Sequencing and Scheduling in Railway Classification Yards

Three sequencing decisions are involved in railway classification yards: inspection, hump, and assembly. Those sequencing decisions are important for smooth and efficient railyard operations and are interrelated. This research concentrates on the optimization of those sequences in an integrated way. A sequencing and scheduling model is proposed by considering multiple engines and inspection groups. This model can be solved by existing commercial optimization solvers for one typical planning horizon, such as 24 h. Numerical experiments and a case study based on historical data from a U.S. Class I railroad demonstrate that the proposed solution method yields better sequences and schedules, as measured by the total dwell time, compared with the practice of static sequencing. Furthermore, the results indicate that the handling capacity should be balanced among different classification steps to maximize the overall yard capacity.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/2475-09
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/173354.aspx
• Authors:
  • Li, Haodong
  • Jin, Mingzhou
  • He, Shiwei
• Publication Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 72–80
• Monograph Title: Railroads: Freight and Passenger Systems, Volume 1
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2475
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Classification yards; Optimization; Railroad vehicle operations; Railroads; Schedules and scheduling
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01557525
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309369169
• Report/Paper Numbers: 15-5178
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 23 2015 8:59AM