Performance Standards (OPS), and are below the safety limit of the trains, which are designed to carry well in excess of 1,900 passengers[7].

Regarding: SMRT Door Safety Measures
Source: Email Correspondence
(For clarity of official SMRT's stance on issue, please email them directly. SMRT is not responsible for misunderstandings derived from this)
SMRT: We would like to clarify that in the north-south and east-west lines, the train doors are not designed to work like elevators, i.e., re-open automatically as this may lead to attempts by passengers to board at the last minute, thus delaying the train’s departure from the station and in turn, affect train schedules.
SMRT: However, as long as there is an object stuck in between the doors, the train will not be able to move until the object is removed.
SMRT: Yes, there are safety measures in place to ensure that the train will not move off if there is an obstruction between the doors.

[iHadyu]

Originally Posted by workingtoohard

some new information to share (although more like digging old information)

Regarding: Loading Limits of SMRT
Source:Parliamentary Report 2010-07-19
Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: As a result, the maximum train passenger loading on the most congested stretches of the NSEWL during the morning peak-of-peak has also crept up from about 1,400 per train in 2008 to about 1,450 to 1,500 currently. These loadings levels are within the regulatory limits of 1,600 passengers per train, or the equivalent standing space of about 5pax/sqm, as stipulated under the LTA's Operating Performance Standards (OPS), and are below the safety limit of the trains, which are designed to carry well in excess of 1,900 passengers[7].

Regarding: SMRT Door Safety Measures
Source: Email Correspondence
(For clarity of official SMRT's stance on issue, please email them directly. SMRT is not responsible for misunderstandings derived from this)
SMRT: We would like to clarify that in the north-south and east-west lines, the train doors are not designed to work like elevators, i.e., re-open automatically as this may lead to attempts by passengers to board at the last minute, thus delaying the train’s departure from the station and in turn, affect train schedules.
SMRT: However, as long as there is an object stuck in between the doors, the train will not be able to move until the object is removed.
SMRT: Yes, there are safety measures in place to ensure that the train will not move off if there is an obstruction between the doors.

I was paranoid when young about getting caught in between and then the train moves.
Lucky you brought this up.

[workingtoohard]

maybe keeping people paranoid was one of their deterrence against rushing passengers lol.

[christmas_]

Originally Posted by workingtoohard

some new information to share (although more like digging old information)

Regarding: Loading Limits of SMRT
Source:Parliamentary Report 2010-07-19
Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: As a result, the maximum train passenger loading on the most congested stretches of the NSEWL during the morning peak-of-peak has also crept up from about 1,400 per train in 2008 to about 1,450 to 1,500 currently. These loadings levels are within the regulatory limits of 1,600 passengers per train, or the equivalent standing space of about 5pax/sqm, as stipulated under the LTA's Operating Performance Standards (OPS), and are below the safety limit of the trains, which are designed to carry well in excess of 1,900 passengers[7].

Yet again, I emphasize on that fact that standing space of 4pax/sqm is squeezy enough already, no need to talk about 5pax/sqm. And wait -- did they removed the total area of the poles and seats before doing the calculations ?

Furthermore, did they estimated that everyone is to be of the same size, and carrying virtually nothing with them ?

[workingtoohard]

lol yea i was kinda shocked while we argue 4pax/sqm, they seem to think 5pax/sqm is fine... and imagine that's their regulatory limit, wonder how the manufacturer came up with a 1900+ number... they base off midgets?

[Senator1]

“People can board the trains — it is whether they choose to.”
SMRT CEO Saw Phaik Hwa

[Vlekome]

Originally Posted by Senator1

“People can board the trains — it is whether they choose to.”
SMRT CEO Saw Phaik Hwa

I'd love to have her try that at Jurong East during peak hours.
Because i'm doing that tomorrow. <.<''

[thaiedwin]

4.33 person per sq meter is damm impossible...Lets try putting 3 person in a sq meter its already quite squeezy...Meaning there is no Load limit to the MRT system in singapore...

One seat is about one square meter...