An Optimization Procedure to Design a Minibus Feeder Service: An Application to the Sintra Rail Line

This paper presents the formulation of a heuristic encompassing a mixed integer linear program to model the synchronisation between a minibus feeder service and a mass transit system. Our formulation is divided into three main steps: the establishment of stops, scheduling and the fleet dimensioning.This model was tested in a dense suburban area around a communting rail line in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The results show a high potential of the tested service to feed the suburban rail service with gains for the passengers and the establishment of an economically self-sustainable service.