You guys, or rather, we guys are lucky people...
Lets take Japan as an example again. The video aside, we look at figures.
JR East Yamanote Line...
ピーク時混雑率
stands at maximum 205 percent 'squeeze factor' for outer round
and 178 percent at inner round maximum.
So what does this 混雑率 (squeeze/crush factor) mean?
乗客定員＝座席定員と立席定員の和
So it means that by seating, we allow a passenger 430mm of
space, and a standing passenger 0.3 square meters of space. But how
would it feel like, being in such a condition?
20m通勤形車両での乗車率の目安は、次の通り(日本民営鉄道協会の解説
を元に記述)。
乗車率200%超は大変な苦しさがある。300%超などは想像も付かないだろう。
At 100 percent, seating is full and standing is just
comfortable. At 150 percent, shoulders would rub against each
other, and you still can read newspaper. 180 percent, you can read
newspaper just nice, and body would have contact. 200 percent, you
can feel the pressure on the body, and you cannot read magazines at
all. 250 percent, you cannot move, and body might float upwards
(pushed upwards). Doors might be forced open at this pressure.
At 200 percent, its already bad enough, and 300 percent is
almost unthinkable.
I think we are barely at 180 percent, even on the worst cram
ever occured excluding the Cram Jam competition. Counting that our
trains are wider than Japanese ones, they would be able to pack 220
percent into our trains without much problem. 250 maybe, for
external help included.
Okay, sure you want to know how other lines fare. Here is the
link to them all.
http://www.mintetsu.or.jp/rail/strengthen/
By strengthening the infrastructure, increasing carrying
capacity per train, laying double tracks (improving existing
network) is what can be done to cope with the increasing load. Over
the years this is what Japanese engineers and transport planners
did to reduce the squeeze factor, from 262 percent in 1960s to an
average of 156 percent now.
So we should be thankful no one tells us to squeeze 250
percent and help overload the trains. Of
course squeeze and overload is not too reasonable, but by moving in
and ensuring you have space around yourself just to read a magazine
is what we can do on our part. The rest is not much to control.
