Multi-Objective Timetabling Optimization for a Two-Way Metro Line under Dynamic Passenger Demand

In metro systems, the train passenger load is an important parameter that reflects both the utilization level of the trains provided by the operator and the comfort level of passengers in terms of crowdedness. In addition to minimizing the energy consumption and passengers' time cost, the train passenger load should also be optimized in order to maintain a high utilization rate of trains and an adequate level of comfort for passengers. In this paper, a multi-objective train timetable optimization procedure is proposed to minimize the total energy consumption, the average waiting time, and the average maximum load deviation. Case studies on the Beijing Yizhuang line show that the proposed approach could effectively reduce the total energy consumption, the average waiting time, and the average maximum load deviation, thus ensuring a high service quality and a low operational cost for the metro system.