Hub Location Selection for Public Transport-Based Urban Freight Delivery
A Multi-Criteria and Simulation Approach
Y. Lu (TU Delft - Civil Engineering & Geosciences)
Lóránt Tavasszy – Mentor (TU Delft - Transport and Logistics)
Mahnam Saeednia – Mentor (TU Delft - Transport, Mobility and Logistics)
Michiel de Bok – Mentor (TU Delft - Transport, Mobility and Logistics)
Arjan van Binsbergen – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Transport, Mobility and Logistics)
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Abstract
Freight transport is vital for urban economic growth, yet its increasing demand exacerbates congestion and emissions. The integration of freight delivery within public transport networks presents a sustainable alternative, leveraging underutilised transit capacity. While prior studies focus on operational aspects, limited research addresses strategic hub locations within public transit networks. This study introduces a novel framework for selecting public transport stations as freight hubs using a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) approach with the Best-Worst Method (BWM). The framework evaluates key factors, such as accessibility, capacity, and costs, to determine optimal hub locations. A simulation is subsequently conducted to assess real-world viability, demonstrating the trade-offs between network reach, handling efficiency, and financial constraints. The results indicate that strategic hub placement significantly impacts network scalability and efficiency. Future research can expand
upon this framework to refine urban freight delivery models tailored to specific implementation areas.