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Utilising travel dispatch centres in public transport in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area

Kuljetuspalvelukeskusten hyodyntaminen paakaupunkiseudun joukkoliikenteessa

The purpose of the project was to analyze the possibilities and prerequisites for utilising the newly started travel dispatch centres in open public transport. The economic efficiencies of conventional and demand-responsive operation models were compared. Possible application areas and the most suitable operation models for demand-responsive transport were assessed. Development needs for the public transport payment and information systems were also analyzed. The data of fall 2003 showed that on weekday and Sunday evenings certain public transport bus lines are quite expensive with regard to costs per passenger. According to calculations, both service level and cost efficiency could be improved with demand-responsive services. In certain areas, evening bus service could be replaced with demand-responsive transport that would be operated from specified service areas to service corridors according to a timetable, which would be tied to, for example, city train timetables. The service would be open for all and the normal tariff would be used. The operation costs of service bus lines in certain areas of Espoo and Vantaa are high. Their cost efficiency could be improved with demand-responsive services. A suitable operation model would be based on flexible timetables and would allow boarding without reservation on a few central bus stops, although reservation is generally needed. Reduction of fixed bus stops would enable almost door-to-door service when more quiet parts of the route were driven only when needed. In this model, a larger number of customers within the sphere of influence of the Social Welfare Act could be guided to service lines and thus reduce costs of the social sector transport. In addition, travel dispatch centres provide a possibility to develop new service models to meet the transportation needs of special customer groups such as members of sports clubs and visitors to public events. The vehicle fleet of the service lines could be used to provide such service in the evenings. At the moment, the potential of travel dispatch centres cannot be utilized in public transport to the full because of incompatible transport payment systems in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The fleet is reserved for certain lines regardless of the real-time demand. Therefore, demand-responsive open public transport calls for improvements in payment, travel dispatch, clearing and information systems used and planned in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. This report is available at http://www.mintc.fi or http://www.mintc.fi/oliver/upl875-48_2004.pdf

Language

  • Finnish

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01015264
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: TRL
  • ISBN: 951-723-734-0
  • Files: ITRD
  • Created Date: Jan 12 2006 8:54AM