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Dynamic interlining in bus operations

Author

Listed:
  • Seyedmostafa Zahedi

    (Northeastern University)

  • Haris N. Koutsopoulos

    (Northeastern University)

  • Zhenliang Ma

    (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

Abstract

The paper introduces and evaluates the concept of the dynamic interlining of buses. Dynamic interlining is an operational strategy for routes with a terminal station at a common hub, allowing a portion of (or all) the fleet to be shared among the routes belonging to the hub (shared fleet) as needed. The shared fleet is dispatched on an on-demand basis to serve scheduled trips on any route to avoid delays and regulate services. The paper examines systematically the impacts of dynamic interlining on service reliability. It formulates the dispatching problem as an optimization problem and uses simulation to evaluate the dynamic interlining strategy under a variety of operating conditions. Using bus routes in Boston’s Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) as a case study, the strategy’s feasibility and factors that affect its performance are investigated. Results show that dynamic interlining can improve service reliability (increases on-time departures and decreases departure headways variability at the hub). The fraction of the fleet that is shared has the most dominant impact on performance. In the case where all buses are dynamically interlined, the performance improves as route frequency increases and more routes participate in the strategy.

Suggested Citation

  • Seyedmostafa Zahedi & Haris N. Koutsopoulos & Zhenliang Ma, 2025. "Dynamic interlining in bus operations," Transportation, Springer, vol. 52(3), pages 827-850, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:transp:v:52:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s11116-023-10440-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s11116-023-10440-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pilachowski, Joshua Michael, 2009. "An Approach to Reducing Bus Bunching," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt6zc5j8xg, University of California Transportation Center.
    2. Lai, Wen-Tai & Chen, Ching-Fu, 2011. "Behavioral intentions of public transit passengers--The roles of service quality, perceived value, satisfaction and involvement," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(2), pages 318-325, March.
    3. Sánchez-Martínez, Gabriel E. & Koutsopoulos, Haris N. & Wilson, Nigel H.M., 2016. "Optimal allocation of vehicles to bus routes using automatically collected data and simulation modelling," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 268-276.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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