Transitioning towards the deployment of line-based autonomous buses: Consequences for service frequency and vehicle capacity

Authors

Jonas Hatzenbühler
Oded Cats
Erik Jenelius

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2020

Subject Area

mode - bus, place - europe, place - urban, operations - capacity, operations - frequency, economics - operating costs, planning - service improvement, planning - methods, ridership - demand, technology - intelligent transport systems

Keywords

Resource allocation, Autonomous bus, Public transportation, Agent-based simulation, Service design

Abstract

The deployment of autonomous buses (AB) is expected to have consequences for service design facilitated by its cost function structure. We study the impacts of AB deployment in line-based public transport (PT) systems. In particular, we examine the transition phase where AB is sequentially deployed, involving the selection of lines for which AB will be introduced. To this end, we develop a modeling framework using a dynamic public transportation assignment and operations simulation model that captures users’ adaptive path choices. An analytical model is used to determine the initial solutions in terms of service frequency and vehicle capacity for the simulation framework. Due to their different cost function structures, the deployment of AB may be accompanied by changes in the service frequency and vehicle capacity settings and consequently also on passenger flow distribution across the network. Both the simultaneous and the sequential deployment of AB on multiple lines are investigated. Deployment solutions are assessed in terms of the both total operator and user cost. The decision variables are vehicle capacity per line, service frequency per line and vehicle technology per line - i.e. either manually driven or fully automated buses. The framework is applied to a case study in Kista, Stockholm. The study shows that AB service have the potential to attract passengers through improved service provision. A sensitivity analysis is carried out concerning the effects of different cost parameters and demand levels on the deployment of AB in fixed line operations.

Rights

Permission to publish the abstract has been given by Elsevier, copyright remains with them.

Comments

Transportation Research Part A Home Page:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09658564

Recommended Citation

Hatzenbühler, J., Cats, O., & Jenelius, E. (2020). Transitioning towards the deployment of line-based autonomous buses: Consequences for service frequency and vehicle capacity. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Vol. 138, pp. 491-507.