Glossary
This glossary is outlined under four sections: Service & Planning, Route Operations, Crew and Passenger. Different terminologies are used and understood differently across the world, the following definitions are more globally adopted and used in the application.
Service and Planning
- Route/Line
- A predefined path between the terminals along which buses operate, usually with designated stops.
- Depot
- A bus depot is a facility where buses are stored, maintained, and dispatched.
- Terminal
- A facility where buses start or end their routes.
- Service Span
- The operating period in a day for a particular route or all routes.
- Block
- A sequence of trips assigned to a bus before returning to the depot.
- Service Level
- The quality of bus service offered on a route typically measured in frequency.
- Base Service
- The minimum level of service provided during the day.
- Peak Service
- The maximum level of service provided during the day.
Route Operations
- Schedule
- The planned arrangement of trips, times, and resources for operations. A schedule may represent all revenue and non- revenue trips of a bus. Schedules are associated with a bus.
- Timetable
- A published schedule showing departure and arrival times for passengers. Timetable does not include the non-revenue trips. Timetables are associated with a route.
- Trip
- A single one-way movement of a bus from start point to end point.
- Trip Duration
- The total time taken to complete one trip. Trip Duration may be directional.
- Route Length
- The route length, measured in kilometers or miles, between two terminals. It is usually specified for each direction.
- First Departure
- The time of the first bus of a route leaving the terminal each day.
- Last Departure
- The time of the last bus of a route leaving the terminal each day.
- Headway
- The time gap between two consecutive buses on a route.
- Frequency
- The number of bus trips serving a route observed on a section, stop or a terminal within a given time period typically an hour.
- Cycle Time
- The total time to complete a round trip including layovers.
- Pull-out
- A bus trip from the depot to a route terminus
- Pull-in
- A bus trip from the route terminus to depot
- Shuttle
- A short, special service linking two points.
- Shuttle Duration
- The time taken to complete a shuttle service.
- Deadhead
- The movement of a bus without passengers, usually to or from a depot.
- Dwell Time
- The time duration a bus spends at a bus stop to facilitate boarding and alighting of passengers.
Crew
- Duty
- A set of tasks assigned to a driver during a workday.
- Duty Period
- The total length of time a driver is on active duty.
- Rest Period
- The mandatory time off provided for drivers during duties typically for food and refreshment.
- Relief Time or Crew Change Time
- The time duration when one driver takes over from another during operations.
- Layover/Recovery Time
- Scheduled time at the end of a trip for rest and service recovery.
- Staffing
- The process of assigning crew members to duties.
- Roster
- A planned allocation of duties across multiple days for staff.
- Work Shift
- A defined period in which a driver works, often aligning with service needs.
- Split Shift
- A work shift divided into two parts, often covering peak hours.
- Overtime
- Additional work hours beyond the regular duty period.