Improvement of Public Transit Usage - Case Study Example

Improvement of Public Transit Usage (Case Study) Name Institution Course Instructor Date Berlin Central Station Berlin contains an excellent network of public transport that is largely reliable, fast and good money valued. Berlin public system of transportation consists of commuter rail system commonly known S-Bahn, a metro system commonly known as U-Bahn and city bus system. U-Bahn and S-Bahn act as the backbone of the public transport in Berlin. U-Bahn system offers weekly ticket known as transit pass that serves for 7 days as well as a single day pass and operate for 24 hours on daily bases. S-Bahn is a chief above-ground local trains’ network that is run by operator of state rail. S-Bahn lines run to three chief routes from suburbs via the city centre. These routes include Stadtbahn which is an east-west line that runs via middle of Berlin, connecting it western and eastern centres as well all the chief stations for instance ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Berlin-Hauptbahnhof and Zoo. Also Nord-Sud-Bahn, which is a north-south route that connects the region around intercity stations of Sudkreuz, Berlin-GesundBrunnen,Posdamer Platz and Unter den Linden. Lastly, Ringbahn route, which is circle line of Berlin, running around the city centre in a continuous loop (Barwick, 2005). The Stadtbahn and Nord-Sud-Bahn routes are sightseeing routes but Rinfbahn route is only convenient for passengers who know of their destination. U-Bahn consists of underground metro/subways routes, although, there are a few elevated areas. U-Bahn is controlled by Berlin Company for transport known as BVG. It contains 9 lines, which are all numbered contrary to S-Bahn that only indicate train’s destination, although, there are routes maps situated on the trains and the platforms to aid in navigation. The city also consists of a complex network of bus, tram network that is concentrated on ex-East Berlin, a few ferries that transverse rivers and lakes of the city and that are also run by BVG. The above analysis shows a good development of paths and edges in the city thus great interconnection. Berlin central station is situated on the lehrter bahnhof historical site, an aspect that makes it easily accessed by all. It act as a station to all trains; both metro and subways trains in Berlin. It also accommodates buses and trams from parts of the city. Berlin central station is the biggest central transportation system in Europe and it offers reliable, fast and good money valued services (Barwick, 2005). Berlin being a capital city of Germany is highly rich with landmarks that include both manmade and natural structures. Some of these landmarks include Museums, Zoos, hotels, towers, churches and walls. Additionally, the Berlin central station is also used as a city landmark. There are several hotels surrounding the central station as well as a tower that can be used to direct people to the real location of the station. The city also contains five districts that include kreuzberg, Mitte, tiergarten and Charlottenburg and that are divided by rivers, and walls. The five districts also have well developed network of roads, railways and ferries to ensure ease of navigation. The city also has a number of nodes that are quite famous for the various activities that takes place in them or in their surroundings. Among those famous points include Gendanmenmarkt, british embassy, Funkturm, zoo, zoo station, television tower among others. These nodes are very essential in enhancing transportation in the city. They can be easily used to direct motorist and to orient strangers in the city (RailEurope, 2012). Berlin central station is very similar to Sydney central station. They are both the biggest stations in their respective continents; Berlin in Europe and Sydney in Australia. The two also contains big tower landmarks that are used to give the actual location of the station. Sydney station contains a time tower at the station wall while Berlin contains Berlin Hauptbahnhof tower. Another similarity is that the two stations offer 24 hours services that are reliable and fast, thus, making them the most famous in their continents. The major difference of the two central stations is their development. Sydney is an old central station that was developed long before the Second World War with very sight adjustment done after its development. This happened in 1979. In the contrary, Berlin central station was an advancement of a small old station that has been advanced to fit the current modern stations with underground routes, modern electronic direction systems as well as established ticket systems. Additionally, the system has a special branch that considers people with special needs, offering extra services that would ease their travel. Copenhagen Central Station (Kobenhavns Hovedbanegard) Copenhagen public transport is consists of Metro which is a highly modernized and fully automated subways train service. Copenhagen has a very effective metro connection between the big urban regions to the west and east of the city centre. The two routes operate on daily bases. It also has S-tog service that is controlled by DSB which is comparable to S-Bahn network found in PER system of Paris or Germany. This system runs up to late night from early morning from Monday to Thursday, and also on Sundays, but on Fridays and Saturdays, they run for the whole night. Some of S-tog trains are controlled by Ǿresundtog which is a southern Sweden service system of train. These trains take passengers to Malmo Sweden, though; one has to buy a separate ticket. Tickets are available in ticket office, ticket vending machines known as DBS and also in Skanetrafiken. Online SMS tickets are also obtainable for S-trains. Alternatively, one can buy a Copenhagen card that is valid for every travel in the region of great Copenhagen or seven days FlexCard for Metro, train and bus. These cards are purchased from manned stations and Movia ticket offices. All these routes and lines allow for easy orientation of tourist in the city and the country at large (Copenhagen.com, 1998). There are a number of landmarks near the Copenhagen central station among the most famous include Tivoli gardens, DGI-Byen, Danish Design Centre, Glytoteket and Kobenhavns Museum. Additionally Copenhagen contains a number of nodes that can be used to direct or to ease navigation of the city for visitors. Among these nodes include church of our Saviour, Oresund Bridge, Round Tower, Copenhagen City Hall, H.C. Andrsen Statue, and Central station among others. The city is also made of a number of districts that include Valby, Hellerup, Orestaden, Amager, Islands Brygge, Norrebro, Frederiksberg, Christianshavn and City Centre districts. Districts are rich in transportation networks and in the interior parts where public railway lines do not reach, they have a well developed network of roads. There are also a number streams that define various districts in the city. The above elements aid in the city orientation (Copenhagen.com, 1998). The city’s pubic system also contains four types of bus services. These include regular buses that operate during the day, S-buses which are express buses that are commonly used to connect regions with deficiency of other public means of transport, N-buses is a 10 lines network that operate over the night and lastly, there is CityCirkel, which are tiny tourist buses that operate in a circular line in the centre. A bus, ticket can be purchased from the three previously mentioned methods or from the driver (Central station-Copenhagen, 2012). Copenhagen central station is the biggest central station in Denmark; centre for all traffic of trains in the Denmark. This station services all regional trains, S-trains as well as international trains and intercity trains that departures to chief cities in the entire Europe. The station is expecting to handle new fully automated Metro trains and City Ring trains in the near future. The station is located a way from the city centre, thus making it easier to locate it. Additionally, there are also at a number of landmarks located close to the station that also ease in orientation of the city (Copenhagen.com, 1998). Copenhagen Central Station is different from Sydney Central Station in terms of size and extensibility of the region covered. Sydney serves the whole of Australian continent while the Copenhagen serves Denmark country and the neighbouring countries only. Therefore, Sydney serves a large number of passengers as compared to Copenhagen station. The two stations have a well establish ticket system that can assist the travels to acquire convenience services. Additionally, the two stations are located close to large landmarks and nodes that can easily enhance their location. Copenhagen station contains limited night services while Sydney station offers 24 hours services throughout the week. Improvement of Public Transport Information System Public transport is one of the most important services in every continent, country as well as cities. Therefore, its management and information system need to be effective. One way of effecting this system is by establishing of electronic notice boards where information on different services offered in the station are displayed. Additionally, information regarding departure of trains of various route as well as means of acquiring a ticket should be ensured. Stations should also develop a well designed and maintained website where all required information is clearly given. These sites should allow live assistance by integrating customer care services to the web. Additionally, the sites should offer ticket buying services after giving a clear explanation of the possible varieties of ticket and the service acquired by each form of ticket. References Barwick, L. 2005, Public transport- getting around Berlin. Penguin’s Berlin Guide for Visitors and Residents. [online] Available at: [Accessed 5 November 2012]. Central station-Copenhagen, 2012. Online & onsite sighting-Copenhagen. Grand central station-Copenhagen. [online] Available at: < http://www.copenhagenet.dk/cph-map/CPH-Central-Station.asp > [Accessed 5 November 2012]. Copenhagen.com, 1998. Public transport in Copenhagen. [online] Available at: < http://www.copenhagen.com/gettingaround/welcome.asp?Menu= > [Accessed 5 November 2012]. NSW, 2012. Central station. [online] Available at: [Accessed 5 November 2012]. RailEurope, 2012. Berlin Central train station-Berlin Hauptbahnhof. [online] Available at: < http://www.raileurope.com/europe-travel-guide/germany/berlin/train-station/central-train-station.html> [Accessed 5 November 2012]. Read More