Intercity Transportation System Research Articles

Assessment on resilience of urban agglomeration transportation system considering passenger choice and load-capacity factor

Intercity transportation system (ICTS), characterized by large-scale, high spatial-temporal concentration, and sparser departure frequencies, is more vulnerable in unexpected events. Understanding the resilience characteristics of ICTS is crucial for maintaining the network service capabilities. Aiming to conduct effective resilience assessment on ICTS, we develop the resilience simulation model by introduce dual-regulated parameters for network load and capacity into cascading propagation model under interruption events, and quantify the impact of travel distance, time costs, and route redundancy on travel choice of passengers. Meanwhile, propose service resilience indicators from both the passenger's and the system's perspectives. Finally, we conduct a case study on the resilience of ICTS in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomerations (BTH-UA). The results show that: 1) Multimodal transportation systems usually exhibit better resilience than unimodal systems. 2) For various resilience optimization metrics, it is essential to choose targeted recovery strategies to maximize network resilience. 3) Traveler sensitivity to travel time significantly influences the resilience of passenger-based network services. 4) Changes in transportation supply capacity and travel demand will impact the system's resilience. The research findings can provide valuable references for the resilience development and management of urban transportation systems.

On the calibration and improvement of human mobility models in intercity transportation system

As one of the research highlights of physics-level modelling, human mobility has generated numerous universal laws over the past decades. However, the majority of research has concentrated on the intracity networks, leaving the intercity mobility systems with insufficient attention despite its increasingly crucial role in the development of urban agglomerations. Related research gaps further extend to the limited understanding of spatiotemporal heterogeneity in intercity human mobility. To bridge these gaps, our study systematically validated and improved the modelling framework of intercity mobility flows utilizing real-world data sources. Specifically, building upon the nationwide Location-based Services (LBS) datasets in China, the applicability of classic human mobility models, including gravity model and intervening opportunities-class models, was extensively explored in the intercity domain by developing fitting models that incorporated multi-class urban attributes. Then, we contributed to proposing improved models that consider the diverse attraction effect of the origin and potential destinations. Moreover, our research scope was expanded to incorporate spatiotemporal heterogeneity through model comparisons among various city sets during both regular period and holiday. The findings suggested that our improved models effectively enhance the modelling accuracy while strengthening the explanatory power. They especially demonstrate a balanced performance even when handling datasets with spatiotemporal heterogeneity. Consequently, this study provides valuable insights into understanding intercity human mobility from the intrinsic mechanism of opportunity attraction. Our models hold practical significance in accurately modelling intercity mobility flows utilizing observable urban attributes and spatial layouts, further providing effective tools for preemptive traffic management.

Perbandingan Sistem Levitasi Magnetik Ems dan Eds Untuk Maglev Indonesia

Maglev trains are considered for urban transport and intercity transport systems. On low-medium speed Maglev trains, the operating routine is shorter than that of high-speed trains. Therefore, EMS and LIM technologies are preferred from the point of view of construction costs. However, in high-speed operation, EDS and NGO technologies are preferred for handling, and reliability. In addition, as the development of high-temperature superconductors and new types of permanent magnets develop, stronger and more cost-effective magnetic energy will be used for Maglev trains. The authors believe this technology can be utilized not only for railway applications but also aircraft launch systems and spacecraft launch systems. The need for a new and improved transportation system prompted many countries to be interested and seek to develop Maglev railways. However, although Maglev trains have been studied and developed for approximately half a century, few countries have the knowledge and expertise to do so. This review paper attempts to describe the current complete system in detail and summarizes the basic core technologies of Maglev trains from an electrical engineering point of view. The research hopes to be useful for people interested in this to assimilate Maglev train technology including magnetic levitation, propulsion, guidance, and power supply systems.

Estimating intercity heavy truck mobility flows using the deep gravity framework

Accurate estimation of intercity heavy truck mobility flows is of vital importance to urban planning, transportation management and logistics operations. The inaccessibility of big data related to intercity transport systems and the heterogeneity of trucking activities pose challenges for the reliable estimation. Recently, the advance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides a potential solution to this problem. However, most previous studies focused on the estimation of inter-regional passenger mobility. In-depth studies of estimating intercity heavy truck mobility flows by using deep learning techniques are still scarce. To fill in the gaps, we construct a deep neural network based on the Deep Gravity framework, an advanced predictive model for human mobility. We collect a wide range of data related to heavy truck movements, freight locations, road networks and land uses to train the model, and validate its high performance by comparing to traditional gravity model. Furthermore, we use an explainable AI technique to interpret how the city features contribute to the determination of intercity heavy truck movements, and the results can provide valuable policy implications for logistics operations, businesses and urban planning.

Carbon emissions reduction potentiality for railroad transportation based on life cycle assessment

This study addresses the comparative carbon emissions of different transportation modes within a unified evaluation framework, focusing on their carbon footprints from inception to disposal. Specifically, the entire life cycle carbon emissions of High-Speed Rail (HSR), battery electric vehicles, conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, battery electric buses, and conventional internal combustion engine buses are analyzed. The life cycle is segmented into vehicle manufacturing, fuel or electricity production, operational, and dismantling-recycling stages. This analysis is applied to the Beijing-Tianjin intercity transportation system to explore emission reduction strategies. Results indicate that HSR demonstrates significant carbon emission reduction, with an intensity of only 24 %–32 % compared to private vehicles and 47 %–89 % compared to buses. Notably, HSR travel for Beijing-Tianjin intercity emits only 24 % of private vehicle emissions, demonstrating the emission reduction benefits of transportation structure optimization. Additionally, predictive modeling reveals the potential for carbon emission reduction through energy structure optimization, providing a guideline for the development of effective transportation management systems.

Analysis of Travel Demand between Transportation Hubs in Urban Agglomeration Based on Mobile Phone Call Detail Record Data

With the growth of a city’s economy, neighboring cities are gradually integrated to form an urban agglomeration. As travel activities driven by various travel demands frequently take place within an urban agglomeration, it is essential to understand the travel demand between cities and improve the intercity transportation system, which promotes the coordinated development of cities in an urban agglomeration. This paper presents our investigation of the travel demand characteristics of urban agglomeration cities. The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area and its passenger flows between transportation hubs in the different cities, which are part of a typical urban agglomeration in China and representative travel demand, are taken as the empirical study objects. First, we introduce a method to extract trip data using mobile phone call detail record (CDR) data, which carry rich geographical information on travelers and has been extensively used in recent transportation research. Based on trip data, directed weighted travel demand networks were constructed, with the nodes representing the transportation hubs and the edges representing passenger flows. The results showed that edge weights can be characterized by power-law distribution, which reveals the phenomenon that most passenger flows are concentrated among a few hubs, implying unbalanced travel demand in the urban agglomeration. Our empirical findings contribute to a method for applying large-scale location-based data to extract human mobility information and to understanding the nature of travel demand on the scale of an urban agglomeration. They also provide guidance to government agencies in developing appropriate transportation policies and enhancing infrastructure in the urban agglomeration.

A dynamic scheduling process and methodology using route deviations and synchronized passenger transfers for flexible feeder transit services

The general lack of first/last mile connectivity is one of the main challenges encountered by intercity transport systems. New transportation alternatives called flexible transit systems, which combine on-demand service adjustment capabilities to the regular route and master schedule characteristics of the conventional transit, are therefore increasingly proposed. Feeder transit services can run as one type of flexible transit services, connecting a service area to a major intercity transport network through a transfer hub. Considering the unstable and constantly changing characteristics of daily passenger demand, a dynamic scheduling methodology for feeder transit services is proposed to minimize passenger crowding in vehicles. Deviations in the base route are allowed for accommodating optional requests or visiting potential transfer locations, which further offer a new type of flexible scheduling operation called synchronized passenger transfer. Operators can dynamically expand the spatial coverage of vehicles out of their regular routes to meet each other at appointed locations and times. Then, passengers can transfer between vehicles to minimize or even avoid passenger crowding. In this study, a multi-commodity network flow optimization model with side constraints in a three-dimensional space–time–state network is proposed for this type of dynamic scheduling problem. Additionally, a coordinate descent-based solution framework consisting of three steps (augmentation, decomposition, and linearization) is developed. The proposed model and solution approach are investigated using an eight-node simple network and the Sioux-Falls network, and the Chicago sketch network was adopted to demonstrate the practicability of the proposed model.

Design of a Modified Structure Linear Switched Reluctance Motor for Linear Propulsion of System Like Mumbai Monorail

Population concentration in Indian urban cities demands for the fast transport systems. As a viable solution, development of effective intercity transportation system has become the need of the hour. Railway transportation possesses all the qualities needed in modern intercity transit systems because of its travel speeds, timely service and efficiency. Out of the many railway systems available across the world, the linear motor powered railway systems are gaining popularity due to the inherent advantages of linear motors over rotary motors used in these systems. Linear induction motors and linear synchronous motors are widely used in the propulsion systems of these transports. However, because of the simple construction with lower manufacturing and maintenance cost, linear switched reluctance motors (LSRMs) are widely researched for use in such applications. Nevertheless, nonlinearity of this motor alters its force performance. This paper therefore presents a modified structure of LSRM designed to overcome these challenges posed by conventional LSRM for use in recently developed Mumbai monorail train system. Rail car specifications used in actual Mumbai monorail system are considered for development of the linear propulsion system. The modified LSRM is designed to meet these specifications and analysed using finite element method.

Investigating Dominant Trip Distance for Intercity Passenger Transport Mode Using Large-Scale Location-Based Service Data

Intercity transport systems have been plagued by low efficiency and overutilization for a long time, due to unhealthy competition among multi-transport modes. Hence, this study aims to estimate the dominant trip distance of intercity passenger transport modes to optimize the allocation of intercity passenger transport resources and improve the efficiency of intercity transport systems. Dominant trip distance was classified into two types: Absolute dominant trip distance and relative dominant trip distance; and their respective models were developed using passenger transport mode share functions and fitting curves. Particularly, the big data of intercity passenger transport mode share rate of more than 360 cities in China was obtained using a network crawler and each passenger transport mode share function and their curves were proposed. Furthermore, the dominant trip distances estimation models of intercity passenger transport were developed and solved. The results show that there are significant differences in dominant trip distance between the transport modes. For example, the absolute and relative dominant trip distances of highway are 8–119 km and 8–463 km, respectively, while those of airway are 1594–3000 km and 2477–3000 km, respectively.

An exploration of the competitive relationship between intercity transport systems

ABSTRACTA suitable model that enables the analysis of dynamic relationships between transport systems is important for managers to make real-time reaction strategies. This study proposes an autoregressive distributed lag modeling approach that can point a way to interpret the long- and short-term relationships between intercity transport systems. To test the applicability of the approach with regard to evaluating the dynamic competitive relationships between intercity transport systems, an empirical study sample is adopted in evaluating competition between high-speed rail (HSR) and intercity bus services. The results indicate that HSR has a long-run impact on intercity bus transport and the intercity bus transport market is positively affected by its previous operations and negatively influenced by the previous performance of HSR. However, in the short-run, the current period performance of HSR positively affects the intercity bus transport market.

Configuration of inter-city high-speed passenger transport infrastructure with minimal construction and operational energy consumption: A superstructure based modelling and optimization framework

Abstract Inter-city high-speed passenger transport, mainly aviation and high-speed railway, has been increasing around the world, in accordance with economic development and penetration of high-speed transport technologies. The energy consumption over the lifetime of transport infrastructure and operation is a significant factor at the planning stage. In this paper, we present a superstructure modelling and optimization framework of inter-city high-speed transport systems, accounting energy consumption during infrastructure construction and during subsequent operation, to optimize connections between large population centers and between modes of transport. Energy consumption during infrastructure construction is obtained from investment cost using lifecycle assessment. The first two cases considered differences between infrastructure construction and lifetime operation while the second case narrowed the study scope. Sensitivity analysis in the third case compared impacts of both transport means on system design. Model results have implications for actual high-speed transport technology development and infrastructure layout.

Characteristic Analysis of a Linear Induction Motor for 200-km/h Maglev

As a result of the current population concentrations in urban centers, demand for intercity transportation is increasing rapidly. Railway transportation is becoming popular as an intercity transportation because of its timely service, travel speeds and transport efficiency. Among the many railway systems, the innovative and environmentally friendly maglev system has been rated very highly as the next-generation intercity railway system. Linear induction motors are widely used for the propulsion of maglev trains because of their light weight and low construction costs. The urban maglev that was recently completed in Incheon airport site employs a 110km/h class linear induction motor. However, this system was designed to meet requirements for inner-city operations and is not suitable as an intercity transportation system, which requires medium to high speeds. Therefore, this study deals with the characteristics and designs of linear induction motors used for the propulsion of maglev trains that can be used as intercity trains. Rail car specifications for highspeed trains have been presented, and the characteristics of linear induction motors that can be used for the propulsion of these trains have been derived using the finite element method (FEM).

Seismic Risk of Inter-urban Transportation Networks

The paper presents a holistic approach for assessing and managing the seismic risk and potential loss in inter-urban highway networks in earthquake-prone areas. The vulnerability of all elements of the intercity transportation system (i.e., roads, bridges, abutments, retaining walls, and tunnels) is assessed considering the interdependency among the structural, transportational and geotechnical components of the network under different seismic scenarios. Both the direct earthquake-induced damage, as well as the indirect socio-economic loss attributed to reduced network functionality are taken into account in an explicit and transparent formulation that is then displayed in space through an ad-hoc developed GIS-based software. The methodology and the decision-making tools developed are adequately modular, for them to be utilized after appropriate adaptation by local authorities in identifying, prior to a major earthquake event, those vulnerable components of their network whose failure may have a disproportional socio-economic impact. In this way, a rational and effective emergency plan can be deployed to minimize potential human, social and financial loss after a future earthquake. The outline of a foreseen application is also presented for the case of the road network of the Region of Western Macedonia in Greece. Through this pilot application, the methodology is to be optimized in real conditions before being cast in the form of a fully parameterised seismic risk tool, to be used in other earthquake prone areas as well.

Intercity Transport System in Nepal and its Implication in National Development

Intercity Transport System in Nepal and its Implication in National Development

Public Policy or Popular Demand?

This essay examines the transition from a rail-based intercity transportation system in California in 1910 to a road/private auto-based system thirty years later, with hypotheses that the transition could be explained by either corporate and state decisions for supplying infrastructure or by public demand. The essay examines trends of automobile ownership, road investment, bus organization and service provision, intercity passenger rail service provision, and intercity rail revenues, both within California and to and from California in each of the three decades. It concludes that public preference for private automobility explains most of the transition but that unserved demand remained for fast passenger train service between the state's large metropolitan areas. Failure to serve that demand derived from California's legacy of popular disdain for the private railroad industry.

Developments and plans of intercity transportation system in China

Developments and plans of intercity transportation system in China

Optimal Intercity Transportation Services With Heterogeneous Demand and Variable Fuel Price

Optimal Intercity Transportation Services With Heterogeneous Demand and Variable Fuel Price

Structural Analysis on 2008 Intercity Transport System of China

Based on the 2008 intercity transport statistical data, this paper analyzes the trend of multimodal transport market of China. By investigating the social, economic, and land-use data, the authors explore the structural rationality of passenger and freight transportation. Some policy measures have been put forward to optimize the operations of China's intercity transport network. It concludes that China will see its second adjustment on intercity transport structure during the first two decades of the 21st century after the construction of Highway and air networks. As a big country with insufficient per capita resources, China should exert the effectiveness of transport policies and characteristics of different transport modes during the speeding construction of transport infrastructure so as to improve the passenger and freight transport operations. The author believes that the integrated system with multiple modes in urban areas and joint schedule at terminals would highlight an efficient and sustainable national transport network with the current background of rapid urbanization and motorization.

Optimizing Distance-Based Fares and Headway of an Intercity Transportation System with Elastic Demand and Trip Length Differentiation

An efficient fare structure combined with good service quality can stimulate demand and increase revenue. This paper presents an optimization approach for an intercity transportation system where demand is sensitive to fare and wait time and the fare sensitivity further varies with trip length. The approach jointly optimizes service headway and distance-based fare structure to maximize total profit, subject to service capacity and fleet size constraints. The optimal fares are also differentiated on the basis of trip length. An efficient solution method is developed and applied to solve the profit maximization problem. The model is applied to a case study of the Taiwan High-Speed Rail System. Numerical results, including optimal solutions and sensitivity analyses, are presented. Insights that may lead to managerial decisions are discussed.

Short-term work scheduling with job assignment flexibility for a multi-fleet transport system

In recent years, planning and management of operations of transportation companies has become increasingly complex as tighter financial constraints affect the ability to respond to changing demands for travel. This paper investigates how a firm can reduce its total labor cost, enhance the flexibility of its operations and improve worker productivity and utilization by determining the right mix of jobs in work schedules. Using a method we have developed to generate low cost work schedules for bus drivers of an inter-city transport system in India, we study the changes in worker productivity and utilization when a mix of primary and secondary jobs is built in work schedules. We also investigate other factors that can strongly influence worker productivity and utilization such as the amount of overtime in work schedules, the level of job assignment flexibility, and staff size. Test results and discussions of managerial implications are presented.