University computer goes to work to produce cheaper, speedier timetabling
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THE Leeds University electronic computer is to be used to work out methods for better bus timetabling. The Science Research Council has granted £5,000 to Mr. Anthony Wren of the university computing laboratory to develop a computer technique which could be used on bus networks anywhere in the world.
Apart from any improvement in the utilization of conductors, drivers and vehicles which might result from the work, the task of bus scheduling at present ties down a substantial number of skilled staff.
A complete revision of schedules for a large network of bus routes takes more than six months, thus limiting flexibility in adapting bus services to suit changing demand from the travelling public. .
Mr. Wren, whose previous work on railway schedules was adopted by BR in 1463, said: "Our aim is to produce a programme which bus operators can use not only to cut overheads but also to rearrange timetables far more quickly.
"There are already computer programmes which can be used to make the most efficient use of buses for any given timetable, but we intend to let the computer make up a timetable which will make the best use of crews and buses."
Leeds and London Transport undertakings will supply bus operating data for the computer to use. The work is due for completion in three years.
Mr. Thomas Lord, general manager of Leeds City Transport, said: "We regard bus scheduling as one of the major problems in the industry and would like to see some real progress made. If Leeds University were able to do so, it would be accepted as a great step forward."
As a first step, Mr. Wren will visit several transport undertakings in Britain to meet the staff' who undertake present-day schedule work. Then, a computational method, incorporating the outline of bus service operation, will be devised and put together to form a trial programme.
To test the programme, realistic data concerning road congestion, trade union agreements, minute by minute details of passenger flow during rush hours, and even the time of the driver's tea break, will be fed to the computer. The schedules then suggested by the computer will be examined closely by Mr. Wren.