Load factor Good examples of monitoring and communication of the occupancy rate

Moderator: Willy Bontinck, Environmental and Energy Management SNCB and UIC Energy Environment & Sustainability Platform Chair

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The average energy consumption per pkm or tkm is the main indicator to measure energy efficiency in transport. So an accurate registration and follow up of the load factor is essential. A major part of rail passenger traffic takes place in the morning and evening’s peak. Outside of these rush hours trains run almost empty. This unbalanced demand leads to an inefficient use of rolling stock so also an inefficient use of energy. What measures are feasible to enhance the average load factor as well in passenger traffic as freight? Is tariff differentiation between peak and off-peak hours an effective way to incentive clients to travel outside the rush hours?
NS (Dutch railways) communicates in real time the load factor of each coach. As a service to the passengers to find a free seat and it also helps to shorten time delay in the station so it enhances punctuality and the potential of Eco driving. The occupation rate is automatically monitored this enables the RO to better match train composition with customer demand.

Good examples of monitoring and communication of the occupancy rate will be presented.

Keywords: Load Factor, Passengerkm (pkm), Seatkm (skm), Net-tonkm.

For info: willy.bontinck b-rail.be

Introduction
Willy Bontinck, Environmental and Energy Management SNCB and Chair of UIC EES Platform

Real-time occupancy information to passengers of NS trains
Ramon Lentink; Netherlands Railways, Senior Research Leader

Tariff differentiation: an effective way to optimize the load factor of the Thalys trains
Thibaut Françon; Revenue management analyst, Thalys International