Request stop

Last updated
A comparison showing the difference between a normal bus stop and a request stop in London. Diffrences between London bus and request stops.jpg
A comparison showing the difference between a normal bus stop and a request stop in London.
Wondabyne railway station is a request stop, located north of Sydney. Wondabyne railway station.jpg
Wondabyne railway station is a request stop, located north of Sydney.

In public transport, a request stop, flag stop, or whistle stop is a stop or station at which buses or trains, respectively, stop only on request; that is, only if there are passengers or freight to be picked up or dropped off. In this way, stops with low passenger counts can be incorporated into a route without introducing unnecessary delay. Vehicles may also save fuel by continuing through a station when there is no need to stop.

Contents

"Flag stop" airline service was historically offered by several scheduled passenger air carriers in the past into destinations with low airline passenger demand. As an example, in its June 1, 1969 worldwide system timetable, Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) had this explanation: "Flag stop: A stop will be made and traffic will be accepted only when operating conditions permit, and provided request to stop is made sufficiently in advance." [1]

There may not always be significant savings on time if there is no one to pick up because vehicles going past a request stop may need to slow down enough to be able to stop if there are passengers waiting. Request stops may also introduce extra travel time variability and increase the need for schedule padding.

The appearance of request stops varies greatly. Many are clearly signed, but many others rely on local knowledge.

Implementations

The methods by which transit vehicles are notified that there are passengers waiting to be picked up at a request stop vary by transit system and by route.

Local transport

A request stop (zastavka na znameni) on Prague city bus line 151 Ke Klicovu, zastavka Klicov, oznaceni.jpg
A request stop (zastávka na znamení) on Prague city bus line 151

Many local bus and tram systems operate most of their stops as request stops. Buses and trams do not service stops unless there is an awaiting passenger or an onboard passenger utilizes an electric bell to signal a stop (generally by pulling a cord, or pushing a button or yellow signaling strip). Stops that are served on every trip are often called stations and placed at the terminus of a route. Such stops are often also used as timing points. In contrast, light rail and bus rapid transit services will typically stop at all stations regardless.

However, some systems use this term to distinguish between marked stops that must be hailed (as if hailing a taxicab) and marked stops where the driver will stop for any awaiting passengers (as above). This practice was common on certain Transport for London routes until 2008, with different signs distinguishing between the two sorts of stops. [2]

Still other systems may use the term "request stop" to refer to a servicing location other than a marked bus stop. This sort of service can be found on hail and ride routes, designated portions of routes, or special late-night service. In hail and ride operations, there are few or no marked stops and passengers can request the bus be stopped at any point where the driver can safely and reasonably do so. This is common in some cities, such as Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States, where bus stops were infrequently signed before 2019. [3] Some services operate in this way only late at night, allowing for drop-off between marked stops, thereby decreasing walking time for safety and convenience. [4] Examples include Winnipeg Transit [5] and New York City MTA Bus (known as Late-night Request-A-Stop).

Long-distance transport

The Sjisjka stop on the Inland Line in Lapland with the traditional round, yellow sign that is to be turned towards the arriving train Sjisjka station 1708 2008b.jpg
The Sjisjka stop on the Inland Line in Lapland with the traditional round, yellow sign that is to be turned towards the arriving train

In long-distance transport, transit vehicles, such as passenger trains or buses operating on motorways, usually operate at higher speeds than local transport. This means that stopping is more troublesome (and more worth avoiding) and that it may be very difficult to see a passenger in time to stop for them. This difference often results in more complicated ways of signalling a stop to the vehicle.

Some services, like Amtrak, require that a ticket be purchased in advance, specifying a specific origin and destination. Since the train's crew know what tickets were sold, they also know where people are coming from and going to, and they simply stop only at those stations required by the tickets. Services that lack advanced ticketing, or that sell tickets for a range of destinations or travel times, require ways of knowing whether or not someone is waiting at a station or platform. These may range from a passenger speaking to a dispatcher on a phone located at a station or to a station employee to simply pressing a button to activate a signal such as a flashing light somewhere before the station that the driver can see in time to slow down safely.

In the United Kingdom, there exist approximately 150 railway request stops, of which Great Britain has around 135. [6] [7] [8] When leaving from a request stop, the passenger has to signal the train driver by hand signal. When planning to disembark at a request stop, the passenger needs to inform the train conductor in advance. [9] Some request stops in Scotland, eight on the Far North Line, have had a ‘Request to Stop’ kiosk installed at the station. This has live information for passengers and a button that can be pressed to alert the driver of their intent to board the train before it arrives in view from the platforms. This alerts the driver about any waiting passengers in advance; if there is no requirement to stop, the train can maintain line speed through the station, thus improving reliability on the whole line. [10] On 15 August 2022, Scotscalder station became the trial site for a "Press & Ride" request stop system developed by Transport Scotland. [11] [12] [13] Following the successful trial at Scotscalder, this system was expanded on 20 December 2022 to cover five more request stops on the line, namely Culrain, Invershin, Rogart, Kildonan and Kinbrace. The last two kiosks, at Dunrobin Castle and Altnabreac, are expected to be in operation from spring 2023. [14] [15] [ needs update ]

Ferries

A semaphore at a jetty in Stockholm archipelago DSC 9948 Lattinge.jpg
A semaphore at a jetty in Stockholm archipelago

Along some ferry routes in the fjords in Norway, some stops are equipped with a light that embarking passengers must switch on in order for the ferry to include the stop and pick them up. The system is known under the name signalanløp. Similar to Norway, in Sweden commuter ferries are requested to stop by a semaphore signal. The many islands of the Stockholm archipelago are an example of this.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Israel</span>

Transportation in Israel is based mainly on private motor vehicles and bus service and an expanding railway network. A lack of inland waterways and the small size of the country make air and water transport of only minor importance in domestic transportation, but they are vitally important for Israel's international transport links. Demands of population growth, political factors, the Israel Defense Forces, tourism and increased traffic set the pace for all sectors, being a major driver in the mobility transition towards railways and public transit while moving away from motorized road transport. All facets of transportation in Israel are under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bus stop</span> Designated area for passengers to board or disembark busses

A bus stop is a place where buses stop for passengers to get on and off the bus. The construction of bus stops tends to reflect the level of usage, where stops at busy locations may have shelters, seating, and possibly electronic passenger information systems; less busy stops may use a simple pole and flag to mark the location. Bus stops are, in some locations, clustered together into transport hubs allowing interchange between routes from nearby stops and with other public transport modes to maximise convenience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newark Light Rail</span> Light rail system in New Jersey

The Newark Light Rail (NLR) is a light rail system serving Newark, New Jersey, and surrounding areas, owned by New Jersey Transit and operated by its bus operations division. The service consists of two segments, the original Newark City Subway (NCS), and the extension to Broad Street station. The City Subway opened on May 16, 1935, while the combined Newark Light Rail service was officially inaugurated on July 17, 2006.

A share taxi, shared taxi, taxibus, or jitney or dollar van in the US, or marshrutka in former Soviet countries, is a mode of transport which falls between a taxicab and a bus. Share taxis are a form of paratransit; they are vehicles for hire are typically smaller than buses and usually take passengers on a fixed or semi-fixed route without timetables, sometimes only departing when all seats are filled. They may stop anywhere to pick up or drop off their passengers. They are most common in developing countries or inner cities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OC Transpo</span> Public transit service in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

OC Transpo is the organisation that operates and plans public transport in the city of Ottawa, Canada. OC Transpo runs bus rapid transit, light rail, conventional bus routes, and door-to-door paratransit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burlington Transit</span>

Burlington Transit is the public transport provider in the city of Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Services began in September 1975, after the city had been served by neighbouring systems including Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) and former subsidiary Canada Coach Lines, as well as "local" services to and from Toronto once provided by Gray Coach Lines and GO Transit along Lakeshore Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Far North Line</span> A railway line in Scotland

The Far North Line is a rural railway line entirely within the Highland area of Scotland, extending from Inverness to Thurso and Wick. As the name suggests, it is the northernmost railway in the United Kingdom. The line is entirely single-track, with only passing loops at some intermediate stations allowing trains to pass each other. Like other railway lines in the Highlands and northern Lowlands, it is not electrified and all trains are diesel-powered.

<i>Marshrutka</i> Fixed-route taxicab

Marshrutnoye taksi, commonly known by the colloquialism Marshrutka, are share taxis found in Eastern Europe and the republics of the former Soviet Union. Usually vans, they drive along set routes, depart only when all seats are filled, and may have higher fares than buses. Passengers can board a marshrutka anywhere along its route if there are seats available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altnabreac railway station</span> Railway station in Highland, Scotland

Altnabreac railway station is a rural railway station in the Highland council area of Scotland. It serves the area of Altnabreac – a settlement in which the station itself is the main component – in the historic county of Caithness. The name Altnabreac derives from the Scots Gaelic Allt nam Breac, meaning "the stream of the trout".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culrain railway station</span> Railway station in Highland, Scotland

Culrain railway station serves the village of Culrain in Kyle of Sutherland in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is located on the Far North Line. It is 61 miles 0 chains (98.2 km) from Inverness, between Ardgay and Invershin. ScotRail, who manage the station, operate all services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invershin railway station</span> Railway station in Highland, Scotland

Invershin railway station is a railway station in the Highland council area of Scotland. The station is on the Far North Line, 61 miles 34 chains (98.9 km) from Inverness, between Culrain and Lairg. ScotRail, who manage the station, operate all services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rogart railway station</span> Railway station in Highland, Scotland

Rogart railway station is a railway station serving the villages of Rogart and Pittentrail, in the Highland council area of Scotland. The station is on the Far North Line, 77 miles 1 chain (123.9 km) from Inverness, between Golspie and Lairg. ScotRail, who manage the station, operate all services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kildonan railway station</span> Railway station in Highland, Scotland

Kildonan railway station is a railway station near Kildonan Lodge in the Highland council area in the north of Scotland. It is located on the Far North Line, between Helmsdale and Kinbrace, 111 miles 5 chains (178.7 km) from Inverness, and has a single platform which is long enough for a three-coach train. All services are operated by ScotRail, who manage the station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kinbrace railway station</span> Railway station in Highland, Scotland

Kinbrace railway station is a railway station serving the village of Kinbrace in the Highland council area in the north of Scotland. It is located on the Far North Line, 118 miles 20 chains from Inverness, between Kildonan and Forsinard. The station is managed by ScotRail, who operate the services at the station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scotscalder railway station</span> Railway station in Highland, Scotland

Scotscalder railway station is a railway station located in the Highland council area in the far north of Scotland. It serves several rural hamlets in the historic county of Caithness, including Scotscalder, Olgrinmore, Westerdale and Calder. It is accessed from the B870 road, two miles (3 km) south of Scotscalder Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Transport Authority (South Australia)</span> Agency responsible for public transport in South Australia

The State Transport Authority (STA) was the government agency which controlled public transport in South Australia between 1974 and 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Passenger information system</span> Electronic public transit communication

A passenger information system, or passenger information display system, is an automated system for supplying users of public transport with information about the nature and the state of a public transport service through visual, voice or other media. It is also known as a customer information system or an operational information system. Among the information provided by such systems, a distinction can be drawn between:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hail and ride</span>

In public transport in the United Kingdom and Australia, hail and ride is boarding or alighting a mode of public transport by signalling the driver or conductor that one wishes to board or alight, rather than the more conventional system of using a designated stop. Hail and ride is used primarily in bus transport. The act of requesting a hackney carriage to stop is also termed 'hailing'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Nottingham</span> Overview of the transport network of Nottingham, England

Nottingham is the seventh largest conurbation in the United Kingdom; despite this, the city's transport system was deemed to be poor for its size in the 1980s. In the early twenty-first century, the UK government invested heavily in the transport network of Nottingham, which has led to the re-opening of the Robin Hood Line and the construction of a light rail system, Nottingham Express Transit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public transport</span> Shared transportation service for use by the general public

Public transport is a system of transport for passengers by group travel systems available for use by the general public unlike private transport, typically managed on a schedule, operated on established routes, and that may charge a posted fee for each trip. There is no rigid definition of which kinds of transport are included, and air travel is often not thought of when discussing public transport—dictionaries use wording like "buses, trains, etc." Examples of public transport include city buses, trolleybuses, trams and passenger trains, rapid transit and ferries. Public transport between cities is dominated by airlines, coaches, and intercity rail. High-speed rail networks are being developed in many parts of the world.

References

  1. Pan Am (1969-06-01), "Explanation of Abbreviations and Symbols", Pan Am System Timetable, p. 29
  2. Lawrence-Jones, Charlie (12 September 2019). "TfL answers the age old question whether you need to hail a London bus". MyLondon. Reach Plc. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  3. Slanchik, Amy (23 September 2019). "Tulsa Transit Changes Routes, First Update In 15 Years". News On Six. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  4. Transportation in an Aging Society: A Decade of Experience, Technical Papers and Reports from a Conference, November 7-9, 1999, Bethesda, Maryland. Transportation Research Board. 2004. ISBN   978-0-309-07745-3.
  5. "Request Stop Service after 7:00pm". Winnipeg Transit. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  6. Wills, Dixe (May 15, 2016). "Alight here? Britain's railway request stops". The Guardian.
  7. "Stop the train, I want to get off: The magic of Britain's railway". The Independent. April 8, 2014.
  8. "The 135 Request Stops in Great Britain" (PDF). Geoff Marshall.
  9. Request Stops - Wootton Wawen / Danzey / Wood End / The Lakes. Geoff Marshall. 17 July 2019. Event occurs at 3:05. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19.
  10. "Far North Line Review Group". Transport Scotland.
  11. "Far North request-stop kiosk on trial". Today's Railways UK . No. 248. Platform 5. October 2022. p. 16. ISBN   9771475971140.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: ignored ISBN errors (link)
  12. "First of Scotland's request-stop kiosks goes live". The Railway Magazine . Mortons of Horncastle. September 2022. p. 8. ISBN   9770033892354.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: ignored ISBN errors (link)
  13. Rail Rambler, Caithness (14 August 2022). Request Stop Kiosk Will be in Use at Scotscalder station from Monday 15th August 2022. YouTube. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  14. "More request stop kiosks on Far North Line". Today's Railways UK . No. 252. Platform 5. February 2023. p. 14. ISBN   9771475971140.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: ignored ISBN errors (link)
  15. "Further request-stop kiosks added on Far North Line". Network Rail Media Centre. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2023.