pspace/h is the system's passenger carrying capacity at point X. Example: if a tram, allowed to transport 100 passengers, passes X with 60 passengers on board, its contribution to 'pspace/h is 100.
Conventional rail on the studied circuits would be called tram or light rail.
While comparing Waverail with conventional is be encouraged, it is helpful to remember that Waverail is best in the high/medium capacities (hitherto reserved to heavy rail). There direct comparison is often not realistic or not possible at all.
In order to enforce the maximum possible rage of comparison, in many graphs conventional has been allowed to increase frequency (smooth part of curve); in fact up to its theoretical maximum when consists obstruct each other. In reality, frequency increases are often not allowed and thus direct comparison is somewhat unrealistic/unfair. Waverail achieves these capacities mostly without the need to increase frequency.
The many kinks in the curves emanate from the fact that, when adding cars to consists while maintaining frequency, capacity increases stepwise. The typical curve shape is: steps (adding cars), then continuous (increasing frequency, in reality often not allowed), then horizontal when max capacity is reached.
Y values represent system capacity. The horizontal axis simply denotes a 'desired capacity'.
Note: 'Costs' are cash costs; 'Costs + D&A' are full costs. D&A being Depreciation & Amortisation.
Note that all calculations are based on assumed fill figures (fill being the the % of take up by paying passengers). Thus higher capacity systems depend on higher passenger numbers to achieve the calculated results.
Note how revenue is higher for Waverail than for conventional. This reflects the assumption that Waverail passengers pay more fare because of the largely increased delivery time.
Above graphs zoom in the low capacity region: More stations (right) makes Waverail's PBDA curve steeper and shifted to the right. Conventional suffer badly.
The full graph shows that at high capacity Waverail pofits are nearly unaffected bythe number of stations. Conventional profits are suppressed by high number of stations.