Influence of link-addition strategies on network balance and passenger experience in rail networks. (April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zheng, Shuyan; Chen, Yanyan; Zhou, Yuyang; Guo, Jifu
• Is Part Of: Sustainable cities and society. Volume 91(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-04
• Subjects: Rail network -- Link addition -- Passenger flow -- AFC data; Sustainable urban development -- Periodicals; Sustainable buildings -- Periodicals; Urban ecology (Sociology) -- Periodicals; 307.76
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2023.104415
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2210-6707

Abstract

Highlights: Link addition strategy for rail network is studied in view of passenger flow. Three evaluations on flow imbalance and transfer convenience are proposed. Strategy validity is proved by tests on Beijing rail network using AFC data. The optimal investment period and corresponding strategy are given. Abstract: The performance of a network can be enhanced by adding links. The importance of the rail network augmentation scheme comparison is brought into the forefront because of the long lead time and disproportionate high cost. This work focuses on the influence of the addition link among the initial railway stations on passenger flow. The effectiveness of the network was evaluated by flow imbalance (FIB), average transfer times (ATT), average path length (APL), and the combined evaluation using three different strategies, namely, passenger flow load — subgraphs highest node (PFL-S), passenger flow load — least load (PFL-L), and node degree and betweenness centrality (Degree-BC). The case study on the real urban rail network with 2, 211, 468 trip records a day at 339 stations show that PFL-S and PFL-L have better performance than Degree-BC. Simulation experiments reveal that the link construction investment at the early stage during the expanding or in the network with less existing transfer stations for the same size can receive greater returns than those nearly completed networks. The proposed method not only provides a policy guidance for the sustainable development of rail networks but also offers a reference for other networks with limited flow loading capacity and high-cost constraints. Graphical abstract: Graphical illustration of link addition strategies. (a) PFL-S. (b) PFL-L. (c) Degree-BC. Image, graphical abstract