Framework and Analysis of Transit Scheduling using Multi- Size Vehicles

This work addresses two transit operationsplanning activities: timetable development and vehiclescheduling with different vehicle sizes and types. The work is a mixture between reviewed and new methodologies including some case studies. Alternative timetables are constructed with either even headways, but not necessarily even passenger loads or even average passenger loads, but not even headways. A method to construct timetables with the combination of both even-headway and even-load is developed for multi-size vehicles. A case study shows that the original passenger-load discrepancy from the desired load can be reduced from 38% to a discrepancy between 0% 15% and at the same time preserving the time deviation from the determined even headway in the range of 0% 7%. In addition a bi-objective approach is introduced to show how to make transit services more attractive by using two simultaneous objectives: minimizing the expected passenger waiting time and minimizing the discrepancy from a desired occupancy level on the vehicles. A case study of this bi-objective approach shows that the waiting time for passengers can be improved by more than 43% for the same level of empty-seat km. The vehiclescheduling problem is based on given sets of trips and vehicle types arranged in decreasing order of vehicle cost using the deficit-function theory. Overall, prudent use of transit vehicles with different sizes can make the transit service more reliable and more economical. Keywords— Multi-Vehicle Size, Public Transport, Scheduling, Timetables, Transit.