Institute of Transportation, MOTC

　　Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) System provides its passengers with convenient and fast transportation services in the metropolitan area. To maintain a predetermined level of service, MRT operators should monitor service performance and the transition of passenger flow in the system. Since MRT trains typically have the same stopping pattern and no seat assignments, passengers can freely travel within the system. Consequently, recognizing passengers’ traveling path and boarding trains becomes crucial. Therefore, this research developed a microscopic model to simulate passenger flow in MRT systems. This model first extracted the timestamps and station information of passengers entering and exiting an MRT system from the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC). With this information and actual timetables, the model then determined passengers’ traveling paths and assigned each passenger to an appropriate train. Based on the simulated results of data from an entire day, performance indicators such as train load factor, flow fluctuations at stations, passenger waiting time, and transferring time can be calculated to help MRT operators evaluate their offered level of service. Empirical data from the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation (KRTC) was also collected for a case study. The results demonstrate that the model could effectively and efficiently simulate passenger flow for MRT systems. These resulting performance indicators could also help operators assess their current level of service.