A multiobjective planning model for intercity train seat allocation

This paper presents a multiobjective planning model for generating optimal train seat allocation plans on an intercity rail line serving passengers with many-to-many origin-destination pairs. Two planning objectives of the model are to maximise the operator's total passenger revenue and to minimise the passenger's total discomfort level. For a given set of travel demand, train capacity, and train stop-schedules, the model is solved by fuzzy mathematical programming to generate a best-compromise train seat allocation plan. The plan determines how many reserved and non-reserved seats are to be allocated at each origin station for all subsequent destination stations on each train run operated within a specified operating period. An empirical study on the to-be-built Taiwan's high-speed rail system is conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the model. The model can be used for any setting of travel demand and stop-schedules with various train seating capacities.