Attributes of PT lines

The PT Line window opens automatically when you insert a network object and have selected to have the Edit dialog opened automatically after object creation (Right-click behavior and action after creating an object). By default, only the Public Transport Lines list is opened.

Into the window, you enter attribute values for the network object. For network objects which have already been defined, you can call the window using the following functions:

  • ►  In the list of network objects of the network object type, double-click the row with the desired network object.
  • ►  In the Network editor, select the network object of your choice. Then, on its shortcut menu, click Edit.

The network object may have additional attributes. In the network objects list of the network object type, you can show all attributes and attribute values. You can open the list via the following functions:

In the network objects list of the network object type, you can edit attributes and attribute values of a network object (Selecting cells in lists), (Using lists).

The objects of this object type may have relations to other objects. This is why the attributes list is shown as part of a coupled list (on the left). On the Lists toolbar, in the Relations box, you can show and edit the coupled list with the attributes of the desired relation on the right (see below Showing and editing dependent objects as relation) and (Using coupled lists).

Note: In lists, you can use the  Attribute selection icon to show and hide attribute values (Selecting attributes and subattributes for columns of a list).

Basic attributes of PT lines

The basic attributes of the network element are shown in the upper area of the window and in the list of network objects for the particular network object type.

Element Description
No.

Unique number 1 to 4294967295

Name Description

Base data tab

Element Description
Starting on Link

Entry link EntryLink: Link on which the PT line begins

Vehicle type

VehType: Vehicle type of PT line

Desired speed distribution

DesSpeedDistr: Initial speed of PT vehicle

Time Offset

Entry time offset (EntTmOffset): Time PT vehicles need to enter the network before their scheduled departure time in order to depart punctually at the departure times scheduled, from the first stop serviced.

This means you enter the departure times of your timetable as departure times of the PT line. The time offset is the sum of the time the vehicle requires to get to its first stop in the network and the average passenger interchange time at this stop.

The resulting network entry time is always set to zero, if the departure time is smaller than the time offset.

If the time offset is 0 s, the vehicles of the PT line enter the Vissim network precisely at their defined departure time.

Start time distribution

Entry time distribution (EntryTmDistr):Time distribution for variation of departure time at which the vehicle enters the network (Using distributions), (Using time distributions). This value is added as a delay to the calculated entry time. Entry time = departure time - time offset

Slack Time Fraction

SlackTmFrac: only relevant for stops with specified departure time: factor for wait time of PT vehicle as part of the remaining time until scheduled departure. Value range 0.00 to 1.00.

  • Slack time fraction = 1: Earliest departure time is according to the timetable (Attributes of PT lines)
  • Slack time fraction < 1: Departure time may be earlier than fixed in the timetable. Departure time is based solely on arrival time and dwell time. This allows you to model earliness as well.
Color

Define the color of PT vehicle of this line

Departure times tab

You may define individual trips of the line as courses. When you enter departure times, individual trips (New) and departures based on service frequency rate (Rate) can be mixed. In both cases, you may in addition to the time also specify a course number and occupancy rate.

The list contains, amongst others, the following attributes:

Element Description
Dep

Departure time of a public transport vehicle relative to the start time of the simulation

TeleCour

PT telegram - course: Optional course number. If PT calling points are defined for the network, the course number serves to perform evaluations of serial telegrams in terms of the course number.

Occup

Occupancy: Initial number of passenger in PT vehicle when entering the Vissim network.

Generate start times

You may define several departure times simultaneously.

1.  In the Departure Times tab, right-click in the table.

2.  On the shortcut menu, click Generate start times.

The window Generate Start Times and Courses by Service Rate opens.

3.  Make the desired changes:

Element Description
Departure time

First departure in timetable of service frequency

  • Begin: first departure
  • Rate: service frequency rate. Vissim generates all departures defined this way as individual trips. You may also define multiple service frequency rates in a row.
  • End: last departure
Course

Optional course

  • First: first course number. Is displayed in the Departure Times tab.
  • Step: increment for all following course numbers. The departure times are sorted in chronological order.
Occupancy Number of passenger in PT vehicle when entering the Vissim network. Is displayed in the Departure Times tab.

PT Telegrams tab

You can define data that is transmitted via PT telegrams to control procedures, when vehicles pass PT calling points (Using detectors).

Element Description
Line sends PT telegrams Send PT telegrams (SendTele): Select this option if you want vehicles of this PT line to be recorded by PT calling points.
Line

PT Telegrams - Line (TeleLine): Number of PT line, max. 999 999 999

Route PT Telegrams - Route (TeleRout): Number of PT line path, max. 999 999 999
Priority PT telegram - priority (TelePrio): Priority of PT vehicle [1 to 7]
Tram Length PT telegram - tram length (TeleVehLen): Length of PT vehicle [1 to 7]
Manual Direction PT telegram - manual direction (TeleManDir): Direction from which the vehicle is coming, if the PT calling point cannot clearly identify this via line or route number.
Transmission of the delay

Vissim calculates the delay and automatically transmits Public transport - lateness when a PT vehicle of a PT line with the Send PT telegrams attribute selected reaches a detector whose type is PT calling pt. In this case, Vissim uses the delay at the actual departure at the previous stop of the vehicle:

Delay = actual departure time minus scheduled departure time

The scheduled departure time is the sum of the attribute DepartureTime of the corresponding vehicle journey and the attribute Departure offset of the line stop.

The delay is added to the journey since the last stop. Here, Vissim assumes that the vehicle takes the entire difference of the two scheduled departure times to travel from the previous to the next stop (the difference of the Departure offset attributes) and travels at a constant speed. Thus, Vissim calculates when the vehicle should be at its current position according to the timetable (given this distance traveled since the last stop), and from this the current delay.

You can display the current delay as a vehicle attribute Public transport - lateness:

  • in the vehicle list
  • in the quick view
  • in the vehicle record

The vehicle attribute Public transport - lateness can be displayed for the following periods:

  • during the dwell time of the PT vehicle at a stop, if the value Distribution or Calculation is selected for the attribute Dwell time at the line stop
  • only in the time step of departure, if you have modeled real Viswalk pedestrians as passengers
Showing and editing dependent objects as relation

The attribute and attribute values of this network object type are shown in the list on the left, which consists of two coupled lists.

1.  In the list on the left, click the desired entry.

The list on the right contains attributes and attribute values of network objects, and/or base data allocated to the network object selected in the list on the left (Using coupled lists):

2.  On the list toolbar, in the Relations list, click the desired entry.

3.  Enter the desired data.

The data is allocated.

Superordinate topic:

Modeling PT lines

Information on editing:

Defining PT lines

Checking and repairing PT line courses