New Security Project KapaKrit

In August 2018, the project “KapaKrit – Optimization of the Traffic Capacity of Railway Stations in Crisis and Disaster Scenarios” was launched. The project, which will run for three years, is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the Civil Security – Transport Infrastructures programme. The project will be coordinated by the newly established IAS-7 (a former JSC division). The partners involved are Bochum University of Applied Sciences and engineering company bueffee from Wuppertal. Further institutions, like Deutsche Bahn AG and the non-state National Express Rail GmbH (NEX), are involved as associated partners.

In crisis and disaster situations, such as chemical or nuclear accidents, railway stations become safety-critical transport hubs for large-scale evacuation. However, the day-to-day capacity of the stations is not sufficient to meet requirements in case of evacuation. Maximizing transport capacities and ensuring a guaranteed as well as effective operations transfer to crisis mode are essential. The KapaKrit project will investigate how in such scenarios people can be brought to safe areas via the railway network. This will cover the investigation of the macroscopic traffic flows towards the stations as well as the microscopic dynamics inside the stations and on the platforms. All studies will be carried out in conjunction with the public safety authorities and organizations involved to ensure realistic scenarios and practical approaches. The methods developed will be evaluated at the main train station in Dortmund as a case study, with a view to its central role in the Ruhr area.

Contact: Dr. Stefan Holl, st.holl@fz-juelich.de

from JSC News No. 261, 24 October 2018