Evaluation of General Transit Feed Specification Data for Electric Train Energy-Consumption Estimation

Energy consumption of electric trains is sensitive to route characteristics and travel activity. Publicly available data can be used to develop inputs needed for train energy consumption estimation. However, such data have not been evaluated. The objective of this paper is to evaluate General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data for route characteristics and travel activity data using the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail system as an example. The methodology includes data collection, evaluation, and estimation of derived activity data. Data were collected from GTFS-Static data, GTFS-Realtime (GTFS-RT) data, field measurements, and the District of Columbia Geographic Information System (DCGIS) services. Data evaluation refers to comparing GTFS-Static and GTFS-RT data to field measured data, DCGIS data, or both. Station stop locations, route lengths, stop-by-stop segment distances and travel times, and dwell times at station stops were evaluated. Segment average speeds were estimated. GTFS-Static data can provide station stop locations with high accuracy; however, GTFS-Static data underestimate route length and segment distances. GTFS-Static travel time is based on schedules, not actual travel time. GTFS-RT data need bias-correction to estimate actual time that the train is in motion, considering dwell times at station stops. Segment average speeds were estimated based on DCGIS distances and average bias-corrected GTFS-RT times. Average speeds between stops are available for the entire system. Based on data for the WMATA Metrorail system, GTFS data have minor errors and correctable bias. However, GTFS data need to be combined with other data sources for electric train energy consumption estimation.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AP000 Public Transportation Group.
• Authors:
  • Yuan, Weichang
  • Frey, H Christopher
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2018-1-7 to 2018-1-11
• Date: 2018

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 21p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data analysis; Electric trains; Energy consumption; Estimating; Evaluation; Routes and routing; Schedules and scheduling
• Identifier Terms: General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS)
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Energy; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01657441
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 18-05638
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 24 2018 9:24AM