Timetable synchronisation: Urban public transport in busy hubs of long-distance transport

Abstract

The article is focused on timetable synchronization problem. Interconnection of urban public transport and long-distance transport in busy hubs is researched. Intension is to find adequate time positions of urban public transport arrivals and departures with an effort to minimize passengers’ time loss related to this interchange. Timetable of long distance transport is considered as constant (given). Timetable of urban public transport is result of optimization (and presupposed to be periodic). Nonlinear integer mathematical programming model is formulated. Model is implemented in Microsoft Excel Solver. Parallel way based on exhaustive-search algorithm is introduced as well. This algorithm provides extended set of output data able to be used in transport planning. Two different criterions are proposed. Each interchange (pair of vehicles) has the same weight in the case of uniform approach. Intensity approach considers interchanges as weighted by numbers of interchanging passengers. Some additional modifications of proposed model are mentioned for possibility to regard some important technological aspects and to reach more individualized solution. Model is illustrated by the case study located to Pardubice main station as a hub of passenger railway transport. Interface with urban public transport is mentioned as an illustrational example of synchronization.