Model for Comparing Performance of Various Transit Maintenance Repair Policies

Abstract

This paper presents a simulation model suitable for comparing a bus maintenance system's performance under various repair policies. The scope of the model is restricted to measuring only the performance of a central, heavy maintenance facility, typically found at transit systems with multiple garages. Different activities within a transit maintenance facility are simulated in this effort and a superior repair policy is determined. The numbers of active and spare buses, failure distributions of bus components, and available repair resources are included as parameters in this model because they are directly related to the repair process. The main model consists of three sub‐models: (1) Service sub‐model; (2) repair sub‐model; and (3) status sub‐model. This paper includes a detailed description of each model along with its inputs and outputs. The model is tested with real world data. First‐come‐first‐served repair rule bounded by a waiting time limit is found to be most effective in improving system performance. It is also observed that the superiority of repair rules remain unchanged in various transit maintenance environment. Further, it is found that a well managed transit maintenance system is least sensitive to additional maintenance resources.