TRC BUSMODEL - AN INTEGRATED MODEL OF URBAN BUS OPERATIONS

Major changes are occurring in the bus industry in Victoria, with privatisation of the government bus fleet and the restructuring of government contracts. These changes require better market information and analysis to enable bus operators to compete more effectively in this new environment. This paper describes the development of an integrated modelling system by the Transport Research Centre for the Bus Proprietors' Association (Victoria) to assist in this transition. The initial suite of models is centred around a spreadsheet model of bus route operations, known as TRC BusModel. Supporting the model are a wide variety of data sources, covering descriptions of the bus network in GIS format, demographic information in catchment areas, information on bus users from patronage surveys, further information on users and non-users from household travel surveys, plus information on users' preferences from Stated Preference surveys. The model is able to determine what fares would need to be charged under current conditions to maintain a commercially viable service, and what changes would be desirable to improve levels of service to passengers and hence ensure the ongoing commercial viability of the service within the new environment dictated by the transport reform agenda. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see IRRD abstract no. 878368.