Passenger Rail Car Egress Time Prediction [Research Results]
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2006-05-01
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Abstract:The FRA is investigating how to improve rule provisions addressing the safe, timely, and effective emergency evacuation of intercity and commuter rail passengers in various emergency scenarios. A variety of evacuation concepts, strategies, and techniques for applicability to U.S. rail passenger cars are being investigated and evaluated. Under the sponsorship of the FRA, the Volpe Center conducted a series of twelve commuter rail car passenger egress tests involving 86 passenger subjects, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), at North Station, Boston, MA, USA, on August 25, 2005. The egress experiment time data are intended to be used as an input to a computer egress model in order to predict emergency evacuation time for various car configurations. Additional egress experiments are planned. Preliminary egress experiment results indicated consistent egress times by subjects for all trials with very small learning effects and no fatigue effect. In addition, subject flow rates were less than those at previous train egress trials since no incentives were given and subjects were instructed not to push. No significant difference was observed between normal and emergency lighting conditions. The egress times for 84 passengers averaged 58 seconds using 2 side doors to a high platform, and 1 minute and 40 seconds, using either a single side door to a high platform or an end door to the adjacent car.
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