URBAN ECONOMIC STRUCTURE AND THE OPTIMAL RAIL SYSTEM

In this paper, the authors develop a simple theoretical framework to compute optimal urban-rail station spacing, first with a 1- and then with a 2-dimensional population density distribution. For small numbers of stations, numerical methods maximizing total passenger/km give the optimal spacings, and it is found that stations should indeed be significantly more dispersed in the suburbs. The fixed nature of station infrastructure, however, means that as urban density patterns evolve, the stations will progressively become located in the wrong positions, with associated efficiency losses. Numerical methods are also used to estimate the seriousness of these efficiency losses in the most basic cases. Findings on station spacing are compared with the urban-rail systems of London, Munich, Paris, and Washington, DC.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00420980
• Corporate Authors:

  Longman Group Limited

  Journals Division, Fourth Avenue
  Harlow, Essex CM19 5AA,   England 
• Authors:
  • Crampton, G R
• Publication Date: 2000

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 623-632
• Serial:
  • Urban Studies
  • Volume: 37
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Sage Publications, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0042-0980
  • EISSN: 1360-063X
  • Serial URL: http://usj.sagepub.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Numerical analysis; Optimization; Population density; Rail transit; Rail transit stations; Spacing; Suburbs; Subway stations; Subways; Urban areas; Urban transit
• Geographic Terms: London (England); Munich (Germany); Paris (France); Washington (District of Columbia)
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00797670
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 21 2000 12:00AM