Att göra tidtabeller i svensk kollektivtrafik : ett utforskande och sociologiskt perspektiv

Public transport (PT) and its timetables have considerable effects on the everyday life of passengers and transport workers. However, social science research on the processes, values, and goals behind the creation of PT timetables is limited. The process of timetabling has mainly been studied within transport engineering from a technical and optimization perspective. This exploratory study aims to gain an understanding of the timetabling process from a sociological perspective to identify themes for further inquiry. In addition, it aims to reflect on the possible socio-spatial effects of timetable practices, based on the goals and values expressed by professionals at PT authorities. The study focuses on timetable planning for buses in three Swedish regional PT authorities (RPTAs). The analysis is based on semi-structured interviews with seven officials at three RPTAs, supported by a semi-systematic literature overview. The results indicate that bus timetables are created through a complex decision-making process that starts with political goals. This process involves extensive coordination among regional RPTAs, municipalities, and PT operators, with limited input from employers and citizens. The knowledge base includes travel data and municipal plans, with constraints such as budget, infrastructure, and road network issues. The study suggests that the main goal of timetable planning is to increase PT usage by focusing on high-volume routes, following a “best benefit for most people” principle. Three key sociological and temporal issues arise: the utilitarian approach of benefiting the majority, the prioritization of speed, and the possibility to adapt to timetables. The focus on trunk routes can lead to high-quality PT for many but insufficient service for others. Speed prioritization can exclude those who cannot adapt to it, such as people with disabilities. The question of who should adapt to whose schedules remains critical, as the possibility to control one own’s time is unequally distributed.