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This paper introduces a scalable framework to reconstruct empirical bus timetables from high-frequency vehicle location data, addressing the limitations of static timetable data in accessibility analysis. The framework uses real-time feeds from the UK Bus Open Data Service (BODS) to archive vehicle positions and match them to scheduled routes, inferring stop-level arrival and departure times. The resulting corrected timetables enable the analysis of travel time variability at a national scale, offering a more realistic assessment of public transport services.
Static public transport timetables are misleading: this framework uses real-time location data to build corrected, empirical timetables at national scale.
Travel time is a fundamental component of accessibility measurement, yet most accessibility analyses rely on static timetable data that assume public transport services operate exactly as scheduled. Such representations overlook the substantial variability in travel times arising from operational conditions and service disruptions. In this study, we develop a scalable framework for reconstructing empirical bus timetables from high-frequency vehicle location data. Using national-scale real-time feeds from the UK Bus Open Data Service (BODS), we implement an automated data collection pipeline that continuously archives vehicle positions and daily timetable data. Observed vehicle locations are then matched to scheduled routes to infer stop-level arrival and departure times, enabling the construction of corrected empirical timetables. The resulting dataset allows travel time variability (TTV) to be analysed at fine temporal resolution and across large geographic areas. The computational efficiency and scalability of the framework enable national-scale accessibility analyses that incorporate observed service performance, providing a more realistic evidence base for evaluating public transport services and supporting transport planning.
