Efficient On-Trip Timetable Information in the Presence of Delays

Abstract. The search for train connections in state-of-the-art commercial timetable information systems is based on a static schedule. Unfortunately, public transportation systems suffer from delays for various reasons. Thus, dynamic changes of the planned schedule have to be taken into account. A system that has access to delay information of trains (and uses this information within search queries) can provide valid alternatives in case a train change breaks. Additionally, it can be used to actively guide passengers as these alternatives may be presented before the passenger is already stranded at a station due to a broken transfer. In this work we present an approach which takes a stream of delay information and schedule changes on short notice (partial train cancellations, extra trains) into account. Primary delays of trains may cause a cascade of so-called secondary delays of other trains which have to wait according to certain waiting policies between connecting trains. We introdu...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: ATMOS
• Authors: Lennart Frede, Matthias Müller-Hannemann, Mathias Schnee
• Keywords: ATMOS 2008, Delay Information, Optimization, Secondary Delays, So-called Secondary Delays