System routes

A system route describes a route within the network from one stop point to another, with the time required. As an option, this required run time as well as supplements for starting and braking per vehicle combination can be further specified. It is important that the run times are always stored independent of concrete lines in the system route. The system route thus represents a time which a certain vehicle combination requires on a given route between two stop points, independent of whether they belong to a line or even to a concrete vehicle journey.

This run time and route information can be used in two ways for creating a timetable.

  • Creating line routes with system routes
  • Run times of existing line routes and time profiles are composed of system routes
Creating line routes with system routes

System route path information provides a part of the line route path. The run time information is included in the first time profile above it in sections. Alternatively, you can create line routes or individual sections with system routes. As soon as there are successive system routes at the current end point, these can be used to extend the line route to the end stop point of the system route. The run times for this section can be taken from the system route, preferably the one for the correct vehicle combination if it is specified. If both the start stop point and the end stop point of the system route are served by the line route, the run time is determined as the sum of the passage time and the TStartStop and TEndStop of the line route. If the line route runs past one of the successive stop points, the share of the corresponding supplement is omitted. In this way, it is possible to use system routes for stopping as well as for traversing time profiles.

Setting run times of existing line routes and time profiles

You can use system routes to reset run times of existing line routes and time profiles. The path information of the line route is not lost. If a matching system route exists between two profile points of the time profile, its run time will be used for the time profile. Depending on whether passengers are scheduled to board and alight at the limiting stop points, only the pure passage time or the sum of the passage time TStartStop and TEndStop will be used.

A system route matches a section between two profile points if the following conditions apply:

  • Both profile points are located at stop points.
  • These stop points are start stop point and end stop point of the system route (this requires that these stop points must be open to the transport system of the time profile).
  • The course of the line route underlying the time profile is identical to the course of the system route.
  • The transport system of the system route is identical to the one of the time profile (i.e. the line).
  • If the respective option has been selected, at the system route, a specific run time must be specified for the vehicle combination allocated to the time profile or line.

If several matching system routes exist, the times are not set for the sections in question.

When new time profiles are created, the run times are calculated on the basis of the system route (if available). Special defaults are taken into account for the vehicle combination if it is specified for both the system route and the time profile.

If no system routes have been defined, link times are used as before.

Besides being used in the timetable, system routes play an important role in line blocking. As an option, system routes can be used for empty trips within line blocking or new system routes can be generated automatically for that purpose (User Manual: Creating system routes).