Operational stability and reliability of bus routes: A study of operative and planning processes focused on delay-causing events in Zurich

• Forschungsstelle: COST
• Projektnummer: C09.0023
• Projekttitel Englisch: Operational stability and reliability of bus routes: A study of operative and planning processes focused on delay-causing events in Zurich

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Reliability; Public Transport; Zurich; Performance measures

Forschungsprogramme (Englisch)

COST-Action TU0603 - Buses with a high level of service - Fundamental characteristics and recommendation for decision-making and research

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

Planning and operation of bus lines today is based mostly on experience. For this reason quality can only be achieved incurring in high costs, which results in an inefficient process. This research project focuses on analyzing and optimizing planning and operative processes of bus services using Zurich as a case study. Planning and operative processes will be analyzed and assessed using generic operational rules and processes, with the aim of finding room for improvements at both levels. An analysis in parallel followed by a comparative evaluation will search for systematic mistakes and room for improvements. An emphasis will be made on the efficiency of the state-of-practice regarding buffer time allocation within the schedule and its influence on the operational stability of the bus lines. A generic planning methodology and a classification of delay-causing events according to their level of influence in operations will be developed. Suggestions for optimization at both levels will be proposed and evaluated by means of a cost-benefit analysis.

Weitere Hinweise und Angaben (Englisch)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise: ETH Zürich Departement Bau, Umwelt und Geomatik Institut für Verkehrsplanung und Transportsysteme

Partner und Internationale Organisationen (Englisch)

BE, CZ, DE, ES, FR, GR, IE, IT, NL, PT, RO, SE, UK

Abstract (Englisch)

Reliability and stability of provided transport service belong to the most significant factors for mode choice for existing and potential public transport users. Service reliability not only affects passengers but also operators as unreliable services cause higher operating costs (due to additional resources required to deal with unreliable services) and reduce the revenue due to loss of ridership. This research project focuses on different elements of transport service reliability, especially on planning of the targeted level of service and measuring performance of service delivery. Performance analyses are based on a case study on trolley bus line 31 operated by VBZ in Zurich. Automatic vehicle location (AVL) data are used in this study for detailed analyses of operation performance. Based on evaluations of the deviation between the targeted and delivered level of service, causes of unreliability and their impact are identified, classified and measures to improve reliability are derived and evaluated, which can be both preventive and corrective. The present study is embedded in the COST Action TU0603 „Buses with High Level of Service (BHLS)“, the goal of which is to increase the use of public transport and promote sustainable mobility by developing new, high quality bus services.

Datenbankreferenzen (Englisch)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C09.0023