Least transfer cost model for optimizing public transport travel routes

The topology of public transport network is classified into topology based on geography and topology based on path-stop network. The topology based on path-stop network has some advantages such as simple structure and high search speed, except for homonymous stops confusion. Transfers in public transport travel are classified into TSS, TUS and TNS, and transfer cost is proposed to evaluate different types of transfers. An optimal travel route model- Least Transfer Cost Model (LTCM) is proposed. LTCM is on the basis of least transfer travel route model, and transfer cost of each route is calculated. A public transport guidance program is developed to evaluate the performance of LTCM. The results show that LTCM can choose the least transfer cost route to be the optimal travel route. Compared with other optimal route models based on least transfer model, LTCM do not need GPS information and can identify homonymous stops.