Intercity Bus Services Research Articles

Navigating Urban Mobility: The Relationship between Car Consumption and Public Transport Usage in Malaysia

Increasing private-owned cars in Malaysia has, thus far, contributed to growing congestion, environmental pollution, and decreasing public transport utilization. Car ownership has become possible through economic growth, and convenience and status attached to cars triggered tendencies from shifting to public transit. This development contradicts investments in public transport and aggravates environmental problems. This paper examines the relationship between private car ownership and public transport usage in Malaysia from 2000 to 2022, concentrating on intercity bus services, KTM commuters, and light rail transit. The results indicate that with increased riders for intercity buses and KTM commuter services, car usage drops, while that of light rail may raise car ownership. The study emphasizes the need to upgrade intercity and KTM services to mitigate the pressures of car ownership and calls for further research into the role of light rail.

ANALYZE THE FACTORS THAT AFFECT CUSTOMER LOYALTY TO THE QUALITY OF THE WAITER AT ROSALIA INDAH TRANSPORT COMPANY

Tight competition between companies in inter-city inter-provincial bus services requires improvements in quality service to retain customers. This literature review aims to analyze the factors that influence customer loyalty towards service quality at the Rosalia Indah Transportation Company. This study examines various relevant literature to identify and understand the influence of factors such as security and safety, convenience, timeliness, customer service, and ease of ordering on customer loyalty. The results of this literature review show that all of these factors significantly influence customer loyalty, with security and safety and comfort being very influential in building customer trust and satisfaction. This study suggests that to increase customer loyalty, companies should focus on continuous improvement in these aspects of service. The findings from this literature review provide guidance for Rosalia Indah's management in strategic efforts to improve service quality and maintain customer loyalty in the transportation industry.

Navigating Passenger Satisfaction: A Structural Equation Modeling–Artificial Neural Network Approach to Intercity Bus Services

The phenomenon of passenger satisfaction is an important issue for public transport services and transport companies. Clarifying the relationship between influencing attributes and passenger satisfaction significantly improves service satisfaction. This study examines passenger satisfaction with intercity buses and, in particular, the role of digital information channels (websites and mobile apps) in promoting sustainable travel choices on the Madrid–Bilbao route. This study analyzed data from 459 passengers to identify the key factors influencing the bus choice for intercity bus travel. Punctuality, safety, and ticket price are the most important determinants. We use a combined structural equation modeling (SEM) and artificial neural network (ANN) approach to capture the intricate relationships between service attributes and information channels. The results show that information channels, travel experience, and ticket prices significantly impact passenger satisfaction, which bus operators should improve. Also, inserting the SEM result as input for the ANN showed that ticket price is the most significant predictor of satisfaction, followed by information channels (84%) and travel experience (65%). This approach provides valuable insights for improving the passenger experience. This study emphasizes integrating digital transformation strategies into public transport systems to promote sustainable mobility goals.

Vehicle dispatching and routing of on-demand intercity ride-pooling services: A multi-agent hierarchical reinforcement learning approach

The integrated development of city clusters has given rise to an increasing demand for intercity travel. Intercity ride-pooling service exhibits considerable potential in upgrading traditional intercity bus services by implementing demand-responsive enhancements. Nevertheless, its online operations suffer the inherent complexities due to the coupling of vehicle resource allocation among cities and pooled-ride vehicle routing. To tackle these challenges, this study proposes a two-level framework designed to facilitate online fleet management. Specifically, a novel multi-agent feudal reinforcement learning model is proposed at the upper level of the framework to cooperatively assign idle vehicles to different intercity lines, while the lower level updates the routes of vehicles using an adaptive large neighborhood search heuristic. Numerical studies based on the realistic dataset of Xiamen and its surrounding cities in China show that the proposed framework effectively mitigates the supply and demand imbalances, and achieves significant improvement in both the average daily system profit and order fulfillment ratio.

Optimizing service networks to support freight rail decarbonization: Flow selection, facility location, and energy sourcing

We present a framework to support decarbonization of energy intensive transportation systems offering periodic service on expansive networks (e.g., freight rail, trucking, and intercity bus services). The framework consists of two optimization problems that respectivelyaddress (i) flow selection and facility location, and (ii) energy sourcing/procurement at the service facilities to enable the selected flows. The framework generalizes mixed integer linear programming formulations for flow refueling facility location and flow-based set cover models appearing in the literature to situations where it is of interest to account for repositioning of assets along cyclical trajectories to allow for periodic service, and to account for intermediate flow capture (i.e., trip chaining). The framework also consists of a minimum cost network flow model to determine optimal energy sourcing and distribution strategies, which dictate capacity requirements at the service facilities. The energy demands are obtained from the solution to the flow selection and facility location model. To illustrate the framework, we analyze the deployment of charging stations to support battery-electric locomotive service on a subset of the US freight rail network (i.e., an aggregate network of 3 Class I Railroads). The results show that the deployment of 30 charging stations can support battery-electric locomotives (with 1600-km ranges) to serve 86% of distance-weighted flows (ton-km) and reduce emissions by approximately 50%.

Vulnerability analysis of an intercity bus carrier’s short-term operations

ABSTRACT An intercity bus service includes several bus stations for passenger access and bus service routes for bus operating between designated pairs of stations. Fundamentally, whether stations and bus service routes are operating normally or not has a direct impact on profits and the passenger service rate. However, changes in passenger demand patterns over time can lead to changes in the importance of stations and bus service routes, a problem that has rarely been discussed in the literature. This study applies a scheduling model to perform vulnerability analyses related to intercity bus schedules and routes in short-term operations. A series of analyses were conducted to observe the changes in the optimization results by changing its configurations. The results illustrate the vulnerability of the transportation system components under different scenarios and operating strategies, which could help an intercity bus carrier respond early to effectively maintain its operations.

Towards inclusive transport: The responsiveness of intercity bus services to the needs of people with disabilities in Tamale, Ghana

AbstractPeople with disabilities (PWDs) have an equal right to independent mobility and dignified involvement in society, which is intrinsically related to their access to inclusive public transit systems. Yet, very often PWDs face injustices of unequal mobilities emanating from a combination of access barriers. Based on qualitative interviews and Focus Group Discussions with PWDs and station managers, this exploratory study assessed the responsiveness of public intercity bus services to the needs of PWDs with vision, hearing and walking/climbing difficulties. The findings show that, despite the Persons with Disabilities Act's passage in 2006, intercity public bus transportation services in Tamale, Ghana, do not meet the needs of PWDs. Intercity bus stations and vehicles are not disability‐friendly, leading to people with disabilities facing severe discrimination and having a more difficult time using intercity bus services. This is due to a combination of environmental barriers, legislative/policy inadequacies, negative public attitudes and low compliance of transport operators to transport provisions in the Disability Act. PWDs express deep‐seated feelings of marginalisation and resentment about the uneven access to transport services and the violation of their rights to autonomy in movement. It is concluded that the journey experiences of PWDs have a significant adverse influence on their travel decisions and full participation in society. Hence, suggestions for further research and policy recommendations to promote inclusive transport systems have been proffered.

Factors influencing intention to use ridesharing or intercity bus services: a nonlinear point of View

Factors influencing intention to use ridesharing or intercity bus services: a nonlinear point of View

Impact of Service Quality on Passengers' Ticket Purchase Intention: A Study on Intercity Bus Services in Bangladesh

Impact of Service Quality on Passengers' Ticket Purchase Intention: A Study on Intercity Bus Services in Bangladesh

Intercity bus and rail services: Competition and welfare effects

We study the effects of the deregulation of intercity bus services in Europe on intermodal competition in long-distance land passenger transport and on social welfare. We consider a bus company with a flexible (Internet-based) business model and a rail operator with a rigid cost structure due to indivisibilities. We adjust the standard location model of horizontal differentiation to account for quality differences between modes, and for a bus capacity limit. We show that deregulation may turn the former rail monopoly on a route into a bus monopoly, particularly if bus quality is high enough and/or bus marginal cost is low enough. Since the bus is capacity constrained, then social welfare may be improved through a lump-sum transfer from bus to rail to restore competition and increase the number of travelers. Instead, we show that intermodal competition may reduce welfare (compared to rail monopoly) if the bus is inefficient and/or of low quality, so that bus services should be restricted by imposing quotas or even entry bans. Finally, we relax some assumptions and calibrate the model with data from the Genoa-Milan route in Italy. Numerical simulations confirm theoretical predictions and estimate annual welfare gains on the route under the compensation scheme.

Striking Evidence: The Impact of Railway Strikes on Competition from Intercity Bus Services in Germany

Striking Evidence: The Impact of Railway Strikes on Competition from Intercity Bus Services in Germany

Intercity Bus Service Funding and Assessment Methodology

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA)’s 5311(f) program requires that 15 percent of 5311 program funds given to a state be used to develop and support intercity bus (ICB) service. This 15 percent can be waived if the governor certifies that the ICB needs are being met within the state. This certification became harder to justify when FTA began requiring a more stringent consultation process before certification could be given. The objectives of this study are to learn about current practices of ICB service funding mechanisms, funds prioritization, and determination processes and strategies that promote ICB service. An assessment methodology for Montana was developed to determine whether ICB needs are being adequately met and how to allocate funds to support service. The results of this study will be valuable to other states considering developing methodologies for certification and funding allocation purposes.

Evaluating the Competitiveness of Intercity Buses in Terms of Sustainability Indicators

A sustainable transportation system is the one that is designed based on environmental awareness, social equity, and economic opportunities. Public transportation, in general, and intercity transit, in particular, are playing very significant roles for communities to reach their sustainability goals. Of the available intercity transit services, buses are showing a noteworthy growth to be a competitive mode in terms of sustainability indicators. After several decades of decline, intercity bus services are growing at an increasing rate, overtaking other intercity services. This paper, based on data from various sources and existing literature, makes a comparative analysis of intercity bus services with its competitors, mainly train transit (Amtrak) and air services. The analysis result shows that intercity buses are standing out to be an environmentally-friendly, economically-viable, and socially-inclusive mode of long-distance travel (especially to rural and small communities and for persons with no car).

Development and Application of a Rural Intercity Demand Model

This paper describes the development of a demand model to estimate ridership for rural intercity bus services in the United States. The need for such a model and the approach used in developing it are described. Two models were developed, one a regression equation calibrated on data from a survey of rural intercity services, and the other using a trip rate developed from National Household Travel Survey data. Both models are included in a toolkit that also includes user information and population data. The paper then compares the ridership predictions made using the model with actual experience on rural intercity routes in Washington State and illustrates how it can be used as part of a statewide assessment for Vermont. Conclusions about its applicability and directions for future research are presented.

Perlindungan Hukum Konsumen Penyandang Disabilitas Dalam Angkutan Umum Bus Antar Kota

The ease of accessibility of public transportation buses between cities which is one of the needs in traveling between cities is certainly needed special facilities for consumers with disabilities. In some cases there are still many intercity bus service businesses that rule this out, not infrequently intercity bus businesses still generalize consumers with disabilities with other consumers. Based on this, the author formulated the formulation of the following problems: 1). What is the form of legal protection for consumers with disabilities who experience losses in the form of rights due to the lack of facilities in public transportation buses between cities. 2). What are the legal consequences for Intercity Bus businesses that harm consumers due to the lack of special facilities for people with disabilities. The method of writing in this journal writing uses normative juridical research types, with a statutory approach and a conceptual approach. Legal materials consist of primary legal materials, secondary legal materials, and non-legal materials. Legal materials consist of primary legal materials, secondary legal materials, and non-legal materials. The results of the discussion of this journal can be concluded as follows: Legal protection for consumers with disabilities such as Faisal Rusdi who suffered losses in the form of rights due to the lack of special facilities in public transportation buses between cities in the form of Internal, this protection is packaged by the parties themselves when making an agreement, if anyone violates one of them will be sanctioned, then more appropriately protection that is external because it is very important. Protection is needed by the government due to the many disabled consumers who experience losses in the form of unmet rights while traveling using Intercity Bus Public Transportation services. The form of responsibility of intercity bus public transportation business actors that has been regulated in Law No. 22 of 2009 concerning Traffic and Road Transportation must be an obligation. In the Act has also been mentioned for public transportation business actors if they do not provide services, especially to consumers with disabilities, and will be subject to administrative sanctions. Keywords : consumer protection, public transport, persons with disabilities.

Seamless public transport ticket inspection: Exploring users’ reaction to next-generation ticket inspection

Ticket payment and inspection are the two main dimensions of public transport (PT) ticketing for users. Both research and technological advances have focused mainly on improving the former. In contrast, this study explored users' preferences for ticket inspection options and identified some factors that influenced their likelihood of accepting “seamless ticket inspection”. The dataset is part of a two-wave survey that was collected along the Stockholm – Uppsala corridor to evaluate the Movingo integrated ticketing scheme, a smartcard and mobile phone-based multiple-county commuting ticket that applies to both intercity and intracity bus and train services across the six Mälardalen regions of Sweden. McNemar's test, one-way chi-squared goodness of fit test, multinomial and nested logit models were used to analyse the samples. The findings suggest that given five ticket inspection options, many of the respondents chose “seamless ticket inspection”. Major PT user groups such as females and young people are more likely to accept “seamless ticket inspection”. Further research is recommended on particular aspects of the envisaged “seamless ticket inspection”.

Psychological analysis of intercity bus passenger satisfaction using Q methodology

There is a significant decline in the number of intercity bus users in developing countries that makes company owners and service providers very concerned. Intercity bus service quality (BSQ) is significantly contributed to passenger satisfaction. Identification and improvement of the main criteria influencing the level of satisfaction are important to attract more passengers to public transport systems. In this regard, this paper aims to employ a Q-methodology to psychologically analyze the viewpoints of intercity bus passengers regarding the provided intercity BSQ. For this purpose, twenty-nine intercity bus users were surveyed based on the thirty-five statements. Finally, four distinct perspectives were derived that reflect the intercity bus passengers’ expectations. Perspectives A and B focused significantly on travel safety, travel time and terminal accessibility while perspectives C and D focused more on travel comfort. The findings also demonstrated that intercity bus passengers were less sensitive to staff behavior.

COMPARATIVE FORECAST OF PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION IN LONG HAUL RAILWAY AND LONG-DISTANCE BUS SERVICE

The article presents methodological approaches to determining the volume of passenger service in long-distance railway connections and intercity bus services in Ukraine, which are expected in the coming years. Goal. The purpose of the study is to increase the reliability of the information base for making informed management decisions on the further development of the transport passenger complex. Methodology. In the process of research there was used a set of methods of expert assessment and logical analysis of possible factors influencing; economic and mathematical modeling; formalized extrapolation methods to determine the predictive parameters of influencing factors. Results. The forecast values of the number of transported passengers and the values of passenger turnover in long-distance railway and intercity bus connections in the short-term period are obtained. Originality. To estimate the forecast values of passenger traffic there was used the combination of methods of correlation-regression analysis and forecasting the magnitude of factors by the method of variable average. Practical value. The study of the patterns of passenger traffic dynamics revealed that in the next two years no significant changes are expected in the volume of work of both kinds of transport. However, in long-distance railway transport it is possible to increase passenger traffic by 1.6% (0.74 million passengers) and, accordingly, the annual passenger turnover will increase by 2.2%. In the intercity bus service, a slight decrease in the volume of passenger traffic by 0.8% (0.93 million passengers) is possible, and the rate of decrease in annual passenger turnover will be 0.5%. In the conditions of constant reduction of the population of Ukraine the most effective mechanism of ensuring further sustainable development of both types of passenger transportation is constant adjustment of tariff policy on the principles of flexibility and bonus tariff formation under condition of continuous improvement of services quality.

Design of Bus Depot Terminal Element Consideration for Safe and Effective Infrastructure

Bus transport in India is the main mode of transport in the 21st century for both intercity and interstate services. NUTP (National Urban Transport Policy) 2006 focussed the development of bus transport in Indian cities. They developed JNNURM policy for improving intercity bus services. Large part of bus transport is catered by private sector in 2020 than government sector in India. Without improving the level of service in depot areas, the bus accessibility and operational efficiency cannot be achieved. In order to improve the LOS certain strategy has to be followed in depot elements such as depot infrastructure improvement, planning guidelines for platform infrastructure, and design elements for achieving the increased LOS. This paper explains the standards for individual element in Bus depot to be followed for effective utilisation and functioning of facilities provided. The specific guidelines, standards and toolkits are the most effective format for capacity building in an organisation. It also facilitates low cost with rapid sharing of knowledge and experience. Additionally, no stake holder requirement is overlooked and ensures the minimum standards of development.

Service Quality Analysis of Intercity Bus Service of Pabna-Dhaka Highway

In developing country like Bangladesh, service quality improvement in public transportation is essential. That is why; we need strategic planning & adopting a quality management system for improving it. From the bus passengers viewpoints the public bus performance evaluate here. This paper deals with the quality improvement of the public transport system with take into consideration of the principal variables that dominance the perceived quality by users. Investigate factors that are affecting passengers perceived bus performance through an Ordered Probit Model (OPM). Take advantage of the Ordered Probt Model, data is analysed based on 297 samples raised from visibility survey with bus passengers during service testing period in Pabna to Dhaka route. The results of the study indicate that 79.79% of the respondents were male; 39.70% were aged between 20-29 years, 45.10% respondent indicated level of service as good; 50.50% respondent indicated level of service as moderate; and only 1% respondent indicated level of service of transit bus as bad. The Model (OPM) represent the quality appraisement process founded on a group of predefined variables. These variables choice is essential since they are used to explain the selection process to be modeled. In addition, the results revealed that punctuality & reliability, Seat comfort, noise level, physical appearance, frequency of bus service, seat availability and female harassment have a significant relationship with passengers satisfaction because they have a P-value smaller than α = 0.10 as the significant level is at 10% and Z-value is greater than 1.64. Attempts to improve on service quality to influence passenger’s satisfaction should be directed at those variables. The administration of Pabna city will be benefited from this strategies result consist of useful information to ensure the sustainability of the public transport system.