As part of a pilot project, DSW21 will be installing illuminated platform edges at Dortmund's "Hafen" light rail stop from 23 June. The installed LED strips will later indicate the exact boarding area on the platform. Passengers benefit directly from improved processes at the stop and increased orientation and safety when boarding. This applies in particular to those with physical disabilities.

The project also has a long-term time horizon: in order to keep pace with developments in the field of automated or autonomous driving, DSW21 would like to use the LED strips to reduce passenger change and thus standstill times at stops in the future.

During the construction phase, which is expected to last until the end of September, there may be minor restrictions for passengers at the "Hafen" light rail stop. In addition to the LED strips, a tactile guidance system will also be installed as part of the barrier-free extension of the platform: Thanks to a colour contrast, the new tactile floor elements stand out clearly from the adjacent platform surface and help blind and visually impaired people to move around the stop safely and independently. DSW21 is investing a total of around €300,000 on site. The construction work will be followed by a simulation and test phase, with the result that the LED strips are expected to be in regular use in the course of the autumn.

Conditions for the day after tomorrow

DSW21 Board Member for Transport Ulrich Jaeger: "Local transport and the technology associated with it will continue to develop in an exciting way over the next few decades. Our pilot project at the harbour will immediately generate added value for our passengers. At the same time, we are already laying the foundations today for the day after tomorrow and gaining important insights and experience."

And DSW21 operations manager Ralf Habbes adds: "In future, the light rail vehicles will travel much closer together on the route network than they do today. We want to prepare for these closer train sequences, the shorter intervals and also the different stopping positions at the stops at an early stage. As part of the pilot project, we want to test how we can optimise the processes with passengers at the stops."

A luminous platform edge is also planned for the "DO-Hauptbahnhof" stop in the medium term. Easily removable tiles have already been laid there in advance. In the future, the heavily frequented stops in the city centre could follow.

Valuable additional information for passengers

The LED strips to be installed in the platform at the "Hafen" stop will be directly linked to the DSW21 passenger information system (FIS). They light up in the area of the platform where the passenger should stand to board. Ralf Habbes comments: "Especially when only a single carriage stops at a long platform, the additional information about the exact position in advance is valuable. In addition, the door traffic lights on our new B-cars show when passengers can board - a harmonious overall package."

The technology still has a lot of potential in the future: "If we are able to record the passenger volume within the individual light rail vehicles at some point, we will be able to guide passengers to empty areas in the vehicle via the illuminated platform edge," says Ralf Habbes, outlining another possible added value.