Regional Bus Research Articles

Agent-based decision-support model for bus route redesign in networks of small cities and towns: case study of Agder, Norway

Small cities and towns often struggle to provide high-quality public transport services to daily commuters. This is reflected in the modal split, where the share of car users dominates. Such a problem requires a modern solution, where transport planners can verify the impact of potential transport network improvements on the travel behavior of the residents before the changes are actually deployed. This study aims to demonstrate the usefulness of employing an agent-based simulation tool in the decision process for redesigning an express service regional bus route connecting a network of small cities and towns. The model was initially developed as a Mobility as a Service simulation solution for suburban areas of European metropolises. The model is adapted and applied to a case study for the region of Agder, Norway, simulating the impact of nine different scenarios on the patronage of a specific bus route. The simulation model proposes to upgrade the classic agent structure to a persona profile designed specifically for the case study. The main objective of this research is to identify the scenario that maximizes patronage while minimizing total route travel time and additional costs. The results suggest that the proposed model can be successfully adapted from suburban metropolitan areas to the realities of the considered case study, and potentially other similar regions. Specifically, out of the nine proposed scenarios, the model identified four promising ones. One of the four scenarios also fits the cost constraints imposed by the transport provider. The model provides a solid approach for analyzing complex transport systems that are practically impossible to consider in detail if the analysis is done without computer support. Thus, the results can be used as a decision support system for public transport planning and operations in networks of small cities and towns.

TRAM-TRAIN SYSTEM AS A POTENTIAL TRANSPORT SOLUTION FOR THE OLOMOUC REGION

The article is focused on the frequently discussed topic of suburban and regional railway system modernization comparing different approaches to consider by local authorities. To make a precedent and to better contribute to practical problems, a middle-sized city of Olomouc (Czechia) is chosen to demonstrate the upgraded regional transport system design with respect to the regional specifics and utilizing of the current railway and tramway infrastructure. With a new, innovative approach to the potential tram-train implementation in the Olomouc Region, the technical and operational features of the current tram-train systems and vehicles are analysed. By implementing the most suitable ones, the regional tram-train system proposal in the conditions of Olomouc may serve as a guide for similar planned systems in the countries with limited legislative and technical experience regarding the tram-train systems (especially in Central Europe), their suitability for the region, their design, and introduction. For the qualitative assessment of the different relevant approaches, a comparative analysis is used. As a result of the analysis, a tram-train system is recommended for the further transport planning stages as it significantly improves both urban and suburban public transport in the Olomouc Region by increasing their average speed and accessibility. For better financial and technical implementation, the project is divided into several stages. Unlike the already presented solutions, it combines shorter travel times of the regional rail and the populated area coverage reached by regional buses and serves as both an attractive and financially sane extension of a regional public transport system.

Changes in Transport Service for the Kartuzy Poviat in Poland in the Years 1990–2023

In many areas of Poland, areas of transport exclusion related to the lack of public transport service or insufficient offer are identified. After 1989, when Poland underwent political transformation and consequent economic transformation, funding for bus and rail transport collapsed. While rail transport experienced a significant regression in connections, regional bus transport can be said to have been completely eliminated. On the map of the whole of Poland, Kartuzy poviat is an exception, where the role of the carrier has been taken over by a private company which offers transport services at a level corresponding to demand, thus positively influencing the transport habits of the inhabitants. The article examines the change in the offer in bus and rail transport in Kartuzy poviat in the years 1990-2023 and shows that the private bus carrier performs tasks that should de facto rest with the state authorities.

Optimal Charging Pile Configuration and Charging Scheduling for Electric Bus Routes Considering the Impact of Ambient Temperature on Charging Power

Charging piles in the bus depot provide charging services to multiple electric bus (EB) routes operating in the area. As charging needs may overlap between independently operated routes, EB fleets often have to wait in line for charging. However, affected by the ambient temperature, the length of the waiting time will cause the battery temperature to change at the beginning of each charging, thereby influencing the charging performance and charging time of the battery. To this end, this paper considers the influence of ambient temperature on battery charging performance, and collaboratively optimizes the number of charging piles in the bus depot and the scheduling problem of EB charging. Aiming at minimizing the cost of laying charging piles in bus stations and the charging costs of bus fleets, as well as minimizing the empty time of electric bus fleets and waiting time for charging in queues, a mixed-integer nonlinear programming model is established, and the immune algorithm is used to solve it. At last, an actual bus depot and four EB routes are taken as examples for verification. The results show that by optimizing the charging waiting time of the electric bus at the bus station, the rapid decline in charging performance caused by the sharp drop in battery temperature is avoided. Without increasing the charging cost of the electric bus fleet, the established method reduces the charging pile installation cost, improves the bus depot’s service efficiency, and ensures the punctuality and integrity of the regional bus route operation.

Study of Impact on Supply and Demand Operation by the Amount of V2G Controlled Electric Vehicle Buses Installed

This study simulates supply-demand operation based on Electric Vehicle (EV) bus travel data and examined the impact of the amount of V2G controlled EV buses introduced on supply-demand operation. The evaluation of the effect of reducing supply-demand adjustment costs from a renewable energy ratio of 50-60% to the current amount of EV buses introduced, and from the case where all of the 70,000 EV buses in the Kanto region were converted to EVs to the case where no EVs were converted to EVs. In all cases, the introduction of EV buses was confirmed to reduce the demand-supply adjustment cost. In addition, the cost reduction effect seemed to converge to a certain value.

Evaluation of Different Scenarios to Switch the Whole Regional Bus Fleet of an Italian Alpine Region to Zero-Emission Buses

Public bus decarbonization is increasingly important to address the global issue of climate change. There are several challenges associated with large-scale introduction of zero-emission technologies in public fleets. This is especially the case in an extra-urban context, of mountain regions with challenging weather conditions. In this work the analysis of the state-of-the-art ZEBs, local bus lines, and timetables was performed to understand the best fit of technology—battery electric buses (BEBs) or fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs)—for each line in such a region. Further, a simulation tool was developed to calculate the compatibility of zero-emission technologies with the current needs of the public transportation considering distance, altitude difference, and climate conditions. The results show that a complete switch of the fleet is possible with a slight increase in the number of buses and that there is no clear difference in the distance covered in mountainous areas by BEBs versus FCEBs, but that both technologies can cover similar distances. The tool developed is not limited to bus fleets but can be applied to all kinds of fleets that cover clearly defined daily routes.

Sustainable mobility of passenger traffic with the application of the logistics, financial and clients services

The development of the modern technologies for passenger transportation and the integration of rail routes with other modes of transport using logistics contributes to the increasing of the mobility of the people and the increasing of the economic efficiency in general. The market of the passenger transportation by rail on the North Caucasian railway is analyzed. Multimodal passenger transportation is one of the most effective tools for increasing the mobility of the people. Social factors are determined, the fundamental idea of the organizing of the multimodal passenger transportation using a mobile application is proposed, this allows to determine the optimal route for a passenger to travel to all specified points. Using research methods within the framework of a comparative and logical analysis, variants of digitalization of the multimodal passenger transportation services by the world's leading railway operators are considered. As a result, it was detected that a promising direction of multimodal transportation is the combination of the train routes not only with the regional bus routes, but also with the integration of the urban transport through the digitalization of services and the development of the customer services. The organization of the passenger service in multimodal transportations at transport hubs and options for a convenient and rational orientation of movement for passengers are considered.

Bus Service Lines as a Driver of the Regional Bus Transport Availability

Bus Service Lines as a Driver of the Regional Bus Transport Availability

Daily Mobility in Urban Peripheries: The Role of Clandestine Taxis in Dakar, Senegal

Background: This study addresses the mobility practices of the inhabitants of the peripheries of Dakar and the transport services they use to meet their mobility needs, in particular the unlicensed shared taxis (“Clandos”). In the peripheries, which suffer from a lack of jobs and amenities, mobility is essential to meet household needs and for social integration. Current transport policies focus on formalizing supply and organizing the system around high-capacity transport facilities, such as the Regional Express Railway (TER) or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), but they have difficulty in dealing with the mobility problems facing the outskirts of the city. Methods: The study is based on secondary analysis of the 2015 Household Travel Survey and on a survey on the activity of Clandos conducted in 2021 in Dakar. Results: The analysis highlights the daily mobility practices of the inhabitants of the peripheral areas. These residents, who are on average poorer than the others, travel mainly on foot. Their access to public transport remains limited and, when they use it, a significant proportion of their trips are made by Clando. Clandos have a dual function. On one hand, they are used for long trips to the center, in competition with buses, but more often they operate as a complement to buses. On the other hand, they are mostly used for local mobility within the peripheries. Conclusions: Although relatively expensive, Clando services are valuable for the inhabitants of the peripheries and their daily mobility. They should be better integrated into transport and planning strategies for the peripheral areas.

Patronage effects of off-peak service improvements in regional public transport

The purpose of this study is to look into patronage effects of extended supply outside peak hours on regional public transport services. Previous studies have shown that the service frequency is an attribute of great importance for regional passengers, but little is known about the details regarding peak and off-peak frequencies or service hours. The present study addresses this knowledge gap, departing from the hypothesis that additional off-peak supply means more flexibility for the passengers in terms of departure time options, and possibly also a sense of security for passengers who are uncertain about the time of their (return) trips. Essentially, the added off-peak departures may attract more passengers even if they normally do not or only occasionally use the off-peak services. The patronage effects are explored through four case studies from the region of Scania in southern Sweden. The cases include regional rail and bus services where substantial improvements have been made outside peak hours, resulting in at least hourly all-day services. The results of the study provide new insights into the fundamental planning policy trade-off between maximum frequency and span of public transport services in urban peripheries and rural areas. Importantly, the results suggest that improved time coverage may lead to substantial patronage growth, and this growth is evident also during peak hours, despite unaltered peak hour frequencies. Hence, off-peak departures cannot be assessed only through patronage levels in isolated time periods, let alone on the individual departures.

Passenger-oriented traffic management integrating perimeter control and regional bus service frequency setting using 3D-pMFD

Public buses and private vehicles are two main transportation modes for urban road traffic. It has strong flow interactions between the two traffic modes. From data analysis, the vehicle density of a traffic mode not only determine its flow, but also affect the flow of the other mode. With such mixed vehicle flows, the application of traditional traffic management that controls each vehicle flow system separately is limited. Thus, it is beneficial to control both bus and private vehicle flows in an integrated way. Under such bi-modal traffic management, the network efficiency cannot be reflected by vehicle flows since the occupancies of the traffic modes are greatly different. It leads to that the control objective should be necessarily based on passengers. To do so, we adopt bi-modal passenger-based macroscopic fundamental diagram (3D-pMFD) to capture the relations among vehicle accumulations and the total passenger flow in a network. From this aggregate perspective, a passenger-oriented traffic control strategy is proposed by integrating the perimeter control and the regional bus service frequency setting. The characteristics of both traffic modes, especially the operation strategy of buses, are taken into account in the model to describe the bi-modal traffic flow dynamics. A control framework comprised of optimization and simulation is established using model predictive control. The corresponding passenger-based optimization problem is solved by a modified genetic algorithm. With multiple data collected from the network of Shenzhen City in China, numerical experiments are designed to verify the validity and efficiency of the proposed integrated control strategy. Results show that: (1) the proposed strategy can maintain a high level of passenger flow during peak hour with a relatively high demand; (2) the interest of private vehicles is guaranteed even if buses are more recommended in the control strategy; (3) the crowding degree in a bus is reduced properly, which is able to improve the attraction of buses during peak hours; and (4) the proposed passenger-oriented objective results in a comprehensively good performance of the bi-modal network system.

Paved Roads and Public Money: Connecticut Transportation in the Age of Internal Combustion

Paved Roads and Public Money: Connecticut Transportation in the Age of Internal Combustion

Effects of rural bus stops on travel time and reliability

Due to relatively low patronage levels, rural bus stops are sometimes questioned in order to improve travel time and reliability on regional bus services. Previous research into stop spacing has focused on urban areas, which means that there is a lack of knowledge regarding the effects of bus stops in regional networks, with longer distances, higher speeds, and lower passenger volumes, in general. The present study addresses this knowledge gap by analysing the effects of bus stops on a regional bus service regarding average travel times, travel time variability, and on-time performance. This is done by statistical analysis of automatic vehicle location (AVL) data, using a combination of methods previously used for analysis of rail traffic and urban bus operations. The results reveal that bus stops that are only used sporadically have a limited impact on average travel times, in general. In contrast, they are all the more influential on travel time variability, and, in turn, on on-time performance. On the studied bus service, the number of stops made have a far greater impact on travel time variability than any of the other included variables, such as the weather or traffic conditions during peak hours. However, the results suggest that rural bus stops have a much lower impact than what we define as secondary bus stops in urban areas. Consequently, by primarily focusing on bus stop consolidation in urban areas, it is possible to significantly improve service reliability without impairing rural coverage.

A spatially explicit optimization model for the selection of sustainable transport technologies at regional bus companies

Buses account for almost 60% of the total public transport services in Europe, and most of the vehicles are diesel fuelled. Regional transport administrators, under pressure by governments to introduce zero-emission buses, require analytical tools for identifying optimal solutions. In literature, few models combine location analysis, least cost planning, and emission assessment, taking into account multiple technologies which might achieve emission reduction goals. In this paper, an existing optimal location model for electric urban transport is adapted to match the needs of regional transport. The model, which aims to evaluate well-to-wheel carbon emissions as well as airborne emissions of NOx and PM10, is applied to a real case study of a regional bus transport service in North Eastern Italy. The optimization has identified electric buses with relatively small (60 kWh) batteries as the best compromise for reducing carbon equivalent emissions; however, under current economic conditions in Italy, the life cycle cost of such vehicles is still much higher than those of Euro VI diesel buses. In this context, our model helps in identifying ways to minimize infrastructure costs and to efficiently allocate expensive resources such as electric buses to the routes where the maximum environmental benefit can be achieved.

The Effect of Service Quality on Customers’ Satisfaction of Inter-District Public Bus Companies in the Central Region of Sarawak, Malaysia

Service quality is a vital factor that influences customer satisfaction. For profit organizations such as public bus companies, high customer satisfaction is a sign for business success and the ability to create long-term relationships with their customers. This research is to assess the effects of service quality attributes on customers’ satisfaction towards service quality provided by inter-district public bus companies in the Central Region of Sarawak. The research adapted SERVQUAL model proposed by Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berry (1988). A total of 400 respondents were obtained among inter-district public bus users through a convenient sampling method. The mean score for customers’ satisfaction was 2.24, which means the level of customer satisfaction towards the service quality of inter-district buses in the Central Region was low. Meanwhile, the result from the multiple regression analysis showed that service quality dimensions of empathy, assurance, and responsibility had significant effects on customers’ satisfaction. The inter-district public bus companies in the Central Region of Sarawak should improve their service quality by building and obtaining customer trust to keep existing customers and at the same time to attract potential customers. Good customers’ experience towards service and the power of word mouth are marketing tools to enhance business reputation relative to other competitors.

Forecast and Early Warning of Regional Bus Passenger Flow Based on Machine Learning

This paper mainly forecasts the short-term passenger flow of regional bus stations based on the integrated circuit (IC) card data of bus stations and puts forward an early warning model for regional bus passenger flow. Firstly, the bus stations were aggregated into virtual regional bus stations. Then, the short-term passenger flow of regional bus stations was predicted by the machine learning (ML) method of support vector machine (SVM). On this basis, the early warning model for regional bus passenger flow was developed through the capacity analysis of regional bus stations. The results show that the prediction accuracy of short-term passenger flow could be improved by replacing actual bus stations with virtual regional bus stations because the passenger flow of regional bus stations is more stable than that of a single bus station. The accurate prediction and early warning of regional bus passenger flow enable urban bus dispatchers to maintain effective control of urban public transport, especially during special and large-scale activities.

Replacing regional bus services with rail: Changes in rural public transport patronage in and around villages

Removing bus stops is often a prerequisite for introducing faster, more reliable, and more frequent rail or coach services in rural areas. Despite the potentially higher quality of service through trains or coaches, however, the bus-stop removals often become stumbling blocks. It is sometimes feared that the alterations to the public transport network will pose a threat to the possibilities of living in rural areas outside villages. In this study, we investigate how travel by public transport is affected in areas where bus services are substantially reduced in connection with the introduction of rail services with fewer stops. Through an analysis of access trips from rural areas surrounding the train stations, we are able to study the development of public transport patronage in these areas in comparison with a control group with retained rural bus services. A total of 28 villages with surrounding rural areas in southern Sweden are included in the study. Our results reveal a significantly larger patronage increase around new train stations compared to areas where regional bus services are kept, and importantly, the patronage increase does not only occur in the immediate surroundings of the stations. Outside the villages, in the rural areas where public transport services have been cut, the increase is of equal magnitude. Hence, our results oppose the idea of distortion between the villages and their surrounding rural areas, at least in terms of net effect on public transport usage.

Integrative transport policy - theory and practice

The availability of transport services is one of the basic conditions for meeting the living needs and socio-economic activity of the population. The lack of access to such services is called a communication exclusion. Analyzes indicate that in Poland, both the number and the length of bus lines, mainly regional bus lines, are systematically decreasing. There is also little interest of local government units in building a common public transport offer. At the same time, the automotive index is rising. An important condition for shaping an integrated public transport network is cooperation: cooperation of various authorities at different levels, cooperation of authorities with carriers, cooperation with residents, enabling them to obtain their opinions. An important role can and should be played by non- governmental organizations that exist and operate in many places in Poland, pointing to the desired and expected solutions in the area of transport, e.g. the course of bicycle routes or the location of transfer points, or pointing to shortcomings and deficiencies in infrastructure. Keywords: Transport policy; Availability of transport services

Demand specifics of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility for bus transport. Case of regional bus transport in Slovakia

Presupposition for realizing the demand for bus transport is the existence of its potential, which represents the population of that city, region, or state. Public passenger transport is considered to be an instrument of state social policy. The legislation defines it as transport performed to satisfaction the transport needs of persons, especially vulnerable groups, pupils, students, and pensioners. A significant problem in Slovakia and also in abroad is an aging population. The retired population has different transport habits like other groups of passengers (children, pupils and students, economically active persons), which is related to the change of transport requirements, as well as an adaptation the public transport offer. In recent years, the number of license holders of individual disabled persons has been increasing in Slovakia, or possibly individual person with severe disability with a guide. In this article, we focus on examining the issue of the rising trend of issued valid licenses of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility, and related new measures, to which transport undertakings are confronted and transport service subscribers. The aim is also to identify the motivation to own a disability person license or persons with reduced mobility with the ability to use it for the demand for public passenger transport.

СОГЛАСОВАНИЕ РАСПИСАНИЙ АВТОБУСНЫХ МАРШРУТОВ В ОБЛАСТНЫХ ПАССАЖИРСКИХ ПЕРЕВОЗКАХ

In modern conditions of the Russian Federation in the field of traffic management, one of the priorities is to develop and improve the quality of functioning of route transport. One of the main requirements of passengers is the minimum time spent on the trip. It is problematic to meet this requirement without mutual coordination of transport processes along routes and the use of stopping points by vehicles and passengers due to their interdependence. The problem of such coordination is not only in cities, but also in regional settlements. The subject of this study is the coordination of passenger transport processes on regional bus routes that have common sections and stop-and-transfer points. The purpose of the study is to improve the organization of passenger transportation in regional directions by coordinating routes in time. In this study, we developed a method for coordinating bus schedules for regional routes that share common sections of the route or stop-and-transfer points. According to the results of applying the method for the Sargatsky district of the Omsk region, the results were obtained, according to which the average waiting time for a passenger in the case of a transfer was reduced by 60 %. Application of the developed method allows to organize rational distribution of arrival and departure of buses during the day according to the criterion of the minimum waiting time for passengers at the stop and transfer point and allows to solve the problem of inconsistency of bus traffic. Experimental testing has shown that the use of this technique reduces the waiting time for passengers at transfer points by up to 60%, which also reduces the time of network travel. The developed method can be used in the organization of intercity, intermunicipal and rural passenger transport.