Save-a-Space for social distancing in transport services
Lead Participant:
ACCELOGRESS LIMITED
Abstract
This project addresses the urgent need for transport operators to be able to efficiently implement social distancing on their tram/rail services amid current COVID-19 restrictions and to optimally manage demand, access and transport capacity at peak-times in the long-term.
The UK government reported transport use is down by more than 60% for all transport types since February. Rail and Tube use are down by 97% \[Coronavirus press conference: 15 April 2020\]. This is having significant impact on operators' revenue and commercial viability \[TfWM, 2020\]. Operators have significant financial and societal motivation to bring passenger numbers and revenues up again asap, but gradually, once lockdown starts to step down whilst maintaining social distance on trams/trains.
Accelogress proposes to develop and demonstrate an innovative public transport service resource management solution as an extension to our best-in-class existing Save-a-Space (SAS) real-time parking management platform, to be deployed initially at the Midlands Metro tram (6m passengers in 2018/2019) in partnership with TfWM.
Such an approach was also suggested elsewhere, acknowledging that "Criteria and strategies" need to be developed "for a gradual return to normality beyond the acute restrictions that have been imposed on basic rights such as the freedom of movement," the researchers at the Leopoldina National Academy of Sciences in Germany write in a position paper. Furthermore: "... Travel, both business and private, could also be resumed under those circumstances. The scientists recommend that the greatest possible distance needs to be created between people on trains, planes and buses and that masks should be worn covering the mouth and nose. In the case of German national railway Deutsche Bahn ... the company could establish a reservation system that ensures that a certain number of rows of seats between passengers are kept free." \[SPIEGEL news site 14/04/20: http://tiny.cc/1bo6mz\]
The extension for impact will allow this project to increase the speed to market with a combination of specific commercial activities, product market fit testing with end-users, help identify additional funding for product development, explore further markets for the innovation.
The UK government reported transport use is down by more than 60% for all transport types since February. Rail and Tube use are down by 97% \[Coronavirus press conference: 15 April 2020\]. This is having significant impact on operators' revenue and commercial viability \[TfWM, 2020\]. Operators have significant financial and societal motivation to bring passenger numbers and revenues up again asap, but gradually, once lockdown starts to step down whilst maintaining social distance on trams/trains.
Accelogress proposes to develop and demonstrate an innovative public transport service resource management solution as an extension to our best-in-class existing Save-a-Space (SAS) real-time parking management platform, to be deployed initially at the Midlands Metro tram (6m passengers in 2018/2019) in partnership with TfWM.
Such an approach was also suggested elsewhere, acknowledging that "Criteria and strategies" need to be developed "for a gradual return to normality beyond the acute restrictions that have been imposed on basic rights such as the freedom of movement," the researchers at the Leopoldina National Academy of Sciences in Germany write in a position paper. Furthermore: "... Travel, both business and private, could also be resumed under those circumstances. The scientists recommend that the greatest possible distance needs to be created between people on trains, planes and buses and that masks should be worn covering the mouth and nose. In the case of German national railway Deutsche Bahn ... the company could establish a reservation system that ensures that a certain number of rows of seats between passengers are kept free." \[SPIEGEL news site 14/04/20: http://tiny.cc/1bo6mz\]
The extension for impact will allow this project to increase the speed to market with a combination of specific commercial activities, product market fit testing with end-users, help identify additional funding for product development, explore further markets for the innovation.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
|---|---|---|
| ACCELOGRESS LIMITED | £75,122 | £ 75,122 |
People |
ORCID iD |
| Ralf Kernchen (Project Manager) |