A Simulation Based Approach for Dynamic Management of Metro Dwell Times based on Passenger Demands

Abstract

Metro systems characterised by high speeds and seamless connectivity are the backbone of public transportation systems. Beyond meeting the travel needs of commuters, metro systems also address the issues related to environmental sustainability. Consequently, demand-responsive frequency optimization of metro system to improve reliability and quality of service is under discussion by researchers. Similarly, this paper explores the potentialities of utilizing up-to-date technologies, identified and developed in the Nexus project, to adjust the dwell time at metro stations with the goal of improving overall travel times. Thus, different simulation models are developed for Genova (IT) and Sofia (BG) metro lines with a goal of adjusting metro frequencies while adhering to minimum and maximum dwell time threshold. Thanks to Nexus technologies, these decisions are predicted based on the combination of real-time and historic data of alighting and boarding passengers. To this effect, based on real datasets, the models will be used to optimize some key performance index including train capacities along with travel times of metros. Moreover, the cross validation of the models will also justify the global applicability of the proposed approach. NEXUS has been co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101177985.