Train timetable evaluation from the viewpoint of passengers by microsimulation of train operation and passenger flow

Abstract

AbstractIn order to evaluate train timetables from point of view of the passengers, it is indispensable to estimate the disutility of passengers. This can be done by accurately estimating the movements of passengers and trains. In particular, when there is a large number of passengers, the interactions between the passengers and trains must be considered. To this end, we have developed a microsimulation system to simulate both train operation and passengers' train choice behavior. The system can simulate the train choice behaviors of more than one million passengers as well as their positions in trains. It is possible to estimate the delays caused by crowding in trains as well. The system is based on models of different attitudes of the passengers with respect to the train choice behavior, which includes the choice of the earliest train, transfer avoidance, and avoiding crowding; a passenger's train choice behavior reflects his/her preferences. We applied this system to an actual railway line in a metropolitan area and evaluated two train schedules by calculating the generalized cost, which reflects each passenger's disutility based on his/her experience. Numerical experiments confirmed that the proposed method is very useful for evaluating timetables from the point of view of the passengers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 181(4): 51–62, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.21264