Evaluating the rescheduled timetable with time-dependent passenger demands during disruptions

Maintaining high operation performance and at the same time having high transporting capacity is a challenge for urban rail lines during unexpected disruption. In this paper, we focus on adjusting the train timetable in case of a complete blockage with fixed disruption length. A mixed integrated linear train rescheduling model, where short-turning, cancelling and adjustable dwell time and running time are included, is proposed to minimize total train delays and services cancellation under different dispatcher’s reaction time towards disruption. To evaluate the train rescheduling impacts on passengers, we later establish an accurate passenger flow model considering time-dependent passenger ODs. The main objective is to minimizing passenger travel time. A case study is carried out for the disruption scenarios on Beijing Metro Line 7. It is illustrated that optimal rescheduling solution is sensitive to reaction time. Shorter reaction time mitigates train delays as well as passengers’ travel time. Longer reaction time increases the numbers of affected train services during the disruption and make it more difficult recover to original timetable.