Publication: Public Transport Capacity Analysis Procedures for Developing Cities
Date
2011
ISSN
Published
2011
Author(s)
Reilly, Jack
Levinson, Herbert
Abstract
The introduction of urban rail transit
and high performance/quality/capacity bus transit systems
throughout the world has dramatically improved the mobility
of residents of cities in which they operate. The objectives
of this work are: to provide a technical resource for
transit planners and designers in developing cities in their
public transport capacity and performance analysis work
irrespective of mode. This report recommends methods of
achieving practical transit capacity during normally
encountered operating conditions. Where capacity is
influenced by a measure of dispersion of some characteristic
such as stop dwell time or vehicle headway, this is also
noted. The purpose of measuring capacity is not just to
provide a measure of system capability to transport
passengers but also to provide some insight into the effect
of service and physical design on customer service quality.
When the demand for a service exceeds its schedule design
capacity, service quality deteriorates either due to
overcrowding on vehicles or at station platforms or
diminished ability of customers to board the next arriving
transport vehicle since it is already fully loaded,
increased dwell times and hence decrease revenue speeds. The
importance of service quality in transit capacity analysis
cannot be overstated. Transit operators should be mindful
that the urban transportation marketplace is more
competitive. While it might be technically possible to
design a service using a loading standard of 7 or 8
passengers per square meter, a number of customers will find
that level intolerable and will seek alternate means of
travel including walking (in the case of short distance
trips), riding with someone else, riding taxis or purchasing
a motorcycle or car. Accordingly, such loading standards
should be thought of as interim measures until higher
capacity at lower crowding can be achieved.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Reilly, Jack; Levinson, Herbert. 2011. Public Transport Capacity Analysis Procedures for Developing Cities. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/26722 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”