Improving urban public transport service using new timetabling strategies with different vehicle sizes

Abstract

This paper deals with the creation of bus timetables using different vehicle sizes. The need for the development of new bus timetables for public transport (PT) stems from the current reliability and efficiency problems that current bus services are facing. These issues arise from the fact that timetables are designed mainly with even headways; however, it is also possible to design timetables with even passenger loads on the vehicles at the maximum load points, but with uneven headways. This paper hopes to bridge the two strategies together through the use of the incorporation of a mixed fleet size, running in conjunction. The timetables were constructed using two key concepts; assigning capacity and shifting departure times. The methodology for the creation of timetables was applied to a real-life example from Auckland, New Zealand. The results of the timetable are promising, validating the methodology of the model. The new timetables lead to a reduction in both passenger waiting time (user perspective) and empty seat time (operator perspective), with only a marginal increase in passenger standee time. The implementation of a mixed fleet of different vehicle sizes shows to be a promising way for achieving both an even headway and an even loading.