Not just TPH: exploring capability and capacity
A single metric, Trains Per Hour (TPH), is commonly used to describe a railway system’s capacity throughout all planning and delivery stages. However, the capacity delivered is constrained by the choices and actions made at each strategic, operational and tactical level. The planners, designers and deliverers must work to different definitions of capability and capacity to assure the system is configured to meet demand. Currently, the definitions on capability and capacity are inconsistent across the industry internationally. This paper presents four key terms that align with each planning and delivery stage. ‘Ultimate Capability’ is a result of how the system is configured. The operating restrictions enforced results in the ‘Network Capability’. How the system is resourced and timetabled based on operational planning rules presents the ‘Planned Capacity’. The final delivery, accounting for daily system variation, results in the ‘Actual Capacity’. By understanding how the system capability and delivered capacity is impacted by every planning and delivery decision, the future of the railway can continue to drive towards providing services that meet demand while understanding the impact of consuming existing capability and capacity.
- Record URL:
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Authors:
- Aiton J
- King D
- Conference:
- Publication Date: 2016
Media Info
- Pagination: 5p. ; PDF
- Monograph Title: Maintaining the momentum: CORE 2016: conference on railway excellence, 16-18 May 2016, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Decision making; Planning; Transportation operations
- ATRI Terms: Decision process; Planning; Transport network
- Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01636909
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: ARRB
- Files: ATRI
- Created Date: May 30 2017 3:31PM