Purpose of approximate timetables

A well-structured timetable is the backbone of any functioning public transport system. However, creating precise timetables is often complex, time-consuming and requires a large amount of data. This is where so-called approximate timetables come into play: they enable the quick and efficient development of realistic timetables, even without complete detailed data.

What is an approximate timetable?

An approximate timetable describes a simplified model of a timetable, in which departure times, intervals and runs are defined on the basis of assumptions and regularities. Instead of calculating each individual journey exactly, patterns, intervals and connections between lines are used.

The goal is to create a functioning and plausible overall system that can serve as a basis for further planning steps.

For example, an approximate timetable could look like this (B01):

The times shown in 1 are the departure times that could be calculated from the defined relationships. If not all required variables are known, no clear value can be given at this point.

In 2, a 15-minute-interval is described, which applies at 6:00 and from 11:00 to 14:00 inclusive. Every second vehicle on line B01 travels only between Lakeshore Park (LSP) and Elmwood Street (EWS) within this cycle, instead of serving the entire route to Liberty Plains (LBP).

The specified value for β of Liberty Plains (see 3) is greater than the specified interval. Therefore, the departure time of the first vehicle is being changed: it will not start at :25, but at :11.

Näherungsfahrpläne einfach erstellen

Mit unserem Näherungsfahrplan-Ersteller wird die Entwicklung solcher Fahrpläne deutlich vereinfacht. Das Tool ermöglicht es, Linien, Abfahrten, Intervalle und Abhängigkeiten strukturiert zu definieren und daraus ein konsistentes Fahrplansystem zu entwickeln.

Besonders praktisch ist die Möglichkeit, Zusammenhänge zwischen verschiedenen Linien, wie etwa Anschlussbeziehungen oder zeitliche Abhängigkeiten, abzubilden. Dadurch entstehen realistische und gut abgestimmte Fahrpläne.

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