Optimal fleet size distribution and scheduling of transit systems using genetic algorithms

Optimal fleet size distribution and scheduling with transfer consideration for a transit system is a difficult optimization problem. A traditional for mulation of the problem leads to a large non-linear mixed integer programmi ng problem. Past experience has shown that traditional optimization methods are unable to give optimal solutions to even simpler versions of the probl em (Eke the optimal scheduling problem with known fleet size distribution). In this paper, a simple binary coded genetic algorithm (GA) based approach to the optimization problem is presented. The use of GA allows a more effi cient formulation of the problem and the GA based approach gives optimal/ne ar-optimal results with limited computation effort.