Comparative Analysis of Line Plans of Intercity Railway Using Different Train Stopping Patterns

The intercity railway is subject to variation and fluctuation in demand both in time and space over a day to a large extent. In that case, more advanced line planning techniques are practically needed to match the non-equilibrium passenger demand. We propose an integer linear programming model for adapting to the fluctuating demand and improving rail line profit, in which the multi-period planning approach and flexible train composition mode are taken into consideration. In particular, we also consider the limitations of the carriage and the dynamic transfer of resources during a finite period to ensure the better implementation of the line planning and subsequent operation plans. Our purpose is to improve on previous line planning models by integrating the multi-period strategic-level line planning decision with resource constraints. Since the problem is computationally intractable for realistic size instances, an improved round heuristic algorithm that is based on linear relaxation is proposed and we compare the round heuristic performance with the commercial solver Gurobi on artificial instances. The numerical experiments that are based on an intercity railway in China certify the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed model and algorithm. We evaluate the impact of different optimization parameters and reserved carriages and the computation results show that in comparison to the fixed composition mode, the proposed approach can improve the utilization efficiency of carriage resources and increase the line profit by 1.9% under the same carriage resource conditions.

Factors Influencing Patients’ Perspectives of Radiology Imaging Centers: Evaluation Using an Online Social Media Ratings Website

Planning a public transportation system is a multi-objective problem which includes among others line planning, timetabling, and vehicle scheduling. For each of these planning stages, models are known and advanced solution techniques exist. Some of the models focus on costs, others on passengers’ convenience. Setting up a transportation system is usually done by optimizing each of these stages sequentially.In this paper we argue that instead of optimizing each single step further and further it would be more beneficial to consider the whole process in an integrated way. To this end, we develop and discuss a generic, bi-objective model for integrating line planning, timetabling, and vehicle scheduling. We furthermore propose an eigenmodel which we apply for these three planning stages and show how it can be used for the design of iterative algorithms as heuristics for the integrated problem. The convergence of the resulting iterative approaches is analyzed from a theoretical point of view. Moreover, we propose an agenda for further research in this field.

This paper is devoted to designing a mixed-integer linear programming to solve the simultaneous line planning and timetabling problem. A directed graph is first constructed to represent the combinational travel network for both candidate trains and passengers. Through this graph, it is easy to simultaneously describe trains’ operation choices, passengers’ travel choices, and their restrictive relations. Based on it, a mixed-integer linear programming model with many binary and non-negative integer decision variables is built to simultaneously optimize the line plan, timetable, and passenger travel choices, which can be efficiently solved using commercial solver CPLEX for small-scale network, while a decomposition strategy is required to combine with CPLEX for large-scale network. A set of numerical experiments are carried out to analyse the impacts of flow sub-units, number of candidate trains, and weight factors. Finally, we conduct two case studies for testing the practicability of our proposed method.

In view of the waste of transport capacity caused by a single train formation mode due to the uneven temporal and spatial distribution of passenger flow in the early stage of intercity railway opening, starting from the train operation cost, the operation schemes of large and small marshalling trains with various stop modes are studied. Taking the minimization of train operation cost as the objective function, taking the number of running trains and parking scheme of large and small marshalling trains as decision variables, and comprehensively considering the constraints such as train section full load rate and OD service frequency, the operation scheme model of large and small marshalling trains is constructed. The genetic algorithm is used to solve the problem, and the operation scheme of large and small marshalling trains in the whole day is obtained. Taking Guangqing intercity railway and Guangzhou east ring intercity railway as an example, compared with the current train operation scheme, the large and small marshalling train operation scheme with multi stop mode can reduce the train operation cost by 59%, and the average daily section load ratio can be increased from 0.2888 to 0.8665, which shows that the large and small marshalling train operation scheme with multi stop mode can effectively reduce the train operation cost and improve the section full load rate.

Intercity passenger rail services must be designed in a way that users will be willing and able to ride. This study examines potential users’ current travel behaviors and willingness to ride a proposed passenger rail between New Orleans and Baton Rouge in Louisiana, US. By analyzing a user preference survey with discrete choice experiment (DCE), the results show a strong support of the proposed rail service, but distinct deficiencies in the current multimodal transportation environment connecting to and from proposed stations. In addition, previous analyses include potentially faulty assumptions about trip purposes, which have critical implications for service design. The findings of this study reflect the priorities of likely rail passengers and advance efforts to plan for successful passenger rail service operation in Southeast Louisiana. The potential user-based and data-driven approach of this case study can also be used for planning other passenger rail services in the US.

Crowding in metro trains is a major factor in determining both the passenger service level and the operator supply level. An uneven distribution in passenger load across individual cars of a train exacerbates the overall capacity loading of a metro transit system. A loading diversity factor has been adopted to adjust the effect when computing the capacity of a metro train. The passenger preference for a specific car of a train was found to depend upon minimizing the walking distance at destination stations. This paper is focused on the possibility that a passenger load could be more evenly dispersed by varying train-stop positions. This paper proposes a mathematical programming model to find the optimal train-stop position at each station of a hypothesized metro line. The objective function is set to minimize the discrepancies in passenger loading across individual cars. After applying a genetic algorithm to solve the proposed model, differentiating train-stop positions considerably improved the distribution of passenger loading.

This research aims in getting students’ perception about the service quality that involves tangible, reliability, responsiveness, and assurance aspects of office administration staff towards students’ satisfaction in Universitas Klabat. This descriptive research used primary data that are obtained by questionnaire survey to 85 students in faculty of nursing enrolled in semester I 2016/2017. The sampling technique used in this research was sampling purposive with descriptive data analysis technique using simple regression formula with the results: (1) the tangible aspect is the highest aspect in perception of office administration staff services (2) according to students’ perception, the services of office administration staff were very satisfying, (3) there is no significant effect from service quality based on the aspects of tangible, reliability, responsiveness and assurance toward students’ satisfaction, and (4) there is a significant effect from the service quality of office administration staff based on empathy aspect towards the students satisfaction in Universitas Klabat. It can be concluded that without looking at the aspects of tangible, reliability, responsiveness, and assurance, the quality of office administration staff is good and students are satisfied; and from all aspect of service quality, the empathy aspect is the most influential aspect towards students’ satisfaction in Universitas Klabat. It is suggested to improve the service quality of office administration staff in empathy aspect and maintain the aspects of tangible, reliability, responsiveness, and assurance in services of administration staff of Universitas Klabat using different respondent.

The shift in the pattern of using land transportation modes from conventional to online application-based has helped shape the lifestyle pattern of using different land transportation modes for the community. However, the other side of the presence of this application-based online land transportation mode is to maintain customer needs and expectations through aspects of service quality in applications provided by application-based online transportation service providers. It is not an easy thing to do and maintain. Applications should have quality because applications are the main capital in using online transportation modes. In addition, the information listed on the online transportation mode application is an important factor in providing the suitability of the information in the application. This study aims to analyze the effect of application display factors and feature adjustments in the application on user loyalty of application-based online transportation modes. By using SMART PLS 3.0, the results of this study explain that the attitudes of users of application-based online transportation modes are influenced by the application display factors and the adjustment of features in the application. Furthermore, loyalty is influenced by the attitude of users of application-based online transportation modes. Other recent features as part of service quality can be another factor that can be used to analyze user loyalty for application-based online transportation modes. This is useful for enriching understanding in determining the loyalty of users of application-based online transportation modes.

In today’s economic environment, client expectations are continually increasing and both small and large hotel businesses are required to become more efficient to participate in a competitive global market. In this new reality, quality is critical for success. The main purpose of this study was to assess guest satisfaction with service quality in selected 2-star hotels in Takoradi. The objectives of the study were to find out whether guests are satisfied with services provided in the hotels, ascertain the main dimensions of service quality that lead to guest satisfaction and evaluate measures that can be put in place to help implement quality service in hotels. This study followed a non-experimental research approach and specifically used a descriptive survey. The targeted populations for this study were employees, guests and managers of nine 2-star hotels in Takoradi with a sample size of ninety (90). It consisted of ten (10) respondents from each hotel, thus, four (4) operational staff (one from housekeeping, front office, restaurant and kitchen department), five (5) guests and a manager (1) from each of the selected hotels.
 Convenience and purposive sampling techniques were used for the study to select respondents and questionnaires were used to collect data from respondents. The data obtained was analyzed and presented using descriptive statistics namely frequencies, percentages, and charts with the aid of Microsoft Excel 2021. The study found out that though some aspect of service quality needs a step up, customers are satisfied with the services provided in the hotels. The study concluded that more customers become more satisfied with what they see or touch during the service.

Introduction: Patient satisfaction is a crucial indicator of healthcare quality, serving as a benchmark for evaluating service performance in primary care institutions. This study examines how SERVQUAL dimensions affect inpatient satisfaction at UPTD Community Health Centers, Mumbulsari, Jember. Methods: Data were gathered once within a predetermined time frame from patients who had received inpatient care during the preceding three months using a cross-sectional, quantitative strategy. Ninety respondents made up the sample, which was chosen using a combination of purposive and incidental sampling methods and calculated using Ferdinand's formula. The five SERVQUAL dimensions were measured using a standardized questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale. SPSS-supported multiple linear regression was used to examine the data.Results: The findings showed that tangibles, responsiveness, empathy, and assurance all significantly and favorably impacted patient satisfaction, with assurance being the best predictor. Unexpectedly, there was a strong negative correlation between reliability and satisfaction, meaning that as reliability increased, patient satisfaction decreased. This result may indicate problems with measurement validity or reflect a mismatch with patient expectations. With an Adjusted R2 of 0.819, the regression model showed strong explanatory power, indicating that aspects of service quality had an important impact on patient satisfaction.Conclusion and suggestion: It is concluded that improving assurance, responsiveness, empathy, and tangibles should be prioritized in service delivery, while the negative reliability effect requires further investigation to refine measurement tools or manage patient expectations. These findings have practical implications for enhancing primary healthcare management, particularly in strengthening staff competence, service responsiveness, and facility standards to increase overall patient trust and satisfaction. Keywords: Inpatient Care, Patient Satisfaction, Public Health Center, SERVQUAL

Purpose – Measuring service quality in higher education is increasingly important for attracting and retaining tuition-based revenues. Nonetheless, whilst undergraduates have received substantial academic exposure, postgraduate-based research has been scant. Consequently, the objectives of this paper are threefold: first, to identify the service factors used by postgraduates in their quality evaluations. Second, to analyse the appropriateness of importance-performance analysis (IPA) in the measurement of service quality and, final, to provide a working example of IPA’s application in a UK-based university. Design/methodology/approach – Convergent interviews were used to elicit attributes of service that were deemed important by taught postgraduate students. These findings were then tested using an online survey. Exploratory factor analysis was used to group the service attributes into latent “service factors”. Each service factor was then tested for service quality using Martilla and James’s IPA technique. Findings – About 20 service attributes were educed from the qualitative stage. From these, four service factors emerged; being, academic, leisure, industry links and cost. Using IPA in a UK university, the findings suggest that the “academic” and “industry links” aspects of service quality are the most critical to postgraduates. The paper’s conclusions suggest that IPA is an appropriate tool for measuring service quality in postgraduate education. Practical implications – Through the application of the IPA framework presented in this research, practitioners can successfully identify areas of service priority and thus allocate appropriate resources to encourage continuous service improvement. Originality/value – This research provides a valuable insight into the service quality needs of the UK postgraduate segment and also a potential conceptual framework for policy makers to use when evaluating their service delivery.

Socio-cultural contexts determine different aspects of service quality; therefore, the definition of service quality varies from one setting to another. The measures of bank service quality that largely come from the research in the western context cannot be used as such in developing countries. This paper develops a scale for measuring service quality in the banking institutions of Pakistan, a developing country. Data was collected from the customers of four large banks in Pakistan using a mall intercept approach. Using confirmatory factor analysis on AMOS a measurement scale was developed. Bank service quality emerged as a six dimensional construct. The developed model is different from previous models reported in the literature, showing that determinants of service quality are essentially context-dependent. The model showed sound psychometric properties. The findings are noteworthy in that they expand our knowledge of what actually matters in the measurement of bank service quality.

Telecommunications demand forecasting—a review

Not only the organization needs empirical data but also they need a model to understand how to integrate servicequality and experience economy concepts to discover the customer's behavioural intention to select a serviceprovider. The purpose of this conceptual paper are to critically review and identify the gaps in current literatureon service quality and experience economy, building relationship between functional quality; technical quality;experience economy towards customer's behavioural intention in selecting a broadband internet service operatorwhen service quality and consumer's perception play as a mediating variable. The proposed conceptualframework assist broadband internet service providers to understand how technical and functional quality; peakexperience can contribute to understand the consumer's behavioral intention in selecting a broadband serviceoperator's services. In addition this paper presents an analysis in various aspects of service quality andexperience economy and come up with a conceptual framework which may value to researchers in consumerbehavior field and mangers in marketing field to provide better service quality to the end users.