This research aims to assess the level of utilisation of sections along a rail route by employing a series of simulation models. For the purposes of this research a multi method approach has been implemented which includes data collection, data analysis, modelling, model exploitation, measures of system performance and conclusion. Analytical methods and concepts in the study of railway freight lines and networks are presented. The discrete event based simulation models employed in this research have been implemented to study the rail route from Silla to Castellbisbal in Eastern Spain. The output from the models suggests that the current rate of utilisation is insignificant therefore different scenarios have been generated. These are based on changes to traffic rules, wherein the total number of services operated on the line is varied between the different scenarios. This paper concludes that it is possible to significantly increase the level of utilisation along the rail route from the current scenario. A contribution to knowledge is presented through the implementation of the simulation software Arena to study utilisation along a rail freight route.
rail freight; freight trains; utilisation; route; simulations