Attributes of the line blocking cost function

To find the optimum line block, a cost function is minimized during line blocking (Line blocking description without vehicle interchange). This cost function accounts for the attributes found in Table 211.

Attribute	Object	Description
Vehicle requirement	Activity in the block (= vehicle journey, layover in depot, layover at stop point, pre and post preparation time, empty trip)	Total number of vehicles required for the block version.
Cost Rate Vehicle Unit Total	Vehicle combination	Total cost which accumulates for all vehicle units of the vehicle combination for each instance of the vehicle combination. The cost rate referring to the AP is projected to the duration of the line blocking time interval.
Service time	Activity	Service time which accumulates during the activity.
Cost Rate Service Hour Total	Vehicle combination	Costs which accumulate for a service hour of the vehicle combination.
Service kilometers	Activity	Service kilometers which accumulate during the activity.
Cost Rate Service km / mi Total	Vehicle combination	Costs which accumulate for a mileaged service kilometer/mile of the vehicle combination.
Empty time	Activity	Empty time which accumulates during the activity.
Cost Rate Empty Hour Total	Vehicle combination	Costs which accumulate for an empty hour of the vehicle combination.
Empty kilometers	Activity	Empty kilometers which accumulate during the activity.
Cost Rate Empty km / mi Total	Vehicle combination	Costs which accumulate for a mileaged empty kilometer of the vehicle combination.
Number of empty trips	Activity	1 = activity is an empty trip, otherwise = 0.
Layover	Activity	Layover at stop points which are no depots for the vehicle combination, accumulating during the activity.
Cost Rate Hour Layover total	Vehicle combination	Costs which accumulate for a layover hour of the vehicle combination at a stop point, which is not a depot for the vehicle combination.
Layover in Depot	Activity	Layover in depots of the vehicle combination, which accumulates during the activity.
Cost Rate Depot Hour Total	Vehicle combination	Costs which accumulate for a layover hour of the vehicle combination in a depot.
Charge time	Activity	Charging time, including setup time at depots of the vehicle combination, which accumulates during the activity.
Cost rate Hour user-defined block type	Vehicle combination	Costs that incur for one hour with the user-defined line block item of the vehicle combination

Table 211: Attributes of the line blocking cost function