Service-Oriented Load Balancing Approach to Alleviating Peak-Hour Congestion in a Metro Network Based on Multi-Path Accessibility

To further improve the service quality and reduce safety risks in current congested metro systems during peak hours, this paper presents a load balancing (LB) approach so that available capacity can be utilized more effectively in order to alleviate peak hour congestion. A set of under-utilized yet effective alternative routes were searched using a deletion algorithm (DA) in order to share the passenger loads on overcrowded metro line segments. An optimization model was constructed based on an improved route generalized time utility function considering the penalties of both in-vehicle congestion and transfers. A detailed load balancing solution was generated based on the proposed algorithm. A real-world example of three overloaded metro line segments in the Shanghai metro network were selected and used to verify the feasibility and validity of the developed load balancing method. The results show that the load balancing method can effectively reduce the overcrowding situation to a great extent. Finally, two prospective inducing schemes are discussed to help implement the load balancing solution in the actual metro system in an efficient and effective manner.