Planning Problems in Public Transit

Every day, millions of people are transported by buses, trains, and airplanes in Germany.

Public transit

(PT) is of major importance for the quality of life of individuals as well as the productivity of entire regions. Quality and efficiency of PT systems depend on the political

framework

(state-run, market oriented) and the suitability of the

infrastructure

(railway tracks, airport locations), the existing

level of service

(timetable, flight schedule), the use of adequate

technologies

(information, control, and booking systems), and the best possible deployment of

equipment and resources

(energy, vehicles, crews). The

decision, planning, and optimization problems

arising in this context are often gigantic and “scream” for mathematical support because of their complexity.