A HUMP SEQUENCING ALGORITHM FOR REAL TIME MANAGEMENT OF TRAIN CONNECTION RELIABILITY

This paper describes the hump sequencing component of the Terminal Priority Movement Planner (TPMP), a proof-of-concept decision support system field tested in 1994 at Union Pacific Railroad's Hinkle, Oregon, classification yard. The aim was not to make all connections, but to ensure that at least a subset of the most important ones--those which would cause late deliveries if missed--were protected. Rather than automatically dropping late connections, TPMP minimizes delays associated with holding outbound trains as necessary to protect connections. When called for, the decision to drop a late inbound connection and leave cars behind is made by a human being, not a computer. A mixed integer, nonlinear mathematical programming problem is solved using breadth-first branch and bound search. Realistic 1-day problems are solved in 15-20 sec. on a microcomputer. Practical adaptations required to implement the procedure in a real world setting are also described. Considerable emphasis is given to discussion of factors affecting rail service reliability, and steps railroad management can take to improve performance.

• Record URL:
  https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000544443
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10461469
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Forum

  One Farragut Square South, Suite 500
  Washington, DC  United States  20006-4003

  Transportation Research Forum

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• Authors:
  • Kraft, E R
• Publication Date: 2000

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 95-115
• Serial:
  • Journal of the Transportation Research Forum
  • Volume: 39
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Forum
  • ISSN: 1046-1469
  • Serial URL: https://trforum.org/journal-of-the-trf/
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Algorithms; Decision support systems; Management science; Railroad traffic control; Railroad transportation; Real time control; Train operations
• Identifier Terms: Terminal Priority Movement Planner; Union Pacific Railroad
• Uncontrolled Terms: Hump sequencing algorithms
• Geographic Terms: Oregon
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00800423
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 20 2001 12:00AM