London Underground Opinions

[katgem]

Hello there - I'm on a design MA at present, and a task we have been provided is to work out how we can theoretically improve a typical journey that any of us make, and to provide some initial primary research. We have narrowed it down to the Tube specifically, but any general suggestions for buses and trains would be welcome if you can think of some. These are our brainstormed (and therefore VERY initial ideas, some may be very stupid and non-resourceful/economical) and was wondering if along with any of your suggestions, if you could comment on our ideas so we can begin working on a design prototype? These are for the tube thus far;

Technology

Free Wifi?
Possible touch devices near doors, demonstrating interactive maps, local information (one of our ideas is to make the experience less intimidating for tourists, more user friendly).
QR or wristband ticketing system? Glow in the dark tickets?!
Text alerts when train is late?

Lighting/Colour

Attempt to recreate daylight lighting?
Which colours to use/some kind of attractive background?

Comfort

are the seats comfortable, is the spacing adequate?
Could the seats be more modern?

Mood/Atmosphere

How to reduce the disorientating atmosphere.
Air conditioning?

Hygiene

Antibacterial dispensers?

Luggage

is there adequate space? Would some kind of clip system be useful for those paranoid about having luggage stolen during busier periods?

Disability

What could be made easier for disabled passengers?

Of course, any suggestions don't have to be just for the train itself, but the whole environment of the underground system. Would be incredibly grateful for your thoughts, as it's difficult for me to get to London at the moment and ask these thoughts to stressed/busy passengers in the flesh!

Kat

 

[Lrd]

Hello, I am going to be as critical as possible but in the nicest possible way!

Technology

Free Wifi?

Could be very useful for the longer distance travelers, but for those on short hops/changing trains, it wouldn't be very useful. It would be fairly expensive to install on the subsurface lines I imagine.

Possible touch devices near doors, demonstrating interactive maps, local information (one of our ideas is to make the experience less intimidating for tourists, more user friendly).

Would be useless on the trains themselves, better off being in the stations, either on the concourse or on the platform, or both. If passengers have made it to the train then they already have some idea of what they need to do next, i.e change at a certain station for another line or leave the train at the station they want.

QR or wristband ticketing system? Glow in the dark tickets?!

Oyster is a pretty easy system to use, simply touch in at the beginning and touch out at the end of your journey, and most of the time it will work out the correct fare. One way to improve on this is to perhaps have the option to have the Oyster card as your phone, using the same near-field communication technology, and use your phone to touch in.

Not sure how QR scanning would work, would the passenger simply have an image of a QR code, acting as a ticket, on their phone and there are scanners at the gateline? Or would the passenger have to keep scanning QR codes?

What use is glow in the dark tickets? We have lights now-a-days, if not, the sun is normally shining.

Text alerts when train is late?

Think you can already get this when there are delays on certain lines, there are defiantly apps out there that can check the tube status.

Lighting/Colour

Attempt to recreate daylight lighting?
Which colours to use/some kind of attractive background?

I don't think people are bothered about what the trains look like, just as long as they can get to the destination in good time. But, if your thinking on a sub-conscious level, then I have no comment, as I have no idea about that.

Comfort

are the seats comfortable, is the spacing adequate?
Could the seats be more modern?

The problem here is the fact that the trains get absolutely rammed throughout the morning and evening peak. You need to have as much space to get as many people on as possible. But in the off-peak you need to provide enough seating to suit the travelers at that time.

Mood/Atmosphere

How to reduce the disorientating atmosphere.

Not sure what you mean by this.

Air conditioning?

New train fleets are currently being rolled out with air-conditioning.

Hygiene

Antibacterial dispensers?

I don't think there is any need for these. If you were to put these on the tube network, people will be expecting them to turn up on the National rail network, buses, shopping centres, everywhere in the public realm.

Luggage

is there adequate space? Would some kind of clip system be useful for those paranoid about having luggage stolen during busier periods?

Like I said above, you need to provide enough space for people during the peak periods, luggage is always a bugger a problem.

No idea what you mean by "some kind of clip system".

Disability

What could be made easier for disabled passengers?

TfL have already introduced a number of step free stations (platform to street level, and platform to platform for interchange). There are always staff around to help.


Hope this makes sense and is of some help!

 

[Burkitt]

London Underground already put a huge amount of effort into user experience. Have you read their design standards pdfs, available to download here http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/12523.aspx from the the TfL website?
The London Underground signs manual is particularly thorough in its specifications for making the passenger journey as simple as possible.

Paul

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Should this thread be on the London Underground forum, where regular contributors on there have their input?

 

[anthony263]

Should this thread be on the London Underground forum, where regular contributors on there have their input?

Might be a good idea

 

[First class]

No WiFi...

For a short period in the morning and evening it is quite nice to know that people's conversations are limited to the people around them...not shouting down their BlackBerry.

There is also potential security issues, terrorism using remote dets etc.

 

[Oracle]

As regards luggage space, the 1973 tube stock was designed to have areas next to the doors to allow Hetahrow passengers room to place theirs. The A Stock (1960/1962) was the last to have luggage racks as they have to serve Bucks and Herts. The new S Stock has not got any facilities. TFL have deliberately decided not to provide such space.

 

[katgem]

Thanks very much for any input, no matter how critical; that was kind-of the point. As I say, it was just a group brainstorm - we have no intention of using all of these and haven't researched further, so thank you very much for posting the wheelchair links and design standards. The thoughts I'd made about the 'atmosphere' were mainly to try and subconsciously try and calm people that weren't used to the tube based on more natural lighting etc, just typical arty farty stuff! We need to have a mixture of more practical elements combined with more 'conceptual' and innovative ideas to appease the tutors unfortunately. If anyone did have any ideas on improving it, it'd be great.

I know (from personal experience) that Health and Safety may be an issue when it comes to the hygiene dispensers believe it or not - the college I previously worked at had them removed as some people had attempted to DRINK the alcohol in them. So god knows what could happen with this on public transport!

Very happy to have this moved to the Underground forum, I did look for one but couldn't see it.

 

[trentside]

Mood/Atmosphere

How to reduce the disorientating atmosphere.
Air conditioning?

Hi Kat,

I agree with a lot of what has been said here already. On the subject of the disorientating atmosphere - I'm presuming you're meaning difficulties in finding your way around below ground, and working out directions of platforms?

As others have said, air conditioned rolling stock is currently being introduced to the sub-surface lines (the Metropolitan, H&C, Circle and District). There are more problems associated with introducing it on the other deep level tube lines, but it is intended that the next generation of rolling stock on the Bakerloo, Piccadilly and Central lines will have air-conditioning, as well as walk through cars (similar to the new S Stock trains on the Met).

If you're interested in the history of design on the Underground then the names to research are Leslie Green (the traditional red glazed stations) and Charles Holden (1930s re-developments and extensions). These are the two most prominent architects to have been involved with LU. With any new design, there has to be consideration given to the fact that many Underground stations are listed structures.

Hope this helps.

 

[island]

Luggage clips might mean something like the Narita Express in Japan, which has combination-lockable straps that can be used to attach luggage to the train.

 

[katgem]

in response to 'Island', indeed, that's what I meant by the luggage clips. May just be a minor issue though.
in response to trentside, that's along the lines of what I meant about the atmosphere. It's just contrasting the usual daily commuters that know what they're doing from the tourist who may find it confusing and feel intimidated by it all. I had read about the plans for the new carriages. Thanks very much for the book suggestions, they will definately come in useful for my research!

 

[142094]

What you should find is that lighting is kept near enough constant - there'll probably be a range of figures in lux units that TfL aim for, and have the Tube stock inspected to see if it fits.

Problem with things such as comfort is you can't measure it easily. What I find comfortable might be uncomfortable to others.