Methodology of Robust Optimization for Feeder Bus Timetable Based on Stochastic Demands

In order to decrease disturbance influence of stochastic demand for feeder bus timetable design and put into operation, a methodology based on robust optimization for feeder bus network timetable under stochastic demand was proposed. A scenario was identified as a specific evolution of stochastic feeder bus demand. The objective value of scenario minimized passenger cost and operation cost. Considered feeder bus demand as stochastic variable, a robust optimization model for feeder bus timetable design was proposed to minimize expected value and variance of scenario objective. For combinatorial optimization and stochastic programming features of the proposed model, genetic algorithm was provided to solve the proposed model. a numerical example was used to verify the proposed mathematical model and the solution algorithm. The result shows that with variation weight coefficient increase, robust model tends to reduce the disturbance brought by random demand.