Reduced dwell times resulting from train–platform improvements: the costs and benefits of improving passenger accessibility to metro trains

Abstract

This paper examines whether a dwell time reduction on a high-intensity metro service, as a result of a series of accessibility enhancements, can contribute to an increased level of service and accessible public transport for passengers together with a reduction in costs for the operator. Actual train operation data were collected by on-site observations and from London Underground Ltd. A simple simulation is built to represent the effect on the overall cycle times of trains if certain parameters (e.g. dwell time) are changed. Four models are developed, concerning: (1) step height between train and platform, (2) an assumption of passenger service time to be no longer than 20 s, (3) door width and (4) the combination of step height and door width. From the application of the models it appears that the fourth model provides the highest reduction in dwell time and diminishes the overall cycle times of trains. However, it is the most expensive to implement as it requires work to raise platforms and the purchase of new rolling stock.     

A proposal for cost-related and market-oriented train running charges

This paper examines some key aspects of a charging system for promoting railway transport, including charges reflecting a clear relationship with costs (transparency) and charges reflecting the quality of the infrastructure manager's service. Train running charges recover track-related costs and can help to develop a charging system that meets these requirements. To orient train running charges to the market, a method for processing track maintenance and renewal costs is proposed whereby the quality of the service provided by an infrastructure is measured according to its utility to the railway undertaking. To achieve transparency, a single indicator is used for cost planning and the subsequent levying of costs on railway undertakings. The paper includes an example of how proposed train running charges would be calculated according to data from 14 European countries. The example shows that short-distance trains generate the lowest maintenance and renewal costs, followed by long-distance trains and freight trains.     

What determines commute time choices? A structural equation modelling approach

Abstract

Many researchers have been attracted by the phenomenon of constant travel time, and the time spent on travel has been an important indicator of understanding travellers’ behaviours. This paper is based on a survey conducted in a university in London which includes both objective and subjective variables in relation to commute time and some demographic characteristics. Two conceptual structural models are examined in order to explore the factors determining travellers’ choices. Results of the analysis reveal some interesting relationships: (1) a positive relationship between age and commute time; (2) females are more likely to read or listen to music during their journeys, and their ideal commute time (ICT) and current commute time (CCT) generally tend to be longer; (3) academic staff tend to have the habit of working during their commute, administrative staff tend to commute longer while students tend to spend a shorter time commuting; (4) normally, a habit while travelling is significantly associated with CCT; those with a habit of reading or working during their commute journey tend to have longer commute times and (5) the relationship between CCT and commuters’ ICT and tolerable commute time is positive; both hypothesised causal relationships are significant so that a loop is formed between subjective and objective variables, and thus a dynamic modelling process could be envisaged as temporal sequences of those variables.     

A railway capacity determination model and rail access charging methodologies

This article discusses approaches to the determination of railway capacity and the significance of the following factors on capacity: mix of trains, length and weight of trains, direction of train travel, acceleration and deceleration, stopping protocols of trains, location and length of crossing loops, location of signals, length of sections, dwell times and sectional running times. A more accurate method to calculate railway capacity is developed using previously unaddressed aspects for capacity determination. Capacity and pricing are two key issues for organizations involved with open track access regimes. A train access charging methodology is therefore developed and incorporated into a railway capacity determination model.     

Optimal stop spacing and headway of congested transit system considering realistic wait times

Abstract

This paper revisits the classical transit scheduling problem and investigates the relationship between stop spacing and headway, considering realistic wait time and operable transit capacity. Headway and stop spacing are important determinants for planning a transit system, which influence the service level as well as the cost of operation. A mathematical model is developed, and the objective function is user travel time which is minimized by the optimized stop spacing and headway, subject to the constraints of operable fleet size and route capacity. Optimal stop spacing and headway solutions are obtained in a numerical example. Sensitivity analysis is conducted, and the effect of model parameters on user travel time is explored.     

Accommodating risk in the valuation of expected travel time savings

Valuation of travel time savings is a critical measure in transport infrastructure appraisal, traffic modelling and network performance. It has been recognised for some time that the travel times associated with repeated trips are subject to variation, and hence there is risk embedded in the treatment of expected travel time. In the context of the expected utility framework, we use a nonlinear probability weighting function to accommodate choice made under risk. Although the empirical findings suggest small differences between the value of expected travel time savings (VETTS) in the presence and absence of risk, the mean estimate does make a noticeable difference to time benefits when applied to real projects. By incorporating nonlinear probability weighting, our model reveals that the probabilities associated with specific travel times that are shown to respondents in the choice experiment are transformed, resulting in overweighting of outcomes with low probabilities and underweighting of outcomes with high probabilities. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Practical approach for travel time estimation from point traffic detector data

Accurate estimation of travel time is critical to the success of advanced traffic management systems and advanced traveler information systems. Travel time estimation also provides basic data support for travel time reliability research, which is being recognized as an important performance measure of the transportation system. This paper investigates a number of methods to address the three major issues associated with travel time estimation from point traffic detector data: data filling for missing or error data, speed transformation from time‐mean speed to space‐mean speed, and travel time estimation that converts the speeds recorded at detector locations to travel time along the highway segment. The case study results show that the spatial and temporal interpolation of missing data and the transformation to space‐mean speed improve the accuracy of the estimates of travel time. The results also indicate that the piecewise constant‐acceleration‐based method developed in this study and the average speed method produce better results than the other three methods proposed in previous studies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

车用预热固体继电器的优化设计

给出优化设计后车用预热固体继电器的主要技术指标,详细介绍该类产品的优化设计方法,重点阐述输入电路增加下拉电阻设计、优化放电电路设计、增加延时电路设计和增加短路失效时切断主回路电路设计等优化设计。     

发动机水温传感器响应时间研究

响应时间是温度传感器的重要指标,特别是在温度变化较快的应用环境以及对温度变化敏感的场合显得格外重要。一般标准要求发动机水温传感器的响应时间为30s以内。随着对汽车节能、环保要求的提高,需要更精确地感知和控制发动机冷却液温度,因此,迫切需要大幅缩短传感器的响应时间。通过改变壳体材料、形状尺寸,改善导热介质材料、注入工艺等方法,可以将响应时间缩短至6s以内。     

基于视错觉的公路隧道中部安全控速方法

公路隧道中部低照度、环境单调的特点,容易导致驾驶人产生严重视错觉,从而低估车速,引发交通事故.高频视觉信息容易导致驾驶人高估车速,而中、低频视觉信息则会导致驾驶人低估车速,但不同频率视觉信息,不同照度水平对公路隧道中部行车环境中驾驶人的车速感知影响缺乏定量分析.文中利用3ds Max软件制作公路隧道中部行车仿真模型,利用E-prime软件进行基于极限法的车速感知心理物理实验,并用实车试验数据校核了模型精度,对高频视觉信息与高、中频组合视觉信息在不同照度水平(100％,50％,25％标准照度)条件下的速度感知、反应时进行了对比研究.实验结果显示:公路隧道中部的速度感知主要由高频视觉信息决定,在100％标准照度条件下高频视觉信息的车速高估约为20％,在加人中频视觉信息后,车速高估情况趋于合理,约为14％;照度变动对速度感知和反应时均有显著影响,显著度分别为0.008和0.013,照度条件越好,车速高估越低,反应时越短.