Ticket selection in a fare system

In reality the ticket can not always be selected freely – even if in principle several ticket types can be applied – because there is usually a predefined order. This order is modeled in Visum by the rank of ticket types. It defines the hierarchy of the ticket types within the fare system.

Taking the above example let's look at the case of an individual fare system, which has three different ticket types:

1.  Fare condition descriptions:

1

Normal fare

The fare of the ticket type depends on the number of traversed fare zones as follows:

 

 

1 fare zone:

2.00 CU

 

 

2 fare zones:

3.00 CU

 

 

3 fare zones:

3.50 CU

 

 

4 or more fare zones:

4.00 CU

2

Airport ticket

All trips into or out of the special zone Airport are subject to a exception. They constantly cost 3.75 CU, independent of the fare zone at the other end point of the path.

3

Short-distance fare

For all trips up to ten minutes run time, a short-distance ticket can be used for the fare of 1.00 CU. These do not include trips from or to the airport.

2.  Modeling in Visum:

To model these fare conditions, the three ticket types have the following properties:

  • The airport ticket has the highest rank (for example 1), because it has to be used in all cases where it can be applied (for all trips from and to the airport)
  • The airport ticket is a From-to zone-based fare, because the fare only depends on initial fare zone and target fare zone of the connection. In this fare matrix however, only those relations whose start or destination fare zone is the airport, are occupied. Other entries do not exist, which shows the restricted applicability.
  • The short-distance ticket has the next higher rank (for example 2), because for all trips outside of the airport, it is always bought when it is applicable. A maximum duration of 10 minutes is stipulated. There are however no threshold values for trip distance or number of stops.
  • The normal (zone-based) fare has the lowest rank (for example 3). The ticket can basically always be used, as the number of traversed zones provides unambiguous fare information. Its lower rank however ensures that it is not used for the special cases airport trip or short-distance, but for one of the other two.

3.  Examples for paths in this fare system (and its fares):

  • A trip over 20 minutes from fare zone city center to fare zone sports field leads through another fare zone university. These are three fare zones, the fare costs 3.50 CU.
  • A trip over 8 minutes leads from fare zone city center to fare zone university. A short-distance ticket applies, the trip costs 1.00 CU.
  • A trip over 7 minutes and another over 12 minutes leads from fare zone university to fare zone airport. In each case the airport ticket for 3.75 CU applies.
  • A trip within the fare zone also costs 3.75 CU.
  • A trip over 45 minutes from fare zone university via fare zone airport leads to fare zone industrial park. The airport is not start or destination fare zone, the normal fare for three fare zones (3.50 CU) therefore applies.