Network Design
Route rationalisation, corridor planning, demand modelling, first/last mile integration, multi-modal structuring.
The Problem
What fails without this service.
Most public transport networks in African cities are not designed — they are inherited. Routes accumulate over decades, shaped by political decisions, operator pressure, and legacy infrastructure rather than demand data or operational logic. The result is duplication on high-demand corridors, coverage gaps in growing peri-urban areas, and timetables that bear no relationship to actual passenger flows.
Vehicle resources are wasted on routes that carry few passengers while high-demand corridors run at overcapacity. First-mile and last-mile connections are absent, making formal services uncompetitive with informal alternatives. Multi-modal integration — where it exists at all — is informal and unreliable.
Without a demand-anchored network design, every downstream operational intervention is compromised. You cannot schedule effectively on a network that is structurally wrong.
Network design is the foundation of every downstream operational decision. A structurally wrong network cannot be fixed by better scheduling, tighter dispatch, or improved driver training. The route must be right before anything else can work.
Our network design work begins with demand data, not assumptions. We collect or analyse origin-destination data, boarding and alighting patterns, and informal transport flows before making any route recommendation. In markets where formal data is sparse, we conduct primary surveys and build demand models from the ground up.
We design networks that are operationally achievable — not theoretically optimal. A route that requires vehicles, drivers, or infrastructure that does not exist is not a real network. Every design is tested against the operational constraints of the specific system before it is recommended.
Scope of Work
What this engagement covers.
Route audit and existing network assessment
Passenger demand data collection and origin-destination analysis
Route rationalisation — consolidation, discontinuation, and corridor restructuring
New corridor identification and alignment planning
Service frequency design by corridor and time period
First/last mile integration and feeder network design
Multi-modal interchange planning and terminal logic
Network simulation and performance modelling
Stakeholder consultation and implementation sequencing
Typical Outputs
What you receive at the end.
Revised network blueprint with route-by-route specification
Demand model with origin-destination matrices
Route rationalisation report with recommended changes
Service specification by route (frequency, capacity, operating hours)
First/last mile integration plan
Multi-modal interchange design
Network implementation phasing plan
Stakeholder presentation deck
Tools & Platforms
Downloadable Resources
Take it with you.
Project Examples
Where we have delivered this.
Engagements where network design was central to the work.
Ready to improve your network design?
Tell us about your system and where the gaps are. We will outline an approach within the week.
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