Simulation of a Service Station in a Public Transportation System

The simulation of heuristic problems of timetable and rotation planning is a well-established procedure in the local public transport for years. However, agent-based approaches like MATSim have additional potentials, which extend beyond the usual application. This contribution illustrates one of these potentials using the example of the introduction of a service station in the service system of a public transport provider. In a five-step procedure, this service is analyzed and modeled for the simulation. The results of the simulation provide further direction for the specific requirements of these service stations. The case study shows, on the one hand, the usefulness of simulation in a complex service system. Thus, both service station-specific parameters, such as location combinations, capacity or service life, as well as market-economy data, such as utilization, can be calculated. On the other hand, the case also shows the limitations, such as the high computational cost.