Effects of passengers flows on regularity of metro services: case studies of Rome lines A and B
The regularity is a key performance in the operation of a metro service, because it is normally affecting a large set of secondary performances: e.g. punctuality, energy efficiency, economic efficiency and vehicles availability. Human behaviours are affecting the regularity, by introducing deviations between panned and actual times in various operational phases of metro services: e.g. dwelling times, acceleration/deceleration times, inversion times at terminus, headways themselves. The variability in passengers’ flows is one of the most relevant parameters affecting mainly dwelling times and finally headways themselves. In this framework, this paper is specifically presenting the results of experimental surveys on metro services operated in Rome (Lines A and B).
On these lines, it has been performed a systematic counting of passengers boarding and alighting in the most crowded stations, combined with simultaneous measurement of actual dwelling times and headways. The collected results have been analysed, cleaned by inconsistent data and statistically interrelated looking for significant trends to compare with the most consolidated theoretical models and to quantify the effects in line with the literature developments, including those by the authors themselves. Finally, the focus is on the most relevant quantitative outputs and the main identified and outlined
further research needs.