Improving punctuality by adjusting time table design

Transport authorities try to achieve a high level of quality in public transportation networks by creating performance indicators. The performance indicators can be of various designs, e.g. safety, frequency, arrival punctuality and departure punctuality. A common used performance indicator is departure punctuality. This article shows the impact of various characteristics of timetables on departure punctuality. The elements chosen for research are running time, buffer time and surplus time. This research clearly shows the impact of surplus time on punctuality. Surplus time acts as extra buffer time in timetables and therefore increasing punctuality levels. Furthermore it is shown that punctuality can be described as the sum of these 3 elements. The amount of time rewarded to each of these elements will determine eventually the level of punctuality. Changing these elements has therefore a direct influence on punctuality.