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Phase synchronization in railway timetables

Author

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  • C. Fretter
  • L. Krumov
  • K. Weihe
  • M. Müller-Hannemann
  • M.-T. Hütt

Abstract

Timetable construction belongs to the most important optimization problems in public transport. Finding optimal or near-optimal timetables under the subsidiary conditions of minimizing travel times and other criteria is a targeted contribution to the functioning of public transport. In addition to efficiency (given, e.g., by minimal average travel times), a significant feature of a timetable is its robustness against delay propagation. Here we study the balance of efficiency and robustness in long-distance railway timetables (in particular the current long-distance railway timetable in Germany) from the perspective of synchronization, exploiting the fact that a major part of the trains run nearly periodically. We find that synchronization is highest at intermediate-sized stations. We argue that this synchronization perspective opens a new avenue towards an understanding of railway timetables by representing them as spatio-temporal phase patterns. Robustness and efficiency can then be viewed as properties of this phase pattern. Copyright EDP Sciences, SIF, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010

Suggested Citation

  • C. Fretter & L. Krumov & K. Weihe & M. Müller-Hannemann & M.-T. Hütt, 2010. "Phase synchronization in railway timetables," The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, Springer;EDP Sciences, vol. 77(2), pages 281-289, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eurphb:v:77:y:2010:i:2:p:281-289
    DOI: 10.1140/epjb/e2010-00234-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kroon, L.G. & Dekker, R. & Vromans, M.J.C.M., 2005. "Cyclic Railway Timetabling: a Stochastic Optimization Approach," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2005-051-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
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