What does 'shuttle bus service' mean for vehicles?
2 Answers
Shuttle bus service refers to buses departing at regular intervals, typically every few minutes, with high frequency. Below is a detailed introduction about it: 1. Shuttle departure: Buses depart at set intervals (minutes or hours, without fixed timing but with a cutoff departure time), either on schedule or when full. There are no route numbers assigned, and the frequency is high. 2. Advantages: Shuttle service is suitable for routes with large passenger flows where the exact number of passengers cannot be estimated, allowing for continuous departures. In contrast, 'fixed departure' refers to buses departing at specific times each day with lower frequency.
This is something I often encountered when working at the station. So-called 'flexible schedule' refers to those departures without fixed timetables, where the bus can leave as soon as it's full. For example, buses departing from long-distance bus stations allow passengers to buy tickets upon arrival and then queue in the waiting area. Once enough passengers have boarded, the driver departs immediately, unlike scheduled buses that strictly adhere to set departure times. Of course, if passenger flow is low, it might take up to an hour to gather enough passengers for a departure. This model is particularly suitable for popular routes with high passenger volumes, as passengers don’t need to check schedules in advance and can leave as soon as they arrive at the station.
