Maximizing synchronous transfer between metro and buses considering connection level

Transfer between the metro (underground railway system) and buses is standard in many cities, and the simultaneous arrival of these two modes can provide passengers with a smoother transfer experience. However, previous synchronous transfer studies rarely consider different public transport modes simultaneously. This paper presents an optimization model that maximizes the number of metro and bus network synchronizations considering the connection level. An improved algorithm that combines simulated annealing (SA) and artificial bee colony (ABC) is proposed. The best nectar source position in history is combined with the SA operation. The ABC and simulated annealing and improved artificial bee colony (SA–IABC) algorithms are used to solve the model using the Nanmendou metro station and the bus stations within 1.2 km around it in Fuzhou City, China. The results show that ABC and improved SA–IABC algorithms increase the synchronization times of the metro and bus network by 17% and 24% on average, respectively, without expanding the departure frequency.