Work

Visualizing Railway Transfer Penalties and Their Effects on Population Distribution in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of railway transfer penalties on the demographic structure of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. While previous research has emphasized travel time to the city center as a key determinant of socio-demographic structure, this paper highlights the additional influence of transfer penalties—specifically walking and waiting times—on urban demographic patterns. Using 1 km grids as the unit of analysis, travel time to Tokyo Station is calculated as a measure of accessibility, and the difference in travel time with and without accounting for transfers is defined as the transfer penalty for each grid. The spatial distribution of these penalties is mapped, and their effects on the population are estimated while considering heterogeneity based on distance to the city center. The results indicate that beyond accessibility, higher transfer penalties are associated with lower population densities. Moreover, the negative impact of transfer penalties is observed only in areas located at an intermediate distance from the city center (approximately 26–46 km). Finally, incorporating this spatial heterogeneity, the paper visualizes the projected contribution of transfer penalties to future population distribution.

Source: Future Transportation

DOI: 10.3390/futuretransp5030114

Author: Junya Kumagai

Institution: Fukuoka University

Language: English

Topic: Urban Transport and Accessibility

Subfield: Transportation

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,207