Routing recovery: An operations research framework for optimising post pandemic bus services in England (LBS0009)
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Authors
Heydari, Mohammad
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Date
2025
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Report
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Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
Great Britain
bus lines
local transit
public transportation
operations research
transportation and state
COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020
sustainable transportation
network analysis (planning)
bus lines
local transit
public transportation
operations research
transportation and state
COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020
sustainable transportation
network analysis (planning)
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Heydari, Mohammad. (2025). Routing recovery: An operations research framework for optimising post pandemic bus services in England (LBS0009). UK Parliment. https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/142871/html/
Abstract
PRACTICAL CONTEXT
This research addresses a critical operational gap in England’s public transport recovery: the inefficiency of local bus networks in adapting to post-pandemic travel patterns. Despite the introduction of the Department for Transport (2021) and the requirement for Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) to publish Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs), many services remain constrained by static schedules, poorly coordinated routes, and declining passenger demand. These inefficiencies exacerbate service delays, underutilisation, and cost overruns, particularly in regions reliant on public transport for socio-economic mobility.
PROBLEM SPECIFICATION AND RELEVANCE TO GOVERNMENT AND POLICY
To support LTAs and the Department for Transport in delivering resilient, efficient, and equitable services, this study introduces Routing Recovery, a purely quantitative framework grounded in Operations Research (OR). Using real operational and demographic datasets, the study applies network optimisation, linear programming, and demand forecasting to redesign bus routes under multiple constraints and usage scenarios. This framework provides a practical solution for: • Transport planners reconfiguring inefficient or underperforming routes. • LTA officials responsible for BSIP performance targets. • Treasury and funders evaluating the cost-effectiveness of subsidy allocations. • Environmental policymakers seeking emission reductions through modal shift.
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United Kingdom Parliament
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