30 C H A P T E R 2 • Transportation Systems Models

Part (2) The time for the freight train to reach the siding is Tf . Therefore,

X 52
Tf ⫽ ⫽ ⫽ 0.8 hr ⫽ 48.0 minutes sanswerd
65 65

EXAMPLE 2.3

Computing the Average Speed for a Multimodal Journey

A group of three friends (A, B, and C) take a long trip using a tandem bicycle
for two persons. Since the bike cannot accommodate a third person, the friends
take turns walking. When riding, the average speed is 24 km/h, and when walking
the average speed is 6 km/h.
For the following journey scenario, determine the average speed of the
group:
• To start the journey, two friends A and B ride a bicycle, and the third friend,
C, walks;
• After a while, B dismounts from the bike and begins walking, while A rides
the bicycle alone in the reverse direction to pick up C;
• When A and C meet, they turn the bicycle around and ride forward until
they catch up with B. When they do, this portion of the trip is completed.

Solution
Solving this problem without the aid of a time–space diagram could be very
challenging. Thus, begin by developing a time–space diagram to represent the
way the three friends complete this portion of their trip (see Figure 2.5).
Draw a line whose slope is equal to 24 km/h to represent the trajectory of
A and B riding the bicycle. At the same time, C is walking and represented by
a trajectory whose slope is equal to 6 km/h. Assume that A and B ride together
for time period X1.

FIGURE 2.5
Time–space diagram
for Example 2.3.
s
alk
Distance, x

Bw
ike
eb
A
r id dire

r id
es ct
ike

C
in ion

A&
eb

re

Y2
ve
rid

rs
B

e
&
A

s Y1
alk
Cw

Time, t
X1 X2 X3
 Tools and Techniques for Analyzing Transportation Systems 31

After time X1, B gets off the bike and starts to walk as represented by a
line whose slope is equal to 6 km/h to represent the trajectory “B walks.” A
then rides the bicycle alone in the reverse direction at a speed of 24 km/h, as
shown in the figure, while C is still walking at 6 km/h. A meets C after travel-
ing for a time interval X2. The distance, measured from the beginning point of
the trip to the point where A and C meet, is denoted by Y1.
After A and C meet, they ride together, as depicted by a trajectory whose
slope is 24 km/h. Finally, A and C riding together meet B, who is walking. This
occurs at a distance Y2 from the starting point (see Figure 2.5) and after a time
period X3 from the moment friends A and C met has elapsed. At that point,
this portion of the trip is completed.
The average speed of the group is determined graphically from the slope
of a dashed line starting at the intersection of the x- and y-axes and ending at
the point {(X1 ⫹ X2 ⫹ X3), (Y2)} shown in Figure 2.5. This slope is equal to
Y2/(X1 ⫹ X2 ⫹ X3).
Alternatively, the problem can be solved analytically with the aid of the
time–space diagram by relating the unknown variables X1, X2, X3, Y1, and Y2
to one another as follows:
With reference to Figure 2.5, the distance Y1 can be calculated in two dif-
ferent ways using the expression D ⫽ u ⴢ t:
Y1 ⫽ 6(X1 ⫹ X2) (1)
Y1 ⫽ 24X1 ⫺ 24X2 (2)
Setting (1) equal to (2) yields
X2 ⫽ 0.60X1
Similarly, the distance Y2 can be calculated in two different ways as follows:
Y2 ⫽ 24X1 ⫹ 6(X2 ⫹ X3) (3)
Y2 ⫽ 6(X1 ⫹ X2) ⫹ 24X3 (4)
Setting (3) equal to (4) yields
X1 ⫽ X3
Also,
Y2 ⫽ 24X1 ⫹ 6(X2 ⫹ X3)
⫽ 24X1 ⫹ 6x0.6X1 ⫹ 6X1
⫽ 33.6X1
The average speed, S ⫽ Y2/(X1 ⫹ X2 ⫹ X3).
Substituting values for X2 and X3 as previously determined yields
S ⫽ 33.6X1/(X1 ⫹ 0.6X1 ⫹ X1) ⫽ 12.92 km/h