A unified public transport assignment model for mixed schedule- and frequency-based networks

Many public transport systems throughout the world consist of schedule-based (SB) as well as frequency-based (FB) lines. The public transport system of the Greater Copenhagen Area is an example of such a system, where e.g. the Metro operates as frequency-based while most bus lines operate according to a published timetable.

Modelling of such mixed systems in which both schedule-based (SB) and frequency-based (FB) services are present have for a long time been considered a topic which deserves further research, as neither of the current modelling approaches of schedule- or frequency-based public transport assignments models can adequately predict the passengers’ behaviour (Gentile et al., 2016).

In this paper we propose a novel joint modelling approach combining SB- and FB-modelling, which in a behaviourally realistic manner aims to capture the uncertainty of waiting time when using a FB service and the probabilities of catching a service when transferring between FB and SB services. We exemplify the model using a reallife case-study and compare observed route choices collected from smart card data with the flows obtained from applying the model.