Analysis of Passenger Flows Served by Bus Routes in the city of Khujand

Muzaffar M. BOBOEV The study considered the role of passenger road transport as one of the most important sectors of the national economy, which influences the entire economy of a country and its regions, as well as the quality of life of the population. The analysis of the transport system in the city of Khujand, which is mainly dominated by road transport, has been carried out based on the results of the conducted survey on passenger flows on bus routes of the city, particularly, regarding origin-destination matrix, fare collectability. The conclusions argue in favour of practicability of conducting regular systematic monitoring of passenger flows to optimise suggestions in the field of urban public transport development. In fundamental terms, main problems of passenger transportation management were identified including lack of a regular timetable on certain routes, non-compliance with the traffic schedule, resulting in an increase in travel time, changes in routing due to the absence of sufficient number of passengers, systematic violations of traffic rules, excessively long stops at the hub stopping points, etc. The suggestions comprise approaches intended to reduce influence of organisational and managerial factors on efficiency of passenger transportation, on the correct choice of rolling stock, that should be selected considering design features, possibility of serving all segments of the population (categories of passengers), traffic intensity, manoeuvrability, compliance with road conditions, etc. Conclusions were also made regarding techniques to justify the volume of passenger transportation, to identify average distance of passenger’s trip, to calculate technical, operational, and quality indicators of operation of public transport, distribution of passengers per routes. The analysis of the structure of passenger flows since it influences the indicators of the effectiveness of passenger transportation, plays the most significant role in the framework of development of new approaches to the solution of transport issues in the city of Khujand. Implementation of full-scale monitoring of passenger flows will make it possible to develop appropriate timetables facilitating movement of passenger flows on routes, to select a rational type of rolling stock in terms of capacity, will contribute to time-saving passenger travelling, socialisation of transport tariffs, and improved quality of transportation.

The study considered the role of passenger road transport as one of the most important sectors of the national economy, which influences the entire economy of a country and its regions, as well as the quality of life of the population.
The analysis of the transport system in the city of Khujand, which is mainly dominated by road transport, has been carried out based on the results of the conducted survey on passenger flows on bus routes of the city, particularly, regarding origin-destination matrix, fare collectability.
The conclusions argue in favour of practicability of conducting regular systematic monitoring of passenger flows to optimise suggestions in the field of urban public transport development.
In fundamental terms, main problems of passenger transportation management were identified including lack of a regular timetable on certain routes, non-compliance with the traffic schedule, resulting in an increase in travel time, changes in routing due to the absence of sufficient number of passengers, systematic violations of traffic rules, excessively long stops at the hub stopping points, etc. The suggestions comprise approaches intended to reduce influence of organisational and managerial factors on efficiency of passenger transportation, on the correct choice of rolling stock, that should be selected considering design features, possibility of serving all segments of the population (categories of passengers), traffic intensity, manoeuvrability, compliance with road conditions, etc. Conclusions were also made regarding techniques to justify the volume of passenger transportation, to identify average distance of passenger's trip, to calculate technical, operational, and quality indicators of operation of public transport, distribution of passengers per routes.
The analysis of the structure of passenger flows since it influences the indicators of the effectiveness of passenger transportation, plays the most significant role in the framework of development of new approaches to the solution of transport issues in the city of Khujand.
Implementation of full-scale monitoring of passenger flows will make it possible to develop appropriate timetables facilitating movement of passenger flows on routes, to select a rational type of rolling stock in terms of capacity, will contribute to time-saving passenger travelling, socialisation of transport tariffs, and improved quality of transportation.
Keywords: service, passenger transportation, public transport, passenger traffic, irregularity of passenger traffic, route, bus, quality of service.

INTRODUCTION
Transport is one of the most important sectors of the national economy . In modern conditions, it is impossible to imagine economic development without this industry, which is closely related to others .
Various types of passenger transport, including buses, trolleybuses, trams, and minibuses, etc ., are regularly used in urban, suburban, intercity, and international transport networks . Improving quality of road transport services and meeting the demand for transport services are among the main tasks .
The main goals when managing an urban transport system concern, first, minimising transport costs, time saving, increasing safety and comfort when transporting passengers .
The situation in some cities of Tajikistan, including Khujand [1][2][3], where passengers are transported mainly by buses and minibuses, shows that the level and quality of public transport services are still unsatisfactory and do not meet the needs of the urban population .
This discrepancy is primarily due to the lack of a proper and accurate timetable for public transport, which results in long waiting at stops; non-observance of traffic intervals; illegal parking of vehicles in prohibited places; overcrowding in vehicles; non-observance of the standardised stopping time at intermediate and final stops; violation of traffic safety rules . All these are very serious problems for urban transport and require immediate solutions .
Efficient use of work time, respect of timetables and travel modes, gap size, speed limits when transporting passengers, optimisation of costs while providing minimum reasonable travel time, correct operation of buses, high quality of services provided, regularity of route servicing can be implemented if urban public transport is wisely organised and operated .
It should be noted that one of the best methods for studying and further solving these problems is the study of passenger flows, i .e ., «turnover» of passengers, mobility of passenger flows on certain days and at certain times, in a certain direction along city routes . The analysis of these flows can be carried out depending on the characteristics of the route, time of day, days of the week, during a month, season, on a separate route or on all routes, for one mode of transport or for all types of urban passenger transport .
A review of sources (e .g ., [4][5][6][7][8][9]) has shown that analysis of demand for transport services, information about the regularities of formation of demand for transportation of passengers, as well as detailed study of transport services use information about the rate of satisfaction of demand in the existing transport system . The study of passenger flows can be carried out in full for various modes of transport or individually for a particular mode of transport . Usually, in such studies, the reporting-statistical method, questionnaire method, field surveys are used .
The analysis of passenger flows allows us to consider functioning of public transport, considering development and adoption of standards, i .e ., regarding the indicators of transport operations, including the efficiency of transportation, comprising the average travelled distance, traffic speed (vehicle speed), the coefficient of vehicle population, the coefficient of the difference in passenger flows, the coefficient of regularity of routes servicing, etc . All these indicators should be adjusted considering the current situation . The revision and approval of the aforementioned indicators will allow development of an appropriate timetable on routes, choosing the appropriate vehicle capacity, reducing transport costs, ensuring passenger comfort, increasing the level of service and offering acceptable service rates . Subsequently, this will improve the quality of service and the efficiency of vehicle operation .
A successful solution of the problems of rational organisation of passenger transportation and efficient use of rolling stock is impossible without a systematic study of passenger flows within the transport network . In doing so, it is necessary to consider many factors and parameters .
So, e .g ., the parameter of «the rate of passenger flows» is very important . It is understood through the number of passengers passing at a certain time through a specific section of the route or the entire transport network of a settlement in one direction [6] . At the same time, it is necessary to differentiate passenger flows that can be constant or variable; one-sided or two-sided; regular or irregular; periodic or intermittent . Variability of passenger flows on routes or in a certain area of the city plays an important role in organising and managing passenger transportation an should be considered when organising transport operations . To ensure a high level of operation of public transport, the quality of service provided to the population, as well as to design optimal routes, it is necessary, based on the study of passenger flows, to determine the direction of movement and the number of passengers, as well as unevenness of passenger flows on the routes .
The distribution of the population by social categories such as workers, employees, schoolchildren, and students of secondary and higher vocational education is the main factor determining the rate of population mobility .
One of the main factors in improving quality of passenger transportation is the correct choice of vehicles . The fleer of operated public transport vehicles should be analysed in term of structure design, number of seats, passenger capacity, traffic intensity, driving, and other indicators, from the point of view of their operation in urban, suburban, intercity, and international transportation .
The analysis of passenger flows makes it possible to reveal the population needs in transportation and to organise the work of public transport considering new standards, that is, indicators of transport performance, including the average distance travelled by passengers, travel speed (operating speed), vehicle occupancy rate, coefficient of inequality of passenger flows, coefficient of regularity of the route servicing, etc ., that will match the actual situation .
The study can be carried out in full (for all types of passenger transport); only for «individual» types (buses, trolleybuses, trams); selectively on separate routes or groups of routes .
The most common methods for studying passenger traffic are reporting and statistical method; questionnaire method; field surveys . Field surveys, in turn, can be represented by coupon, tabular, visual, silhouette and survey methods .

STATEMENT OF THE TASK
To improve the level and quality of passenger service by road transport in Khujand and increase profitability of the city's transport enterprises, it is necessary to study and analyse the flow of passengers .
The objective of the study was to present the results of primary analysis of passenger flows in the city of Khujand, particularly of those served by road public transport .
The results will allow to substantiate the practicability of further systematic and detailed study of passenger flow .

RESULTS
Khujand is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia . It is the second largest city in the Republic of Tajikistan and one of the main transportation, political, economic, cultural and scientific centres of the country . In terms of agglomeration, Khujand is second only to Dushanbe (population of Dushanbe accounts 916200 people, Khujand -181600 people) . The agglomeration area of Khujand is 3400 m 2 , and the population density is 269 people/km .
To improve the quality of service and the use of the fleet on bus routes in Khujand, the analysis of passenger flows was carried out using the natural calculation (tabular) method .
The • seen, the largest number of passengers entering and leaving is observed at the bus stop near Panjshanbe bazaar: 11,4 % of passengers embark and 14 % disembark at the bus stop . The busiest bus stops along the route are the stops near the department store, Barakat shopping center, Atush bazaar, Sakhovat bazaar and Somon bazaar, which are located at a distance of 100 to 250 meters from each other . Other «popular» stops are also Station stop, stops located in the centre of B . Gafurovsky area, next to Farovon central market . Research shows that passenger embarkation and disembarkation always increase at stops near shopping malls, businesses, health centres, universities, educational institutions and recreational facilities . A similar survey on passenger flows was carried out on three more bus routes in the city .
After analysing these figures, the authors concluded that unevenness of the number of passengers on these routes depends on the working hours of the townspeople and the points of departure of passengers . From 6-00 till 8-00 a .m . the number of passengers exceeded the normal rate, so, there was a shortage of buses . Also at this time, one could observe an irregularity in bus traffic .
It was also recorded that toll collection was not carried out properly by the transport company on these routes . As a result of the obtained data and calculations, it was revealed that the amount collected by the conductors is 15-20 % less than the normally calculated amount .
The analysis of operation of route No . 1 was carried out considering the volume of transported passengers, fare collectability, the number of passengers enjoying the discounts, tariff for transportation, income of motor transport companies from provision of services for transportation of passengers (Table 2) .
It is necessary to consider the specifics of the city routes of Khujand . Some stopping points are located outside the city (in the nearby suburban areas) . But the analysis of passenger flows shows that 70-80 % of passengers using this route are residents of the city of Khujand . The Table 2 analyses the number of passengers enjoying the discounts, including those who are entitled to completely free travel or to 50 % exempt from payment . This is considered in the calculations .
It can be seen from this table that passengers completely exempted from fare make up only 0,96 % of all passengers, and those exempted by 50 % (children of school age up to 12 years old belong to this category, according to the Instruction of the Procedure for Registration and Accounting of Privileged Passengers in Public Transport of the Republic of Tajikistan 1 ) accounted for 3,1 % of the entire bus population .
As shown in Table 2