Optimizing multimodal timetable synchronization of intercity railway and metro for the first service period during holidays

Metro plays a vital role in managing passenger distribution at intercity railway (IR) stations, particularly during holidays when there is a surge in tourist traffic. To efficiently accommodate the high demand for intercity travel, it becomes imperative for metro agencies to optimize holiday timetables. This paper focuses on designing holiday timetables of the first service period for the metro network that connects to an IR station, aiming to enhance multimodal collaboration with IR timetables while ensuring seamless coordination among various metro lines at the network level. A bi-objective model is proposed to maximize the temporal availability of metro network and minimize transfer waiting times for IR passengers traveling in early morning. To solve the model, an improved artificial bee colony algorithm (ABC) is designed, incorporating adaptive neighbour search and simulated annealing techniques. The effectiveness of the model and algorithm is verified using the Shanghai metro network and Hongqiao Railway Station. Results indicate a 9.46% increase in the temporal availability of metro network for IR passengers, coupled with a 9.68% reduction in passenger transfer waiting times. Notably, the study reveals that solely advancing operations of the IR-connected metro lines is inefficient. Instead, optimizing train timetables for the entire metro network proves to be a cost-effective approach to enhancing the overall service level of early-morning operations. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the significance of even-numbered train headways in reducing passenger transfer waiting times.