Determinants of Delay Incident Occurrence in Urban Metros

Abstract

The reliability of train service is a key objective of metro management and a major part of a successful operation. An occurrence of incidents in the network is likely to cause delays to the train service and disorder in the punctuality and regularity of the metro operation and hence affects the service reliability of the metro system. This result suggests a way to improve train service reliability by reducing the occurrence of incidents in urban metro systems. This paper used statistical techniques to identify the main factors that explained the variation in the number of delay incidents across 42 metro lines of 15 different metro systems from 2005 to 2009. The main factors that explained differences in incident performance across urban metro lines were the technology of the mode of train operation, the level of passenger demand, the service level operated during peak periods, and the practical capacity available. In contrast, engineering and usually fixed factors such as the type of track support, the type of rail connection, and the type of rolling stock wheel did not affect the level of incidents. The findings also suggested that metro-specific factors (e.g., differences in maintenance and management practices, operations management, and health and safety procedures) helped to explain the variation in incident performance across urban metros.

Impacts of Unattended Train Operations on Productivity and Efficiency in Metropolitan Railways

“…However this study had insufficient data points available to disaggregate GoA2, GoA3 and GoA4. Reasons that GoA4 could improve reliability include removal of 'driver unavailable' as a reason for cancelled trains (15,23), and reduced opportunity for incidents caused by human error (23,24). Reliability affects both train-km and passenger-km outputs.…”

“…For example, GoA2 and above can enable higher operational speeds and train frequencies due to Automatic Train Operation (ATO) (21,23). Paris Métro has reported that after upgrading from GoA1 to GoA4, Line 1 requires fewer rolling stock units to provide the same level of service (21).…”

“…Unfortunately, data of sufficient quality are generally not available for these measures. However, the MDBF data have been checked and verified according to a long-established definition developed by the CoMET and Nova benchmarking groups (23,30).…”

Survey on Driverless Train Operation for Urban Rail Transit Systems

“…Capacity is increased by higher operational speeds and train frequencies provided by DTO systems, where the headway can be reduced to 75 s, even to 60 s [19,20]. In addition, DTO systems can reduce the turnaround times at the terminus to enable higher frequency.…”

Measuring and Valuing Convenience and Service Quality

“…Other research (Melo et al, 2011) has shown that increasing available line capacity (e.g. with new signalling) reduces delays whereas increasing uptake of that capacity by trains increases delays.…”