Journal of Jilin University(Engineering and Technology Edition) ›› 2026, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (10): 2587-2596.doi: 10.13229/j.cnki.jdxbgxb.20250456

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Modular bus scheduling methods for urban rail transit connection

Yuan-wen LAI(),Pei-yuan CHEN,Xin-yun ZHU,Yan-sheng CHEN,Shu-yi WANG()   

  1. College of Civil Engineering，Fuzhou University，Fuzhou 350116
  • Received:2025-05-25 Online:2026-10-01 Published:2026-10-09
  • Contact: Shu-yi WANG E-mail:laiyuanwen@fzu.edu.cn;syw@fzu.edu.cn

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Abstract:

To address the issues of resource waste and operational inefficiency faced by fixed-capacity buses serving as feeders for urban rail transit systems， a dynamic scheduling method for modular bus main routes was proposed. By designing a decoupling-coupling point determination mechanism and a dynamic dispatching mode， a scheduling optimization model was established with the objectives of minimizing vehicle procurement costs， operational costs， and passenger time costs. The model was solved using an Improved Sparrow Search Algorithm （ISSA）. A case study was conducted in the service area of the Dongwu Boulevard Station on Wuhan Metro Line 1. The DBSCAN algorithm was applied to identify shared stops， and the A* algorithm was utilized to plan the main feeder route. Results demonstrate that compared to the fixed bus operation mode and the independent operation mode， the modular bus main route operation mode reduces the total system cost by 11.59% and 4.54% respectively， and increases the seat utilization rate by 23.45% and 11.50% respectively， which can improve the resource allocation of public transport to a certain extent.

Key words: urban traffic, modular buses, feeder scheduling, decoupling-coupling, improved sparrow search algorithm

CLC Number: 

  • U491

Fig.1

Flowchart of the ISSA"

Fig.2

Research area near Dongwu boulevard station"

Fig.3

Visualization diagram of passenger travel OD points"

Table 1

Data table excerpt after nearest neighbor matching"

乘客编号经度纬度与地铁站距/m到达时间上下车类型
1114.097 675 730.614 631 01 651.2808：01：24O
2114.097 738 730.620 264 91 189.5508：03：33O
3114.118 783 130.619 968 9935.9608：12：16O
4114.112 618 030.623 591 72 056.0208：14：40O
5114.113 063 330.621 224 92 540.8708：19：49O
6114.118 829 030.621 942 11 276.7508：22：55D
7114.101 718 930.627 618 11 517.7108：24：32O
8114.115 653 030.621 754 61 631.2508：25：03D
9114.097 708 030.620 271 02 570.1808：42：24O
10114.123 628 730.616 384 81 335.0608：59：03D

Fig.4

Diagram of Modular feeder bus main route"

Fig.5

Iteration results"

Fig.6

Diagram of Modular feeder bus route"

Table 2

Modular feeder bus dispatching scheme"

班次车辆编号运营时间行驶距离/km接送乘客数
1M108：13：04~08：27：458.8611
M28.587
2M108：23：45~08：40：347.9212
M28.598
M37.608
3M108：35：40~08：48：146.2312
M26.227
M36.659
4M108：47：50~09：03：117.4311
M27.0711
5M108：59：57~09：15：287.8912
M28.849

Table 3

Comparison of various indicators"

指标固定容量公交运行独立运行

主路线

运行

公交企业运营成本/元180.39223.68185.68
乘客出行时间成本/元899.23776.29768.86
座位利用率/%58.5073.5081.95
系统总成本/元1 079.62999.97954.54
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