Int'l Journal of Computing, Communications & Instrumentation Engg. (IJCCIE) Vol. 2, Issue 1 (2015) ISSN 2349-1469 EISSN 2349-1477

Evaluating Urban Railway and Presenting Solutions Based on Information Technology (IT)

Elham Fariborzi1, and Golnaz Tavassolian2

 railway [3]. These advantages made big cities like New York, Abstract— Population growth and the increasing of journeys in London, and Paris to think of using this technology [4]. Paris cities make urban railway as essential public transportation especially urban railway has a station every 500 meters and London in big cities. In Mashhad (The second biggest city of ), Urban totally has 275 stations. New York has 450 stations in 621 sq. railway as a newly built transportation, faced some problems and /m2 [5].In some cities like London, tunnels are more than 150 need to improve its services. The objective of this paper was to years old. First underground city tunnel was made in 1863 in evaluate urban railway system of Mashhad from the viewpoint of London. First Paris urban railway line was opened in 1900 and users, and to provide some solutions based on Information Technology for Urban railway’s authorities. Research method was 1904 was for New York. Urban railway and underground descriptive cross-sectional study. Data in this research collected from tunnels have been made with London’s innovation in a way interviews with users of urban railway through open-ended questions that today there are more than 160 urban railway and and environment’s observations. The sampling was underground systems in the world [6]. First urban railway accidental/convenience sampling (A type of no probability sampling). foundation in Iran is back to 1971. Preliminary studies were The result shows that some raised problems of Mashhad`s urban finished in 1974 and after the 1975 contract, operations railway are based on the features that are not considered by started. According to the plans made at that time, the first authorities. In addition, there is the lack of a suitable cultural phase was to be opened in 1991 but it was finally opened on advertising for users regarding urban railway in Mashhad. Some th recommendations have been given for users of urban railway to 7 of March, 1998. It connected Tehran to Karaj [7]. The first develop their culture, and for authorities to give better services urban railway line was opened in 2010 in Mashhad. Now the through using of Information Technology solutions for improving the second phase is under the construction. This paper was to status of urban railway in Mashhad. The outcomes of this paper have evaluate urban railway transportation network in Mashhad pictured factors that are essential for urban railway in Iran-Mashhad. from the users’ viewpoint and the researcher observations and Required Culture related to urban railway can be developed through to recommend factors to related authorities by using of electronic boards, social networks, and websites. More solutions are information technology solutions. subsequently explained in this paper.

II. LITERATURE REVIEW Keywords— Urban railway, urban railway problems, developing culture, Information Technology Due to population growth and increase in cities journeys, an efficient public transport is essential [8]. Urban railway is I. INTRODUCTION required in big cities to provide more facilities [9]. All the trains in Tehran and “urban and suburban railway of Tehran” ODAY, advanced transportation systems play an are called as Tehran urban railway. Five main lines were used important role in reduction of traffic in cities. T by October of 2013 that of these five lines four of them are Development pattern based on public transportation is a urban and one is suburban, taking passengers from and to pattern of city development centered on public transportation. Tehran – Karaj. The open line distance was 160 kilometers Nowadays, this approach is used all over the world [1]. Due to and the number of active wagons in Tehran’s urban railway population growth and journeys, in most worlds’ big cities, an system was more than 1000 by the end of October, transferring efficient public transportation system is essential [2]. In three million passengers every day. Tehran’s urban railway addition, because of high density and limited space on the started working in 1998 but its foundation backs to the time of ground, tunnel and urban railway is the best choice. High Mohammad-Reza Shah, king of Iran before Islamic revolution speed, security, less time wasted in journeys, efficient energy in 1978. The first active line was today’s line number 5, usage, not polluting the city, etc. are all advantages of urban between Tehran and Karaj, starting its job on 7th of March,

Assist.Prof.Dr. Elham Fariborzi1, Faculty member, Department of 1998, a really important day opening in Tehran’s urban Educational Studies, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, railway history. A year later, the western part, line 2, came into Iran. operation. In 2011, Tajrish station also came into use, by Golnaz Tavassolian2, Master student, Department of Architecture, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran. which line one became complete. With the opening of , the case for Tehran’s urban railway development was closed.

http://dx.doi.org/10.15242/IJCCIE.E0915048 33 Int'l Journal of Computing, Communications & Instrumentation Engg. (IJCCIE) Vol. 2, Issue 1 (2015) ISSN 2349-1469 EISSN 2349-1477

However, with New Year some schemes became into operation: Nirohavaee Station, in line 4, was operationalized in 17th of May, 2012. Because of the number of passengers and trains, late in 2006, a part known as “Tehran’s urban and suburban railway operation” was created to continue its job as to operationalize main body of Tehran’s urban railway. Five million people are daily transferred that will be 8.5 by the next ten years. Based on the conducted research by transportation faculty of Sharif University, Mashhad needs four lines. Fig. 1 A normal day in a civic urban railway station of “Sao Paulo”, III. RESEARCH METHOD Capital of Brazil, South America Research method was descriptive cross-sectional study. This method is a type of observational study that involves the Comparing urban railway lines of Tokyo, Japan and analysis of data collected from a population, or a Mashhad, Iran representative subset, at one specific point in time [10]. A Now it will compares urban railway lines of Tokyo and cross-sectional study examines the relationship among Mashhad. Tokyo has 13 urban railway lines that cover the variables of interest as they exist in a defined population at a whole city. Most lines cut each other in different stations that single point in time or over a short period of time [11] .Data in passengers can get to their destinations faster. this research collected from interviews with users of urban railway through open-ended questions and environment’s observations. The sampling was accidental/ convenience sampling (A type of no probability sampling). This type of sampling consists of unit selection or research cases based on the research aims [12].

IV. FINDINGS In the following Table, you can see data of interviews:

TABLE I DATA OF INTERVIEWS Dissatisfaction No. Problems Frequency (sampling: 40)

1 Wagon shortages 24 Fig. 2 Urban railway lines of Tokyo, Japan 2 No entrance / exit sign 4 3 Long waiting 8 4 Lack of escalators and lifts 8 Shortage of urban railway 5 12 line High ticket price compared 6 28 to services 7 Shortage of Female wagons 13 8 Not enough seats 4 9 Not beautiful urban railway 8 10 Bad behavior of personnel 5 11 Not spacious trains 15

As is observable, most dissatisfaction belongs to ticket Fig. 3 Urban railway line of Mashhad, Iran price, shortage of wagons, and consequently the crowd. Some of these problems are discussed below. Urban railway crowd is This Figure shows that Iran is so slow in development of something seen in most world’s countries. The photo is transportation and behind other countries. Mashhad with only Brazil’s capital. one urban railway line not only is not enough for urban railway users but also has cultural problems.

V. URBAN RAILWAY PROBLEMS Generally, all these issues from the view of responsibility and maintenance can be categorized into two main groups: 1. Problems related to authorities

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2. Problems related to users

Problems related to authorities Of problems related to authorities in order to provide suitable services to citizens and tourists, it can mention these: • Inappropriate staff behavior • Wagon shortages especially for women • Design of stations not suitable for old and disabled people • Not enough culture development to use urban railway better

• No culture development to stop sound pollution in urban Fig. 5 Seoul’s urban railway, South Korea railway • Not suitable wagon design for old and disabled people Problems related to users • Shortage or lack of trash bins, telephone booth, water, Problems caused by not being abided by citizens, users, are: etc. • Sound pollution the wagon or stations • Exit and entrance not highlighted with signs • Inappropriate behavior of users (jogging, running, …) • Not enough seats in stations and inside the wagon • Not considering others’ rights (sitting babies on a • No escalator single,…) • No lift in some stations • Not considering cleanliness of stations • Not beautiful stations and furniture • Not considering old and disabled people • Shortage of seats and services inside the wagon • Not paying attention to cultural boards • Not attractive shops in stations • Not controlling children in the wagons Authorities neglect all these problems. In another In the problems that are all related to culture something comparison, it can mention urban railway entrances. In effective must be done. Mashhad, some entrances do not even have lift in one or both The role of information technology as a solution to cultural sides that makes it not usable for adults. Entrances are not problems seen in urban railways attractive and have long stairs, encouraging people to use lifts. None of the entrances in Mashhad has an escalator. Entrances Information technology emphasizes the knowledge of using in other countries are a lot more attractive and absorbing computer; remote communication; save, usage, and movement people to them. In most countries, designs are done to make of data [13]. By applying information technology, culture can urban railways more beautiful. Germany, , Russia, Spain, be developed better among users. Effective information Dubai, North Korea, and many other countries did their best to technology methods developing culture: make people attracted to public transportation and make • To know how to use the urban railway waiting in the stations pleasurable. • To prevent sound pollution Beautifying is not cared in Iran. Although waiting in stations • To keep stations and trains clean are at least between 5 to 7 minutes what you see are only • To control children in urban railway advertising boards. In other countries along with beautifying, • To respect old or disabled people urban railway furniture is of their concern. Culture can be developed through virtual education. Vital education enables authorities to solve their problems through users themselves. It also encourages people to use urban railway better. This can be done through advertising boards, electronic boards, distribution of cultural tracts, sending e- mails to citizens, and using social networks and websites. Advertising in Shahrvand magazine and municipality website can be effective. Another way to inform is through social networks and e-mail marketing. Role of information technology in improving urban railway problems

Fig. 4 Beautifying urban railway, Frankfort, Germany Usage of information technology in most parts of the world is increasing. With information technology, big steps are taken toward development and progress. Here we will study the role of information technology in improvement of providing services to citizens and other users. 1. Guide boards 2. Guide stands

http://dx.doi.org/10.15242/IJCCIE.E0915048 35 Int'l Journal of Computing, Communications & Instrumentation Engg. (IJCCIE) Vol. 2, Issue 1 (2015) ISSN 2349-1469 EISSN 2349-1477

3. Information boards and signs 4. Digital monitors 5. Brochures

Using guide boards Billboards are of most practical tools guiding users and are usually installed in stations, trains, or entrances. Billboards have information about routes and arrival.

Fig. 8 Urban railway, France

Tourist attractions and the way to get there can also be

introduced. Fig. 6 Seoul’s urban railway station, South Korea

Another usage for these boards is showing bus stations. In these boards, you can see stations close to bus stations.

Fig. 9 Urban railway, France

Guide Stands In urban railway station and on the street, ease of access for users is provided.

Fig. 7 Venice, Italy

Fig. 10 Urban railway, Australia

http://dx.doi.org/10.15242/IJCCIE.E0915048 36 Int'l Journal of Computing, Communications & Instrumentation Engg. (IJCCIE) Vol. 2, Issue 1 (2015) ISSN 2349-1469 EISSN 2349-1477

VI. INFORMATION BOARDS AND SIGNS These boards have all the information needed by users.

Fig. 14 Urban railway, France

Using brochures Information desks can give these brochures. Trust office is

Fig. 11 Urban railway, Australia another suitable facility that can be provided.

Fig. 16 Usage of brochures

Fig. 12 Urban railway, Australia

Digital boards These monitors can be both used to welcome (Figure 13) and to inform. Extra information like blockage of a line or anything like that can be given (Figure 14).

Fig. 17 Information desks in urban railways

Information desks can guide users. There are no evident information desks in Mashhad to help confused users.

VII. CONCLUSION

Fig. 13 Urban railway, Singapore As it has already been mentioned, there are advantages for urban railway like: speed, security, economizing time, efficient energy usage, not polluting the environment, and ….Therefore, it is necessary to encourage citizens to use public transportation. Results obtained by evaluating system from the users’ viewpoint providing solutions through information technology. It shows that some actions

http://dx.doi.org/10.15242/IJCCIE.E0915048 37 Int'l Journal of Computing, Communications & Instrumentation Engg. (IJCCIE) Vol. 2, Issue 1 (2015) ISSN 2349-1469 EISSN 2349-1477 have to be taken to develop the culture of its using; this can be done through electronic boards, social networks and websites, advertisement in Shahrvand Magazine which belongs to City Hall, and E-mail marketing. To encourage people to use public transportation and to better guide citizens in using urban railway, there are solutions providing better services like information boards and signs, digital monitors, information desks, guide stands, and … all these should be taken into consideration by authorities of urban railway and other related institutions.

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