Automated Analysis of Spatial Accessibility in Railway Networks through Open Timetable Data

Kurzfassung

Spatial accessibility is a key performance indicator valuable both for the estimation of operational quality in railway networks and in the political discourse when evaluating possible deficits in transportation possibilities. With means of modern computation and further developed open data interfaces, automating the process of accessibility calculations is becoming viable whilst at the same time allowing analyses in much greater detail. This work shows that it is possible to evaluate different indicators of spatial accessibility for all train stations in Germany with data publicly available through a Deutsche Bahn API. Different timetable proposals can be compared and effects of disruptions can be estimated more easily. This is shown on the example of a major construction project by Deutsche Bahn currently ongoing with significant impact on spatial accessibility. The poster will show both the methodology - which can be transferred to different timetable inputs - and results of the work focused on Germany.