Improvement of Shuttle Bus Service Using Simulation Modelling

Abstract

This research aims to explore and analyze the current operation of Chulalongkorn University bus service system (CU Pop Bus), Route 1 (Sala Prakeaw to Lido Theater) and to examine methods to improve the service efficiency during a rush hour of 3:30 to 5:00 pm, using two criteria including (i) load Factor, which should be no more than 1.72 and (ii) average waiting time at the two stations, which should be less than 10 minutes. The investigation of current situations revealed more than 36 passengers on the bus, which was too crowded. Moreover, passengers waited for the bus more than 10 minutes, which was unacceptable and also greater than the guarantee time on the bus’s timetable. Researchers proposed four ways to improve the CU Pop Bus, including (1) reducing a number of bus seats, (2) using additional buses, (3) reducing a number of bus stops, and (4) changing the bus route to avoid traffic congestion. Simulation models were set at the maximum rate of bus capacity as 36 passengers or 1.72 load factor. The result showed that only three methods can significantly reduce the average waiting time to less than 10 minutes. Arranging from the most reduction of average waiting time to the least, the first one is the concept of changing the route to avoid traffic jam that can reduce average waiting time by 53 percent at Sala Prakeaw station and by 40 percent at Lido Theatre station. Secondly, the concept of using additional bus can reduce average waiting time by 34 percent at Sala Prakeaw station and by 23 percent at Lido Theatre station. The third one is the concept of reorganizing bus seats which can reduce average waiting time by 23 percent at Sala Prakeaw station and by 20 percent at Lido Theatre station. The changing of bus route method requires less implementation cost and is the most effective way to reduce the average waiting time; thus, it is the most appropriate method to improve the CU Pop Bus route 1.