Modelling Rail Passenger Movements through e-Science Methods

The UK’s railway network is extensive and utilised by many millions of passengers each day. Passenger and train movements around the network create large amounts of data; details of tickets sold, passengers entering and exiting stations, train movements etc. Knowing how passengers want to use the network is critical in planning services that meet their requirements. However, understanding and managing the vast amounts of data generated daily is not easy using traditional methods. We show how, utilising e-Science methods, it is possible to make understanding this data easier and help the various stakeholders within the rail industry to more accurately plan their operations and offer more efficient services that better meet the requirements of passengers.