Optimal Design of Feeder-Bus Network with Split Delivery

Feeder-bus networks between urban rail transit systems and bus stops are inefficient in terms of the cost incurred by passengers, the time taken to reach the destination, and the number and frequency of feeder buses. To solve these issues, a new split delivery model using genetic algorithm (GA) for the feeder-bus network design problem (FBNDP), which is based on the transfer network, is proposed. To accomplish this, the general many-to-one assumption between bus stops and routes is discarded and replaced by the many-to-many assumption, wherein multiple bus stops are served by multiple routes, while considering a new split delivery method. This model is called the feeder-bus network design problem with split delivery (FBNDP-SD). The use of GA and the many-to-many assumption through repeat bus stops resulted in the effective distribution of passenger demand among different routes, reducing the passengers’ generalized travel expenses and optimizing the network structure. While the construction of the FBNDP-SD solution, as well as the interconversion of the FBNDP solution and FBNDP-SD solution, is realized, this paper provides a new research direction of FBNDP.