INTERLINE, A RAILROAD ROUTING MODEL: PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND USER'S MANUAL

INTERLINE is an interactive computer program that finds likely routes for shipments over the U.S. railroad system. It is based on a shortest path algorithm modified both to reflect the nature of railroad company operations and to accommodate computer resource limitations in dealing with a large transportation network. The first section of the report discusses the nature of railroad operations and routing practices in the United States, including the tendency to concentrate traffic on a limited number of mainlines, the competition for traffic by different companies operating in the same corridors, and the tendency of originating carriers to retain traffic on their systems before transferring it to terminating carriers. The theoretical foundation and operation of shortest path algorithms are described, as well as the techniques used to simulate actual operating practices within this framework. The second section is a user's guide that describes the program operation and data structures, program features, and user access.

• Corporate Authors:

  Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  P. O. Box 2008
  Oak Ridge, TN  United States  37831

  Martin Marietta Corporation

  1450 South Rolling Road
  Baltimore, MD  United States  21227

  Department of Energy

  1000 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20585
• Authors:
  • Peterson, B E
• Publication Date: 1985-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; References;
• Pagination: 116 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computer program documentation; Computer programs; Freight trains; Interactive computer systems; Interlining; Main lines; Railroad facility operations; Railroads; Routing; Shortest path algorithms
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00961901
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: ORNL/TM-8944
• Contract Numbers: DE-AC05-84OR21400
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 5 2003 12:00AM