Grand River Transit

[danbrotherston]

The fact that there are such lengthy layovers at all indicates there is too much slack in the schedule.

If we’re talking occasional layovers at specific points, mostly endpoints but potentially major stops in the middle of a long route, then lengthy layovers do not prove too much slack. A certain amount of slack is required to get reliable service. If the bus is late for whatever reason, it is good to have some scheduled layover time to allow the return journey to still leave on time.

Excessive layovers in the middle of a route may indicate that drivers are not properly using their schedule adherence device to drive slower when they are in danger of running hot. A correctly driven bus does not gradually get further and further ahead of schedule until it stops for 10 minutes at a timepoint. The correct way to drive is to slow down, stop at yellows, pause briefly before leaving every stop, and so on, such that the bus never gets more than about 0s ahead of schedule. It is the drivers’ job to drive this way and management’s job to ensure that drivers drive this way using an appropriate progressive discipline strategy to ensure that only drivers who are able to do their jobs properly continue to be drivers.

But a schedule may usefully have significant layovers at the ends and even in the middle as mentioned to allow late buses to get back on schedule.

+1

Also, layovers provide opportunity for crew change, bathroom breaks, mental health breaks, etc.

Layovers have their place, but you're right, it shouldn't be because buses are running early.

On the issue of slack though, there can be too much slack.  The biggest risk in my mind, of measuring on time performance is that the easiest solution to fixing on time performance is simply to add tons of slack and slow everyone down.