What has started in the UK to reduce crowded trains with big data?



When trains and buses are hard to come due to delays, or when they are getting crowded when riding, many people may have thought that it was better to walk at all.

Greater Manchester, home to the UK's second largest city, Manchester, has begun to take the initiative in resolving these transportation challenges.

Tired of packed trains? Here's how smart cities can make your commute less painful | ZDNet
https://www.zdnet.com/article/tired-of-packed-trains-heres-how-smart-cities-can-make-your-commute-less-painful/

TfGM using cloud-based data platform to analyze crucial data
https://www.transport-britain.co.uk/tfgm-using-cloud-based-data-platform-to-analyse-crucial-data/

Digitalisation World
https://m.digitalisationworld.com/news/58482/transport-for-greater-manchester-chooses-snowflake-to-underpin-its-data-analytics-strategy

The Greater Manchester Transportation Authority (TfGM) provides bus, train and tram services on Greater Manchester to create a 360-mile (about 580 km) highway network. Is the cornerstone of TfGM is currently working with cloud data warehouse operator Snowflake to make Manchester a smart city .

Attempting to optimize urban transport based on databased passenger needs is not a new idea at first glance, but given the fact that 5.6 million trips a day are repeated daily in this region, it is tremendous You have to deal with a huge amount of data.

TfGM's Malcolm Row said of the situation before the initiative started: `` We used to access the data in various ways, such as spreadsheets and modeling tools, but the data was so huge that it made sense. It took a lot of effort and time to get that data, 'he said.

By using Snowflake's analysis platform, it will be possible to do analysis that was not possible before. Specifically, it is possible to accurately and in real time know which transportation method is used by which people, and to appropriately assign personnel and vehicles. This is expected to greatly reduce the occurrence of crowded trains and complaints from commuters.



Some of the results of these efforts have already been realized in a tangible way. In July 2019, TfGM introduced

contactless payment at the Manchester Metrolink , which transports central Manchester . As a result, fares have become cheaper, and payments have become easier and faster.

In addition, since tracing of users has become easier, more advanced information gathering has become possible, and the morning and evening rush hour time zones can now be accurately predicted. Along with this, a new program called “Early Morning Discount” has started. The aim is to reduce the number of passengers during rush hours and reduce congestion during peak hours by discounting the fares for people commuting out of rush hour.

With real-time data capture, you'll not only know who's using the transit system on your daily commute, but also respond to sudden spikes in users, such as soccer games or large music concerts. Even if it is a sudden event that is usually difficult to predict, by analyzing when and where people came from, it is possible to set the optimal operation schedule.

Mr. Row said, `` By using Snowflake's technology, the effects of initiatives such as early morning discounts can now be grasped immediately, so it is now possible to decide measures based on reliable data instead of guesswork. Was there. '

Also, from July 2019, Wi-Fi will be installed at 97% of local subway stations. Instead of providing free Wi-Fi communication, we collect anonymous connection data so that customers can enter and exit. As a result, it became possible to provide customers with information on the degree of congestion and how long it takes to walk from station to station.



According to Rowe, TfGM has a plan to open the data in the future. As an example, they plan to provide data to Google Maps and Citymapper , which are map services. Mr. Low believes that this will allow more people to use the data in a wide range of forms, as well as open data to ensure transparency and privacy.

in Software,   Ride, Posted by log1l_ks