Topological assessment of recoverability in public transport networks

Journal Article (2024)
Author(s)

R.M. Massobrio (Universiteit Antwerpen, TU Delft - Transport and Planning)

O. Cats (TU Delft - Transport and Planning)

Transport and Planning
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-024-01596-8
More Info
expand_more
Publication Year
2024
Language
English
Transport and Planning
Issue number
1
Volume number
7
Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Abstract

Reducing the impact of disruptions is essential to provide reliable and attractive public transport. In this work, we introduce a topological approach for evaluating recoverability, i.e., the ability of public transport networks to return to their original performance level after disruptions, which we model as topological perturbations. We assess recoverability properties in 42 graph representations of metro networks and relate these to various topological indicators. Graphs include infrastructure and service characteristics, accounting for in-vehicle travel time, waiting time, and transfers. Results show a high correlation between recoverability and topological indicators, suggesting that more efficient networks (in terms of the average number of hops and the travel time between nodes) and denser networks can better withstand disruptions. In comparison, larger networks that feature more redundancy can rebound faster to normal performance levels. The proposed methodology offers valuable insights for planners when designing new networks or enhancing the recoverability of existing ones.