Let's improve public transport! Welcome to the presentation of our research groups.
Periodic timetable
Since the end of the last century, a group of transport enthusiasts has been operating at the CTU FTS. We strive to maintain a traditionally high share of public transport passengers and a traditionally high evaluation of public transport quality in the Czech Republic compared to other EU countries. The basic tool for the competitiveness of public transport against increasingly available individual transport is temporal and spatial availability. So the key lies on the side of an attractive offer of services. However, with limited resources, it is obviously not possible to drive often enough directly everywhere. For the basic offer of transport services in the area, it is therefore appropriate to design a well-thought-out network of lines (for different transport purposes, different service layers and different transport flows) and apply the principles of periodic timetable with systematic connections in nodes in its operation.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic and Czech Railways, this concept, which has proved successful especially in German-speaking countries, has gradually succeeded in long-distance transport in the Czech Republic. Subsequently, many regions took it for granted, and the focus of our work shifted to regional, suburban and urban transport. The capacity limits of the current rail infrastructure then caused the need to address freight transport in accordance with the priorities of the govermental transport policy. For the further development of this concept, it is necessary not only to work with the service offer (timetable) independently, but also to plan it together with new vehicles, proposals for modifications and completion of the infrastructure and the methodology of traffic management on it.
We currently offer four attractive research groups specializing in public and combined transport, rail technology, urban mobility, and, last but not least, groups focused on aspects of traffic behavior and demand modeling in collaboration with the Charles University in Prague. Now you have the opportunity to join in and solve public transport problems together, for example where you know it well!
Research group 17X1IG:
Integral periodic timetable in the Czech Republic
Compared to individual transport, public transport lacks temporal and spatial accessibility for individual. In a developed area, however, it can offer a clever network of transfer links between lines (and traffic modes) at regular intervals - a periodic timetable. The aim of The group is the concept of a hierarchical offer of functional layers of public service with backbone in rail transport - from the modeling of transport relationships through modal split to the creation of timetables and operatinal technology, including long-term optimization of timetables, network of lines, vehicle rostering, infrastructure and dispatching.
Research group 17X1KC:
Competitive public transport
Bus, urban and rail transport is usually ordered and paid for in terms of performance (per mileage), although most costs are fixed (per vehicle, drivers in shift, etc.). The aim of The group is to learn to use the available resources from improving the offer of links to the preparation of comprehensive documents for competition for carrier selection. We are mainly concerned with macroscopic transport modeling and design of public transport timetables.
Research group 17X1RN/TN:
Development / Technology of rail freight transport
Most of the railway network was created thanks to freight transport. However, it now faces both competition from road transport and insufficient track capacity on many backbone lines intensively used by passenger transport. In the Czech Republic, the market on the part of carriers is fully liberalized and the transfer of transport back to the railways is a strategic goal of the EU and the state, even though current construction projects do not take this very much into account.
How to obtain attractive and flexible routes for freight trains without restricting periodic timetabled passenger transport - long-distance and suburban - and filling freight trains into "holes" in tact? Yes, it's feasible in a better way!
Research group 17X1RG:
Regional mobility support
The research group focuses on individual modes of transport - their specific applications, current trends and interconnections between them. We get acquainted with the concept of mobility as a service, show the strengths of public transport and look for suitable solutions to ensure transport on the "last mile".
Last diploma and bachelor theses
User device potential for alternative charging and marketing in public transport
Koubek Ladislav; Bachelor theses; 2025
This bachelor thesis focuses on the use of users' mobile devices for alternative charging in public transport, with an emphasis on targeting occasional passengers. It analyses solutions from domestic and foreign practice (e.g., Check-In/Check-Out, capping, Mobile Pay-As-You-Go) and evaluates their benefits and limitations from the perspective of both passengers and transport operators. Based on findings from selected foreign and Czech operations, an offer for occasional passengers is proposed that reflects modern trends in digitization and marketing in public transport.
Capacity Model Praha-Libeň - Bad Schandau
Kosík David; Bachelor theses; 2025
The topic of the thesis is introducing the methods of capacity management as described in the Timetabling and Capacity Redesign (TTR). The goal of the TTR project is to simplify, unify and improve the European rail timetabling system. The thesis consists of an analysis of demand for capacity between the stations of Praha-Libeň and Bad Schandau, creating a capacity model and planning of the pre-arranged catalogue symmetrical periodic freight train paths on this main line.
Concept of Regional Public Transport Operations in Ilava County
Kyselica Michal; Bachelor theses; 2025
The topic of this paper is regional service of transport in Ilava county in Slovakia. Analytical part of the paper describes the region and its current service patterns, based on in-person passenger counting. Practical part of the paper´s goal is to design a solution for bus services in the region, as rail services are already systemic. The outcomes of the practical part are two variants of a regional bus line network based on regular connections between lines and clock-face schedulling.
Intercity Trolleybus Services
Zezulya Oleksandr; Bachelor theses; 2025
This bachelor's thesis examines the competitiveness of interurban trolleybus operations as an ecological alternative to electric buses and hydrogen technologies. Based on the analysis of selected existing systems, it identifies factors of their sustainability and generalizes them. Subsequently, it proposes a new operation in a specific location between Teplice and Ústí nad Labem, considering geographical, technical, and operational conditions. The aim is to verify the feasibility and efficiency of such a system and to provide a basis for further design considerations.
Design of the Zonal Timetable on the Line Prague - Beroun
Sklenář Adam; Bachelor theses; 2025
This bachelor thesis deals with the design of a zone-based timetable for the PragueBeroun railway line. The thesis analyzes the area surrounding the line and the transport connections within it. It also evaluates the current and future state of the transport infrastructure. The current and future operational concepts of the transport authorities are also analyzed. Subsequently, a new operational concept is designed. In the last part, this proposal is evaluated and compared with the official planned operational concept.
New Operational Concept of Bus Traffic in the Area of Švestková Railway
Příbrský Adam; Diploma theses; 2025
The aim of this thesis is firstly to analyse transport relations and current bus traffic concept in the area of railway Lovosice - Most. Then based on findings from the analytic part propose new operational concept of public transport buses. Lastly, proposed traffic concept will be compared to the current one from economic as well as transport.
Transport optimization of zones-size in hierarchy-segmented passenger transport concepts
Vávra, Rudolf; Dissertation; 2024
This dissertation addresses hierarchically segmented passenger transport Concepts in public transport, with a particular focus on zone-oriented service within monocentric networks. The primary objective of this thesis is to develop a model for the optimization of zone-oriented timetables based on transport-related and operational-economic criteria. Initially, the dissertation provides a comprehensive summary of the prevalent forms of multi-level passenger service in public transport, analysing their transportation and operational-economic characteristics, as well as their implications for railway capacity utilization. Subswquently, the study identifies and examines the key determinants influencing the positioning of zone boundary stations, which delineate the borders between adjacent agglomeration zones. The thes then conducts a rigorous analysis of the current state of research, focusing on studies that explore the optimization of timetables and operational processes from transportation and operational-economic perspectives. Additionally, it scrutinizes contemporary methods and approaches for determining the location of zone boundary stations. Following the theoretical groundwork, the dissertation introduces the proposed optimization model, detailing its formulation and practical application. As part of the validation process, the model was tested on four real-world railway lines in the Czech Republic, yielding succesful outcomes. Finally, the study concludes by articulating potential directions for future research that could further address the challenges and extend the contributions presented in this work.
Bus lines in Pezinok
Šulek Martin; Bachelor theses; 2024
The thesis deals with the creation of a new concept of urban mass transit in Pezinok and the modification of regional bus lines. The first part contains an analysis of the current mass transit system in Pezinok. The second part contains an analysis of analogous mass transit systems in Europe, relevant strategic documents, and selected sources. The general principles of how to establish mass transit lines are elaborated by the analysis. The third part presents a proposal for a new concept of public bus transportation in Pezinok, utilizing the principles previously developed.
Proposal of a new concept of regional bus transport in the area of Strakonice
Šrajer Štěpán; Bachelor theses; 2024
The subject of this thesis is to firstly analyse transport relations in the Strakonicko area and then to analyse the current level of traffic service of regional bus transport. On the basis of this analysis, the next step is to propose a new concept for regional bus transport in the area, which will use the principles of an integrated periodic timetable. At the end of thesis, the concept is evaluated in comparison with the current operation.
Even better research groups than you expected!