Train punctuality analysis in a rolling stock perspective

Abstract

This paper studies how time delays spread through the railway system. We evaluate timetable and rolling stock interaction in relation to medium size delays. In particular, we study the connection between arrival and departure delays for trains that are operated by the same rolling stock individual. We studied one year of data for trains circulating in the Oslo area.

Research questions in this study are: What is the connection between arrival and departure delays for the same piece of rolling stock?

How can delays be tracked through the route schedules and the rolling stock circulation plan?

Punctuality analysis was performed to investigate if there is a connection between arrival and departure delays. A correlation analysis of the arrival delays and the corresponding departures was done in order to find the possible connection.

There was a connection between the size of arrival delays and the size of the corresponding departure delays. We found a threshold at around 20 minutes. An arrival delay over this threshold is expected to cause departure delays. Below the threshold most of the arrival delays are absorbed.