Delays on Zurich's regional rail system had risen to unacceptable levels by 2003 due to increasing ridership and more frequent service. The research goal was to identify the causes of delay, develop measures to reduce delays, evaluate these measures and make recommendations. A combination of engineering and computerized statistical analysis was used to identify and evaluate delays. The main causes of delay were: increased station dwell time (for passenger boarding/alighting), delays caused by trains entering the core network late, and sub-optimal track/platform dispatching. Measures for reducing delays were developed and tested using simulation. Recommended measures included systematically revising dwell times throughout the network, new stopping patterns, new dispatching techniques, and developing a prioritized infrastructure program. Several of the recommendations were implemented in the December 2004 schedule change and have helped reduce delay. The study's main recommendation is that the identified recommendation measures must be implemented systematically and continuously.
Abstract