Research Article

Utilizing Discrete Event Simulation to Optimize Headway Times in a Light Rail Transit System

Volume: 14 Number: 2 June 30, 2025
TR EN

Utilizing Discrete Event Simulation to Optimize Headway Times in a Light Rail Transit System

Abstract

Due to recent urbanization and population growth in cities, the passenger transport system is faced with significant congestion and delay problems. In particular, to handle peak-time passenger traffic, railway public transport systems are operated with more frequent trips during the peak hours, and less-frequent train interarrivals are scheduled during off-peak hours to increase the total system utilization. This study proposes a simulation methodology for optimizing the trips of a metro line with variable passenger traffic. A microsimulation model was constructed using the Arena software to create an experimental medium for the optimization phase. The discrete-event simulation concept was utilized for the model building. The passenger flow and train arrival rates were the main input parameters obtained from the passenger origin-destination station matrix and train arrival data. The model was coupled with the artificial bee colony algorithm for determining the optimized train time headways. The optimization study resulted in a decrease of 27.5% and 25.5%in the total number of daily train trips for the normal and increased train capacity scenarios under a zero failed boarding policy. The results of the study were also compared with the literature findings which are discussed in detail.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

The study is complied with research and publication ethics.

Thanks

The authors thanks to the Izmir Metro organization for providing the necessary data.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Transportation Engineering

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

June 27, 2025

Publication Date

June 30, 2025

Submission Date

January 2, 2025

Acceptance Date

June 16, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 14 Number: 2

APA
Yıldırım, M. S., & Çakıcı, Z. (2025). Utilizing Discrete Event Simulation to Optimize Headway Times in a Light Rail Transit System. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, 14(2), 838-858. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1602799
AMA
1.Yıldırım MS, Çakıcı Z. Utilizing Discrete Event Simulation to Optimize Headway Times in a Light Rail Transit System. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2025;14(2):838-858. doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1602799
Chicago
Yıldırım, Mehmet Sinan, and Ziya Çakıcı. 2025. “Utilizing Discrete Event Simulation to Optimize Headway Times in a Light Rail Transit System”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 14 (2): 838-58. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1602799.
EndNote
Yıldırım MS, Çakıcı Z (June 1, 2025) Utilizing Discrete Event Simulation to Optimize Headway Times in a Light Rail Transit System. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 14 2 838–858.
IEEE
[1]M. S. Yıldırım and Z. Çakıcı, “Utilizing Discrete Event Simulation to Optimize Headway Times in a Light Rail Transit System”, Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 838–858, June 2025, doi: 10.17798/bitlisfen.1602799.
ISNAD
Yıldırım, Mehmet Sinan - Çakıcı, Ziya. “Utilizing Discrete Event Simulation to Optimize Headway Times in a Light Rail Transit System”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi 14/2 (June 1, 2025): 838-858. https://doi.org/10.17798/bitlisfen.1602799.
JAMA
1.Yıldırım MS, Çakıcı Z. Utilizing Discrete Event Simulation to Optimize Headway Times in a Light Rail Transit System. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2025;14:838–858.
MLA
Yıldırım, Mehmet Sinan, and Ziya Çakıcı. “Utilizing Discrete Event Simulation to Optimize Headway Times in a Light Rail Transit System”. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 14, no. 2, June 2025, pp. 838-5, doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1602799.
Vancouver
1.Mehmet Sinan Yıldırım, Ziya Çakıcı. Utilizing Discrete Event Simulation to Optimize Headway Times in a Light Rail Transit System. Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2025 Jun. 1;14(2):838-5. doi:10.17798/bitlisfen.1602799

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