markymark2000
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No, you need credit as texting BTP for some reason isn't allowed as part of normal network text allowances.
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Commuter Wellbeing in Train Stations
- Thread starter steph_park
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Which makes a mockery of the 'see it, say it, sorted' message.
This.
Or maybe he did specifically mean commuters since they are subject to (near) daily experience of facilities?
Strat-tastic
Established Member
Or maybe Steph_park's a she 
Of course, commuters are to a degree captive travellers, so apart from their off-peak prices for Anytime travel, they don't have any other clout when complaining apart from lobbying politicians who see championing commuters as a good career move.
Fortunately, the railway values off-peak travel business and generally is prepared to invest to court the leisure traveller with selective improvements inculuding at key stations.
Scotty
Member
It's because it uses a shortcode number.
No, it isn't free. Doesn't come out of your SMS allowance (or doesn't mine) so that's maybe why you get the warning as it's a shortcode. No idea why you didn't get a response. I find I usually do quite quick, although often BTP reply from another number (and start a new SMS thread).
3141
Established Member
I'm sure you're right about that, but it highlights why I said earlier that the project ought to be cancelled. They talk about "enlighten joy", which is meaningless, and they haven't bothered to find out enough about public transport to know that "passengers" and "commuters" aren't the same. It strongly suggests that the whole thing is half-baked.
Islineclear3_1
Established Member
Give the OP a chance.
Whether he means "commuters" or "passengers in general" is neither here or there; he probably just means "people who travel by train". Maybe some young, fresh ideas "could" be a good thing but don't slate the poor man down when he is simply asking a railway forum for ideas.
ChiefPlanner
Established Member
Just chip in and say "commuters" are incredibly resiliant and dare I say it "quite tolerant" - I have been one for a long time and had direct professional operational responsobilty for some challenging and busy lines in urban and main line situations.
You can never , ever provide enough information - critically at disruption times. Small things matter like staff attending to issues from minor on train cleaning matters , in sight of customers. As a manager I was never too proud to get stuck in and clean a train if it needed to , and keep it running. (and to thank those who did)
You can never , ever provide enough information - critically at disruption times. Small things matter like staff attending to issues from minor on train cleaning matters , in sight of customers. As a manager I was never too proud to get stuck in and clean a train if it needed to , and keep it running. (and to thank those who did)
3141
Established Member
As information about this project has been placed here I'm entitled, on the evidence provided by the OP, to form and express a critical opinion about it.
Fawkes Cat
Established Member
- Joined
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- 2,981
Thinking about barrier lines: the first priority must be that they are safe to use. Within that, it would be good if going through them was quick and easy. That probably raises questions about where you have to put your ticket to be recognised (and how many different ways there are of identifying a valid ticket) and how to have gates open for the maximum convenience of farepaying passengers while blocking those without valid tickets.
In terms of facilities while waiting for a train, it's a matter of what can be sensibly rolled out to all sources of traffic, while bearing cost and the risks of vandalism in mind. In passing, it only now occurs to me that bus stops are quite good at having shelters on the stop to go into town (where you may well be waiting for a while for your bus) but nothing bar a bus stop sign for the return stop (because you won't be waiting but going home instead) - yet (it seems to me) multi-platform railway stations tend to have the same facilities on arrival and departure platforms.
In terms of facilities while waiting for a train, it's a matter of what can be sensibly rolled out to all sources of traffic, while bearing cost and the risks of vandalism in mind. In passing, it only now occurs to me that bus stops are quite good at having shelters on the stop to go into town (where you may well be waiting for a while for your bus) but nothing bar a bus stop sign for the return stop (because you won't be waiting but going home instead) - yet (it seems to me) multi-platform railway stations tend to have the same facilities on arrival and departure platforms.
chris_in_salop
Member
- Joined
- 29 Sep 2010
- Messages
- 174
Improving my own wellbeing...
- Being funnelled through a pinch point gateline adds time/aggro to the whole station experience, especially where there are conflicting pedestrian flows. I'm thinking of Shrewsbury, and the business of taking a bike through the one 2-way wide barrier. I try to be patient, the gateline staff are lovely, but it can still seem to take an inordinate amount of time to get through, especially in the evening rush-hour. Plus when WM Trains are running a mob-handed ticket swoop, it all seems a bit as if the Gestapo have arrived. Some passengers are absolute swines though, and the gateline staff do have the patience of saints.
- Other stations it's mostly measures to improve physical comfort, especially protection from the rain. I'm guessing a feeling of security (e.g. protection from muggers) would help too. Female colleagues at work have mentioned their unease about changing trains at Wolverhampton. The station is entirely open, and it can feel like a threatening place.
- Being funnelled through a pinch point gateline adds time/aggro to the whole station experience, especially where there are conflicting pedestrian flows. I'm thinking of Shrewsbury, and the business of taking a bike through the one 2-way wide barrier. I try to be patient, the gateline staff are lovely, but it can still seem to take an inordinate amount of time to get through, especially in the evening rush-hour. Plus when WM Trains are running a mob-handed ticket swoop, it all seems a bit as if the Gestapo have arrived. Some passengers are absolute swines though, and the gateline staff do have the patience of saints.
- Other stations it's mostly measures to improve physical comfort, especially protection from the rain. I'm guessing a feeling of security (e.g. protection from muggers) would help too. Female colleagues at work have mentioned their unease about changing trains at Wolverhampton. The station is entirely open, and it can feel like a threatening place.
steph_park
Member
I'm glad you asked and I should've explained it in more detail in my initial post. Joy differs for everyone, but I believe you don't have to be 'happy' to experience joy. Joy is what you feel when you experience an intense moment of positivity due to a flurry of endorphins. Sometimes you might not even realise you're experiencing joy but it will increase your endorphins and this in turn will be better for your mental wellbeing, at least for a short while.What does “enlighten joy” even mean?
steph_park
Member
Ok thanks for your input. I'm not cancelling this project, I find it really interesting that theres endless possibilities to design stations to give people better travelling experiences and i'm gaining valuable insight from 'most' of this feed to help me.
steph_park
Member
I agree, it's definitely a project for everyone however when you look at the demographics, it is mostly commuters who have worse mental health/wellbeing, due to how busy it is at those times of the day and how stressed people are trying to get to work on time/ or get home quickly.
steph_park
Member
steph_park
Member
I asked a few questions which you didn't have to reply to if you didn't want to but you did - if you are not going to provide any constructive discussion please don't participate. As I replied previously with, in general, commuters tend to have worse mental states/ wellbeing in train stations due to the time of day and purpose of their travel - I used 'commuters' in the title because my project is mostly focused towards them. Although, it is not exclusive, and you're right I should have made that clear, apologises. This project is in it's primary stages and i'm simply using this platform for some initial ideas and research - to all those who understand this and see potential for it, I thank you for your help.
I (and others here) don't concur with your opinion about commuters' mental states, specifically because (in my opinion) they are more likely to be prepared for the journey that they take every working day. Therefore, inadequacies in the station come as no surprise to them and they can take steps to minimise the impact of them on their journeys.
Casual/leisure travellers however are usually arriving at stations outside the peaks and the service is unlikely to offer a turn-up and go convenience. Consequently, disruption of a more sparse service is probably going extend their waiting times considerably. Thus their time at the station may involve far more time standing around, maybe they have children and/or luggage with them and they might be elderly so less physically robust than prime-of-life adults in full time employment. That is my non commuter-centric view, - as the same stations are there to provide for all users, maybe your project should consider the provision of commuter-friendly benefits alongside those of other passengers.
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Here is my 2p. I currently commute 3 days a week between Castle Cary and Reading
For my Journey into work - basically I want to get to the station, park my car, get on the train with as little noise, disturbance, hassle as possible.
1. I'd agree with other comments, I dont want to be listening to "see it, say it, sorted" at 06:35 in the morning, reduce the amount of announcements or reduce the volume of them.
2. Improve the flow through the gateline or at least encourage people to find their ticket and have it ready prior to getting to the gateline and then stopping to fish it out of their pocket etc
For my Journey home
I want to get off the train and get into my car and out of the station carpark as quickly and as easily as possible
1. Improve the flow of people off the station, i.e. some way of educating people so that if they are meeting people off the train dont wait for them at the bottom of the footbridge steps, creating a pinch point and causing people to have to queue or walk around them
2. Encourage people who are waiting to meet people off the train to use the station carpark spaces, rather than just abandoning their car as close to the platform as possible and then blocking the car park up, or even blocking me in so I cant get my car out to go home.
The problem is fixing most of those things involves education and some realisation for how we behave as individuals and how our actions impact on other people and its my sad impression that we live in a society where most people simply dont consider other people anymore so there isnt much that can be done, when you add into that I also feel that I live in a world where everybody is stressed, busy feels under pressure all the time I'm not surprised nobody really thinks about what they do and how it impacts other people and there is nothing in my opinion that the "railways" can do about that.
I've tried to deal with it all by controlling what I do and how i feel about it.
1. Noise cancelling headphones
2. Leaving myself time and not being in a rush so that if I do get blocked in or somebody causes a queue I just take a deep breathe and count to 10 and try and let it brush over me
Therefore, maybe the way to improve a commuters well being is to either
1. Teach mindfulness or coping techniques so that when you get blocked in or somebody pushes in front of you or you walk into somebody at the gateline who just suddenly stops and looks for their ticket it doesnt annoy or irritate you.
2. Encourage employeers to embrace flexible working methods, such as working at home or flexible hours so we arent all craming ourselves onto the same trains at the same time because we are forced to go physically into the workplace or work 9 to 5 hours ( I do realise that some jobs this cant be avoided )
For my Journey into work - basically I want to get to the station, park my car, get on the train with as little noise, disturbance, hassle as possible.
1. I'd agree with other comments, I dont want to be listening to "see it, say it, sorted" at 06:35 in the morning, reduce the amount of announcements or reduce the volume of them.
2. Improve the flow through the gateline or at least encourage people to find their ticket and have it ready prior to getting to the gateline and then stopping to fish it out of their pocket etc
For my Journey home
I want to get off the train and get into my car and out of the station carpark as quickly and as easily as possible
1. Improve the flow of people off the station, i.e. some way of educating people so that if they are meeting people off the train dont wait for them at the bottom of the footbridge steps, creating a pinch point and causing people to have to queue or walk around them
2. Encourage people who are waiting to meet people off the train to use the station carpark spaces, rather than just abandoning their car as close to the platform as possible and then blocking the car park up, or even blocking me in so I cant get my car out to go home.
The problem is fixing most of those things involves education and some realisation for how we behave as individuals and how our actions impact on other people and its my sad impression that we live in a society where most people simply dont consider other people anymore so there isnt much that can be done, when you add into that I also feel that I live in a world where everybody is stressed, busy feels under pressure all the time I'm not surprised nobody really thinks about what they do and how it impacts other people and there is nothing in my opinion that the "railways" can do about that.
I've tried to deal with it all by controlling what I do and how i feel about it.
1. Noise cancelling headphones
2. Leaving myself time and not being in a rush so that if I do get blocked in or somebody causes a queue I just take a deep breathe and count to 10 and try and let it brush over me
Therefore, maybe the way to improve a commuters well being is to either
1. Teach mindfulness or coping techniques so that when you get blocked in or somebody pushes in front of you or you walk into somebody at the gateline who just suddenly stops and looks for their ticket it doesnt annoy or irritate you.
2. Encourage employeers to embrace flexible working methods, such as working at home or flexible hours so we arent all craming ourselves onto the same trains at the same time because we are forced to go physically into the workplace or work 9 to 5 hours ( I do realise that some jobs this cant be avoided )
with the unwelcome result that people talk over even the ones that are important.
Islineclear3_1
Established Member
@steph_park
Perhaps I could propose a few questions?
Is your product a "hard, tangible" product or is it an app?
To whom, specifically are you designing for?
Have you identified a specific need/market - and if so, how?
What specifically, do you want to achieve?
What age group is your idea aimed at, e.g. young adult, middle age?
Does it matter if your proposed cohort isn't tech savvy?
What other research have you done in relation to your idea
Have you conceptualised your product?
Are there competitors/similar products?
If your product gets off the ground, how will you test it?
Will a trial require approval through the Ethics Committee/other relevant committee?
How will you identify risks in relation to your idea/product?
Perhaps I could propose a few questions?
Is your product a "hard, tangible" product or is it an app?
To whom, specifically are you designing for?
Have you identified a specific need/market - and if so, how?
What specifically, do you want to achieve?
What age group is your idea aimed at, e.g. young adult, middle age?
Does it matter if your proposed cohort isn't tech savvy?
What other research have you done in relation to your idea
Have you conceptualised your product?
Are there competitors/similar products?
If your product gets off the ground, how will you test it?
Will a trial require approval through the Ethics Committee/other relevant committee?
How will you identify risks in relation to your idea/product?
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