Practice Based Optimisation of Bus-Train Timetable Coordination

Undesirable wait times imposed on passengers transferring between buses and trains is a major disincentive to the use of public transport. While passengers desire frequent services, transit operators aim to minimise vehicle costs. This research investigates the simultaneous optimisation of bus-train timetable coordination and vehicle cost efficiency using constraint-based optimisation techniques. Decomposed and integrated modelling and solving approaches are presented to solve these conflicting objectives. Written and solved entirely in MiniZinc, the models demonstrate network-wide timetables and vehicle schedules that are well-coordinated and cost efficient. Findings also suggest that incorporating some flexibility to operational constraints is critical for well-coordinated timetables.