Comparing fixed and flexible transit systems for connecting high speed railway station with urban transport network: Aswan as a case study

Public transportation plays a crucial role in promoting economic growth, decreasing environmental damage, and providing fair access to key services. This study offers a comparative analysis of fixed and flexible transit systems, considering costs for both operators and users. The research employs a genetic algorithm to analyze transportation scenarios in New Aswan city, Egypt. The outcomes represented in optimal bus size, fleet size, number of zones, and headways for each system. The findings indicate that, in Aswan scenario, a bus size of seven seats give lower costs for the flexible transit system, whereas larger buses give higher cost in the fixed transit system. When comparing the two systems under varying demand conditions, the fixed system proves superior for high demand (exceeding one trip per minute). This research is the first of its kind for Aswan city and could improve transportation planning with enhance the integration of high-speed train stations accessibility.