Format:
16 S.
,
Ill.
Series Statement:
ZIB-Report / Konrad-Zuse-Zentrum für Informationstechnik Berlin 2005,22
Content:
Abstract: "Can OR methods help the public transport industry to break even? How would you build a public transport system? For example, have a look at Berlin. The BVG, Berlin's public transport company, maintains a network of 2,423 km, operates 197 lines with 3,286 stops, using 1,554 busses, 1,391 subway cars, and 599 trams from 12 depots, and has 13,409 employees [7]. The BVG currently transports about 800 million passengers per year and covers about 40% of the total non-pedestrian traffic volume of the city [18]. Does Berlin have a 'reasonable' public transportation network? Does the BVG run a 'good' transportation system? Is it 'efficient'? These are difficult questions. In fact, politicians, transportation managers, customers, taxpayers, etc., frequently employ judgements such as "good" and "efficient", but nobody can give a definition what this exactly means. Since almost every public transportation system in the world is in the red, the cheapest system is no public transportation at all. On the other hand, the most convenient system for the passenger -- a stop in front of every house with direct connections to everywhere -- is much to expensive. What is the right compromise? Operations Research has no good answer either -- so far. But OR can improve aspects of public transportation significantly, as we want to demonstrate in the following."
Language:
English
Subjects:
Computer Science
Keywords:
Forschungsbericht
Author information:
Grötschel, Martin 1948-
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