A tabu search algorithm to solve the integrated planning of container on an inter-terminal network connected with a hinterland rail network

Transport demand for containers has been increasing for decades, which places pressure on road transport. As a result, rail transport is stimulated to provide better intermodal freight transport services. This paper investigates mathematical models for the planning of container movements in a port area, integrating the inter-terminal transport of containers (ITT, within the port area) with the rail freight formation and transport process (towards the hinterland). An integer linear programming model is used to formulate the container transport across operations at container terminals, the network interconnecting them, railway yards and the railway networks towards the hinterland. A tabu search algorithm is proposed to solve the problem. The practical applicability of the algorithm is tested in a realistic infrastructure case and different demand scenarios. The authors' results show the degree by which internal (ITT) and external (hinterland) transport processes interact, and the potential for improvement of overall operations when the integrated optimization proposed is used. Instead, if the planning of containers in the ITT system is optimized as a stand-alone problem, the railway terminals may suffer from longer delay times or additional train cancellations. When planning the transport of 4060 TEU containers within one day, the benefits of the ITT planning without considering railway operations account for 17% ITT cost reduction but 93% railway operational cost growth, while the benefits of integrating ITT and railway account for a reduction of 20% in ITT cost and 44% in railway operational costs.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2018.03.019
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0968090X1830384X
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0968090X
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Hu, Qu
  • Corman, Francesco
  • Wiegmans, Bart
  • Lodewijks, Gabriel
• Publication Date: 2018-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 15-36
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies
  • Volume: 91
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0968-090X
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0968090X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Container terminals; Intermodal terminals; Networks; Railroads; Routing; Rural areas; Tabu search
• Uncontrolled Terms: Hinterlands
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01669116
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 17 2018 2:45PM