Deliverable D 3.1: Analysis of the gap between daily timetable and operational traffic

Abstract

Fr8Rail II/Work-Package 3 Real-time network management and improved methods for timetable planning addresses the problem to improve capacity and punctuality in the railway system by developing concepts and methods for tactical planning and operational traffic. In this report the state-of-the-art has been summarised. The aim of the project is to: Propose concepts and methods that improve the annual and short-term timetable planning. Demonstrate how the proposed timetable planning concepts improve the prerequisites for real-time network management. Develop methods and tools that can reduce inefficiencies in real time network management. An important aspect is to improve the coordination between yards/terminals and the line network, and between Infrastructure Manager, Yard Managers, and freight Rail Undertakings. We motivate our research by the current situation in Sweden, which is characterised by low on-time performance for freight trains, dense and heterogenous traffic on the major railway lines, and a rigid annual timetabling process, which is non-suitable for short-term changes. We believe that better tools for network planning and management on tactical and operational level can help to connect planning and operational processes. Aiming for improvements of the operational traffic, there is a need for systematic development of methods applied at several planning horizons, based on both simulation and optimization techniques. Close to operation fast methods are needed, for example, based on meta-heuristics. The maintenance planning process and improvement potential have been described. This is a new piece of the puzzle and it is important to close the gap between timetable planning and operational traffic. The different planning processes at the Infrastructure Manager, the Rail Undertakings and the Maintenance Contractors should be aligned. When developing new approaches for computational decision-support tools for real-time network management, it is important — but very challenging — to evaluate and benchmark with existing software tools. We also observe that the research stream on computational decision-support and algorithm development for railway traffic management has not yet been sufficiently merged with the corresponding research stream focusing on aspects of human computer interaction.Project lead: Magnus Wahlborg Editor: Anders PetersonShift2Rail/Fr8Rail I