Distribution of passenger costs in fixed versus flexible station-based feeder services

Journal Article (2020)
Author(s)

David Leffler (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Wilco Burghout (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

O Cats (KTH Royal Institute of Technology, TU Delft - Transport and Planning)

Erik Jenelius (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Transport and Planning
Copyright
© 2020 David Leffler, Wilco Burghout, O. Cats, Erik Jenelius
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2020.03.077
More Info
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Publication Year
2020
Language
English
Copyright
© 2020 David Leffler, Wilco Burghout, O. Cats, Erik Jenelius
Transport and Planning
Volume number
47
Pages (from-to)
179-186
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Abstract

This paper presents a comparative analysis of demand-responsive and fixed-schedule, fixed route operations for a simplified station-based feeder to mass transit scenario. Traffic dynamics, demand-responsive fleet coordination, and the behaviour of individual transit users are represented using a public transit simulation framework. Each operational strategy is simulated for varying levels of demand and two fleet compositions with respect to vehicle capacities and fleet size are compared. The services are evaluated based on resulting passenger waiting times, in-vehicles times and additional waiting time if one is denied boarding a fully occupied vehicle. Results indicate that dividing planned service capacity into larger fleets of smaller vehicles can provide a higher level-of-service to passengers. On an aggregate level, utilizing a fixed operational policy results in shorter and more reliable waiting times for levels of demand where there is slack in service capacity. In scenarios where planned service capacity is sometimes exceeded, the on-demand service provides a more even spatial distribution of passenger waiting times, relative to a fixed service.