Project Description
Phillip Boyle & Associates undertook an extensive service revision to support Public Transport Victoria’s (PTV) aims of improved timetable quality and enhanced intermodal connectivity. The Invicta Bus Services network covers much of Melbourne’s outer-eastern suburbs and operates over four million annual bus kilometres across a network of 22 bus routes. It is supplemented by numerous school special services, including the Telebus demand-response services.
Highlights
Phillip Boyle & Associates’ revised operating plan:
- Provided a 25% increase in effective bus–train connections through optimised timetabling
- Significantly increased the number of passengers connected; in some cases, by over 20%
- Resulted in substantial increases in ridership (15% system-wide) in the first 12 months, achieved with less than 4% additional service kilometres
- Greatly improved overall service reliability and efficiency.
Scope of Works
Key Tasks
Phillip Boyle & Associates’ tasks included:
- A full system-wide ridecheck, using PBA’s sophisticated iPad data-collection tools
- Revision of network
- Revision of run times using the HASTUS ATP running-time optimisation module
- Complete revision of all timetables using HASTUS NetPlan
- Vehicle blocking and crew scheduling
- Operational and costing advice
- Extensive implementation support, including stop timetable development, data exports and project management.
Key Challenges
Implementing a large-scale network change with completely rewritten timetables has the potential for significant service disruption and reduced service quality. Network change was made more complex by the unique network and operational challenges of the Invicta services, particularly the Telebus (demand-responsive transport) service and the school services. Major changes to school services can be risky and require detailed knowledge and careful management. To provide improved connections on bus routes serving multiple stations, we had to establish a hierarchy of connection locations.
Our Clients
