Joint optimization of multi-trip vehicle scheduling, passenger assignment, and timetable for on-demand customized bus services

Authors

• Peng Wu
• Qi Wang
• Tommaso Bosi
• Andrea D'Ariano

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2025

Subject Area

place - north america, place - urban, mode - bus, mode - demand responsive transit, economics - operating costs, operations - scheduling, policy - sustainable, ridership - demand

Keywords

On-demand customized bus services, Multi-trip vehicle scheduling, Mixed-integer programming, Adaptive large neighborhood search

Abstract

On-demand customized bus (CB) services represent an emerging form of demand-responsive public transportation, providing unique advantages in addressing passengers’ diverse travel needs and advancing sustainable mobility. To enhance operational efficiency and improve passenger satisfaction, this paper investigates a new CB service problem. The goal is to minimize total vehicle operating costs and penalties for unserved orders by jointly optimizing multi-trip vehicle scheduling, passenger assignment, and timetabling. We first formulate the problem into a mixed-integer nonlinear programming model, which is then linearized into an equivalent one. To efficiently solve this model, we develop a tailored adaptive large neighborhood search algorithm, which incorporates a three-stage heuristic algorithm, a stop assignment strategy, and a set of customized operators. Extensive experiments on Sioux Falls and New York City cases validate the proposed algorithm’s effectiveness and efficiency. Furthermore, we demonstrate that multi-trip vehicle scheduling can reduce total costs compared to single-trip vehicle scheduling, with a reduction of 11.5%. Additionally, we derive management insights for CB operators by conducting sensitivity analysis experiments on critical parameters. Our findings indicate that adopting multi-trip scheduling, optimizing the number and spatial distribution of candidate stops, and adjusting trip frequency according to demand levels can effectively lower the operational costs of CB services.

Rights

Permission to publish the abstract has been given by Elsevier, copyright remains with them.

Comments

Transportation Research Part C Home Page:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0968090X

Recommended Citation

Wu, P., Wang, Q., Bosi, T., & D’Ariano, A. (2025). Joint optimization of multi-trip vehicle scheduling, passenger assignment, and timetable for on-demand customized bus services. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 180, 105346.