IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i13p7870-d850284.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Real-Time Control Strategy for Bus Operation to Alleviate Bus Bunching

Author

Listed:
  • Yunqiang Xue

    (School of Transportation Engineering, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang 330013, China
    School of Transportation, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China)

  • Meng Zhong

    (School of Transportation Engineering, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang 330013, China)

  • Luowei Xue

    (Jiangxi Institute of Transportation Sciences, Nanchang 330200, China)

  • Haokai Tu

    (School of Transportation Engineering, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang 330013, China)

  • Caifeng Tan

    (School of Transportation Engineering, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang 330013, China)

  • Qifang Kong

    (School of Transportation Engineering, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang 330013, China)

  • Hongzhi Guan

    (School of Transportation Engineering, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang 330013, China
    College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China)

Abstract

In order to alleviate bus bunching and improve the balance and punctuality rate of bus operation, a single-line real-time control strategy based on Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) was proposed. The strategy took three measures: controlling the cruising speed, dwell time, and the bus load rate to improve the stability of bus operations and to ensure its running speed. At the same time, the proposed strategy was compared with the literature on the traditional single-point control strategy based on timetable (S1 for short) and the multi-point control strategy based on time headway (S2 for short). Finally, the No. 245 bus line in Nanchang City, China, was selected as a case. It was modeled and simulated by Python programming software, and the control effects of the three control strategies were analyzed. Compared with the uncontrolled bus operations, the simulation results show that: under the control of S1, the bus operation stability is improved, but the bus operation efficiency is reduced; under the control of S2, the problem of S1 operation efficiency reduction can be solved, and the operation stability can be improved at the same time to achieve the effect of preventing bunching. For the real-time control strategy (S3 for short), the average bus travel time is the smallest, the distance between the buses is maintained the best, and the running stability is also the best, which avoids the bus bunching to the greatest extent. Among them, the average travel time is reduced by about 34% compared with the second strategy. This study provides a theoretical basis and strategy reference for bus operators to ensure balanced bus operation.

Suggested Citation

  • Yunqiang Xue & Meng Zhong & Luowei Xue & Haokai Tu & Caifeng Tan & Qifang Kong & Hongzhi Guan, 2022. "A Real-Time Control Strategy for Bus Operation to Alleviate Bus Bunching," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:13:p:7870-:d:850284
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/13/7870/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/13/7870/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yunqiang Xue & Meng Zhong & Luowei Xue & Bing Zhang & Haokai Tu & Caifeng Tan & Qifang Kong & Hongzhi Guan, 2022. "Simulation Analysis of Bus Passenger Boarding and Alighting Behavior Based on Cellular Automata," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Daganzo, Carlos F., 2009. "A headway-based approach to eliminate bus bunching: Systematic analysis and comparisons," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 43(10), pages 913-921, December.
    3. Berrebi, Simon J. & Watkins, Kari E. & Laval, Jorge A., 2015. "A real-time bus dispatching policy to minimize passenger wait on a high frequency route," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 377-389.
    4. Arnold Barnett, 1974. "On Controlling Randomness in Transit Operations," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 8(2), pages 102-116, May.
    5. E. E. Osuna & G. F. Newell, 1972. "Control Strategies for an Idealized Public Transportation System," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 6(1), pages 52-72, February.
    6. Daganzo, Carlos F. & Pilachowski, Josh, 2011. "Reducing bunching with bus-to-bus cooperation," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 267-277, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Fayez Alanazi, 2023. "Development of Smart Mobility Infrastructure in Saudi Arabia: A Benchmarking Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-19, February.
    2. Valery Kurganov & Mikhail Gryaznov & Andrey Aduvalin & Liliya Polyakova & Aleksey Dorofeev, 2024. "Analysis of Regulation of Costs for Operating Buses in a Transport Company," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-24, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sánchez-Martínez, G.E. & Koutsopoulos, H.N. & Wilson, N.H.M., 2016. "Real-time holding control for high-frequency transit with dynamics," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 1-19.
    2. Zhou, Chang & Tian, Qiong & Wang, David Z.W., 2022. "A novel control strategy in mitigating bus bunching: Utilizing real-time information," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 1-13.
    3. Zhang, Shuyang & Lo, Hong K., 2018. "Two-way-looking self-equalizing headway control for bus operations," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 280-301.
    4. Andres, Matthias & Nair, Rahul, 2017. "A predictive-control framework to address bus bunching," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 123-148.
    5. Li, Shukai & Liu, Ronghui & Yang, Lixing & Gao, Ziyou, 2019. "Robust dynamic bus controls considering delay disturbances and passenger demand uncertainty," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 88-109.
    6. Xuan, Yiguang & Argote, Juan & Daganzo, Carlos F., 2011. "Dynamic bus holding strategies for schedule reliability: Optimal linear control and performance analysis," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 45(10), pages 1831-1845.
    7. Klumpenhouwer, W. & Wirasinghe, S.C., 2018. "Optimal time point configuration of a bus route - A Markovian approach," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 117(PA), pages 209-227.
    8. Berrebi, Simon J. & Crudden, Sean Óg & Watkins, Kari E., 2018. "Translating research to practice: Implementing real-time control on high-frequency transit routes," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 213-226.
    9. Gabriel E. Sánchez-Martínez & Nigel H. M. Wilson & Haris N. Koutsopoulos, 2017. "Schedule-free high-frequency transit operations," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 285-305, July.
    10. Dai, Zhuang & Liu, Xiaoyue Cathy & Chen, Zhuo & Guo, Renyong & Ma, Xiaolei, 2019. "A predictive headway-based bus-holding strategy with dynamic control point selection: A cooperative game theory approach," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 29-51.
    11. Petit, Antoine & Lei, Chao & Ouyang, Yanfeng, 2019. "Multiline Bus Bunching Control via Vehicle Substitution," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 68-86.
    12. Gkiotsalitis, K. & Cats, O., 2021. "At-stop control measures in public transport: Literature review and research agenda," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    13. Minyu Shen & Weihua Gu & Michael J. Cassidy & Yongjie Lin & Wei Ni, 2024. "A vicious cycle along busy bus corridors and how to abate it," Papers 2403.08230, arXiv.org.
    14. Bian, Bomin & Zhu, Ning & Meng, Qiang, 2023. "Real-time cruising speed design approach for multiline bus systems," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 1-24.
    15. Xuan, Yiguang & Argote, Juan & Daganzo, Carlos F., 2011. "A Dynamic Holding Strategy to Improve Bus Schedule Reliability and Commercial Speed," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt0jp7c8k8, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    16. Wu, Weitiao & Liu, Ronghui & Jin, Wenzhou, 2016. "Designing robust schedule coordination scheme for transit networks with safety control margins," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 93(PA), pages 495-519.
    17. Viktoriya Degeler & Léonie Heydenrijk-Ottens & Ding Luo & Niels Oort & Hans Lint, 2021. "Unsupervised approach towards analysing the public transport bunching swings formation phenomenon," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 13(3), pages 533-555, October.
    18. Delgado, Felipe & Munoz, Juan Carlos & Giesen, Ricardo, 2012. "How much can holding and/or limiting boarding improve transit performance?," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 46(9), pages 1202-1217.
    19. Argote-Cabanero, Juan & Daganzo, Carlos F & Lynn, Jacob W, 2015. "Dynamic Control of Complex Transit Systems," Institute of Transportation Studies, Research Reports, Working Papers, Proceedings qt6j16889k, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley.
    20. Sirmatel, Isik Ilber & Geroliminis, Nikolas, 2018. "Mixed logical dynamical modeling and hybrid model predictive control of public transport operations," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 325-345.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:13:p:7870-:d:850284. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.