Simulation modelling to analyse the current level of utilisation of sections along a rail route

Woroniuk, Clare; Marinov, Marin

Abstracts

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

Esta pesquisa procura obter o nível de utilização das seções de uma ferrovia através do uso de modelos de simulação. Para este propósito foi implementada uma abordagem de múltiplos métodos que inclui coleta e análise de dados, modelagem, exploração de modelos, métricas de performance e conclusão. Métodos analíticos e estudos conceituais de linhas de transporte ferroviário e redes são apresentados. Especificamente, os modelos de simulação empregados nesta pesquisa foram implementados para estudar a linha férrea de Silla para Castellbisbal. Os modelos sugerem que a atual taxa de utilização é bastante pobre. Foram gerados e analisados diferentes cenários baseados em mudanças das regras de tráfego. Este artigo conclui que é possível aumentar significativamente o nível de utilização de uma linha férrea.

transporte ferroviário de mercadorias; trens; utilização; corredor ferroviário; simulações

Anand, N. and Anayi, M. (2010) Improving punctuality of train traffic on western main line of Swedish railway network: simulation approach. ASME Rail Transportation Division Fall Conference, Fort Worth.
Anthony, R. (1965) Planning and control systems: a framework for analysis Boston: Harvard Graduate School of Business.
Assad, A. (1980) Models for rail transportation. Transportation Research Part A, vol. 14, n. 3, pp. 205-220.
Bontekoning, Y. (2006) Hub exchange operations in intermodal hub and spoke networks Delft University Press.
Crainic, G. and Laporte, G. (1997) Planning models for freight transportation. European Journal of Operational Research, vol. 97, n. 3, pp. 409-438.
Dessouky, M. and Leachman, R. (1995) A simulation modelling methodology for analysing large complex rail networks. Simulation, vol. 65, n. 2, pp. 131-142.
European Commission (2011) White paper. Roadmap to a single European transport area -towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system Brussels: EUR-Lex.
European Commission (2010) Statistical pocketbook Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
Fernandez, J., Joaquin, C. and Giesen, R. (2004) A strategic model of freight operations for rail transportation systems. Transportation Planning and Technology, vol. 27, n. 4, pp. 231-260.
Giannettoni, M. and Savio, S. (2004) Fleet management in railway freight transport: the EU project F-Man. International Conference on Design and Operation in Railway Engineering (COMPRAIL), Dresden.
Goossens, J., van Hoesel, S. and Kroon, L. (2006) On solving multi-type railway route planning problems. European Journal of Operational Research, vol. 168, n. 2, pp. 403-424.
Huisman, T., Boucherie, R. and van Dijik, N. (2002) A solvable queuing network model for railway networks and its validation and applications for the Netherlands. European Journal of Operational Research, vol. 142, n. 1 pp. 30-51.
Janic, M. (2008) An assessment of the performance of the European long intermodal freight trains (LIFTS). Transportation Research Part A, vol. 42, n. 10, pp. 1326-1339.
Karagyozov, K. (1983) Simulation model of a marshalling yard. Conference of an Applied Science, about Implementation of Electronic Computation Machines and Micro-processors in Railway Transport, Varna.
Karagyzov, K., Danchev, A. and Kupenov, D. (1990) Method and algorithm for determination of the assembling parameter and the railcar delay in rail yards (written in Bulgarian). Scientific-Technical Conference with International Particiaptiocn about New Technologies in Organisation of Transportation Process and Effective Use of Rolling Stock, Gorna Oriahovica.
Katchaunov, T., Karagyzov, K., Kupenov, D. and Razmov, T. (1998) Simulation and Modelling of Transport Processes (written in Bulgarian), (Simulations with GPSS) Higher School of Transport Todor Kableshkov Sofia, Bulgaria (written in Bulgarian).
Kavicka, A. and Klima, V. (2000) Simulation support for railway infrastructure design and planning processes. 7th International conference on Computers in Railways, Bologna.
Kavicka, A., Klima, V. and Adamko, N. (2006) Analysis and optimisation of railway nodes using simulation techniques. 10th International Conference on computer system design and operation in the Railway and other Transit systems, Prague.
Marinov, M. and Viegas, J. (2011) A mesoscopic simulation modelling methodology for analysing and evaluating freight train operations in a rail network. Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, vol. 19, n. 1, pp. 516-539.
Marinov, M., Mortimer, P., Islam, D. and Zunder, T. (2010) A steady state analysis for yard performances. Journal of Transport Literature, vol. 5, n. 1, pp. 33-49.
Marinov, M. and Viegas, J. (2009) A simulation modelling methodology for evaluating flat shunted yard operations. Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, vol. 17, n. 6, pp. 1106-1129.
Marinov, M. and Viegas, J. (2011) Analysis and evaluation of double-ended flat-shunted yard performance employing two yard crews. Journal of Transportation Engineering, vol. 137, n. 5, pp. 319-326.
Marinov, M. and Viegas, J. (2011) Tactical management of freight transportation services by rail: evaluation of yard performances. Transportation Planning and Technology, vol. 34, n. 4, pp. 363-387.
Moreira, N., Garcia, L. and Catarrinho, P. (2004) Network capacity. Computers in Railways IX: Computer Aided Design, Manufacture and Operation in the Railway and other Advanced Mass Transit Systems Ashurst Lodge: WIT Press.
Nash, A. and Huerlimann, D. (2004), Railroad simulation using OpenTrack. 9th International conference on computer aided design, manufacture and operation in the railway and other advanced transit systems, Dresden.
Pachl, J. and White, T. (2004) Analytical capacity management with blocking times. TRB Annual Meeting, Washington.
Pachl, J. (2002) Railway operation and control Mountlake Terrace: VTD Rail Publishing.
Petersen, E. (1977a) Railyard modelling: part I. Prediction of put-through time. Transportation Science, vol. 11, n. 1, pp. 37-49.
Petersen, E. (1977b) Railyard modelling: part II. The effect of yard facilities on congestion. Transportation Science, vol. 11, n. 1, pp. 50-59.
Petersen, E. and Taylor, A. (1982) A structured model for rail route simulation and optimisation. Transportation Science, vol. 16, n. 2, pp. 192-206.
Sinay, M. C. F., Ferreira Filho, A. S. and Oliveira, G. D. (2008) Railroad yard logistic to improve capacity. International Conference on Industrial Logistics, Tel Aviv.
Shughart, L., Ahuja, R., Kumar, A., Mehta, S., Dang, N. and Sahin, G. (2006) A comprehensive decision support system for hump yard management using simulation and optimisation. Innovative Scheduling White Paper, University of Florida.
van Dijk, N. (2000) On hybrid combination of queuing and simulation. University of Amsterdam/Incontrol Business Engineers. 2000 Winter Simulation Conference, the Netherlands.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
11 Oct 2013
Date of issue
Apr 2013

History

Received
13 July 2012
Accepted
17 July 2012

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

[1] Anand, N. and Anayi, M. (2010) Improving punctuality of train traffic on western main line of Swedish railway network: simulation approach. ASME Rail Transportation Division Fall Conference, Fort Worth.

[2] Anthony, R. (1965) Planning and control systems: a framework for analysis Boston: Harvard Graduate School of Business.

[3] Assad, A. (1980) Models for rail transportation. Transportation Research Part A, vol. 14, n. 3, pp. 205-220.

[4] Bontekoning, Y. (2006) Hub exchange operations in intermodal hub and spoke networks Delft University Press.

[5] Crainic, G. and Laporte, G. (1997) Planning models for freight transportation. European Journal of Operational Research, vol. 97, n. 3, pp. 409-438.

[6] Dessouky, M. and Leachman, R. (1995) A simulation modelling methodology for analysing large complex rail networks. Simulation, vol. 65, n. 2, pp. 131-142.

[7] European Commission (2011) White paper. Roadmap to a single European transport area -towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system Brussels: EUR-Lex.

[8] European Commission (2010) Statistical pocketbook Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

[9] Fernandez, J., Joaquin, C. and Giesen, R. (2004) A strategic model of freight operations for rail transportation systems. Transportation Planning and Technology, vol. 27, n. 4, pp. 231-260.

[10] Giannettoni, M. and Savio, S. (2004) Fleet management in railway freight transport: the EU project F-Man. International Conference on Design and Operation in Railway Engineering (COMPRAIL), Dresden.

[11] Goossens, J., van Hoesel, S. and Kroon, L. (2006) On solving multi-type railway route planning problems. European Journal of Operational Research, vol. 168, n. 2, pp. 403-424.

[12] Huisman, T., Boucherie, R. and van Dijik, N. (2002) A solvable queuing network model for railway networks and its validation and applications for the Netherlands. European Journal of Operational Research, vol. 142, n. 1 pp. 30-51.

[13] Janic, M. (2008) An assessment of the performance of the European long intermodal freight trains (LIFTS). Transportation Research Part A, vol. 42, n. 10, pp. 1326-1339.

[14] Karagyozov, K. (1983) Simulation model of a marshalling yard. Conference of an Applied Science, about Implementation of Electronic Computation Machines and Micro-processors in Railway Transport, Varna.

[15] Karagyzov, K., Danchev, A. and Kupenov, D. (1990) Method and algorithm for determination of the assembling parameter and the railcar delay in rail yards (written in Bulgarian). Scientific-Technical Conference with International Particiaptiocn about New Technologies in Organisation of Transportation Process and Effective Use of Rolling Stock, Gorna Oriahovica.

[16] Katchaunov, T., Karagyzov, K., Kupenov, D. and Razmov, T. (1998) Simulation and Modelling of Transport Processes (written in Bulgarian), (Simulations with GPSS) Higher School of Transport Todor Kableshkov Sofia, Bulgaria (written in Bulgarian).

[17] Kavicka, A. and Klima, V. (2000) Simulation support for railway infrastructure design and planning processes. 7th International conference on Computers in Railways, Bologna.

[18] Kavicka, A., Klima, V. and Adamko, N. (2006) Analysis and optimisation of railway nodes using simulation techniques. 10th International Conference on computer system design and operation in the Railway and other Transit systems, Prague.

[19] Marinov, M. and Viegas, J. (2011) A mesoscopic simulation modelling methodology for analysing and evaluating freight train operations in a rail network. Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, vol. 19, n. 1, pp. 516-539.

[20] Marinov, M., Mortimer, P., Islam, D. and Zunder, T. (2010) A steady state analysis for yard performances. Journal of Transport Literature, vol. 5, n. 1, pp. 33-49.

[21] Marinov, M. and Viegas, J. (2009) A simulation modelling methodology for evaluating flat shunted yard operations. Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, vol. 17, n. 6, pp. 1106-1129.

[22] Marinov, M. and Viegas, J. (2011) Analysis and evaluation of double-ended flat-shunted yard performance employing two yard crews. Journal of Transportation Engineering, vol. 137, n. 5, pp. 319-326.

[23] Marinov, M. and Viegas, J. (2011) Tactical management of freight transportation services by rail: evaluation of yard performances. Transportation Planning and Technology, vol. 34, n. 4, pp. 363-387.

[24] Moreira, N., Garcia, L. and Catarrinho, P. (2004) Network capacity. Computers in Railways IX: Computer Aided Design, Manufacture and Operation in the Railway and other Advanced Mass Transit Systems Ashurst Lodge: WIT Press.

[25] Nash, A. and Huerlimann, D. (2004), Railroad simulation using OpenTrack. 9th International conference on computer aided design, manufacture and operation in the railway and other advanced transit systems, Dresden.

[26] Pachl, J. and White, T. (2004) Analytical capacity management with blocking times. TRB Annual Meeting, Washington.

[27] Pachl, J. (2002) Railway operation and control Mountlake Terrace: VTD Rail Publishing.

[28] Petersen, E. (1977a) Railyard modelling: part I. Prediction of put-through time. Transportation Science, vol. 11, n. 1, pp. 37-49.

[29] Petersen, E. (1977b) Railyard modelling: part II. The effect of yard facilities on congestion. Transportation Science, vol. 11, n. 1, pp. 50-59.

[30] Petersen, E. and Taylor, A. (1982) A structured model for rail route simulation and optimisation. Transportation Science, vol. 16, n. 2, pp. 192-206.

[31] Sinay, M. C. F., Ferreira Filho, A. S. and Oliveira, G. D. (2008) Railroad yard logistic to improve capacity. International Conference on Industrial Logistics, Tel Aviv.

[32] Shughart, L., Ahuja, R., Kumar, A., Mehta, S., Dang, N. and Sahin, G. (2006) A comprehensive decision support system for hump yard management using simulation and optimisation. Innovative Scheduling White Paper, University of Florida.

[34] van Dijk, N. (2000) On hybrid combination of queuing and simulation. University of Amsterdam/Incontrol Business Engineers. 2000 Winter Simulation Conference, the Netherlands.

Brasil

Brasil

Simulation modelling to analyse the current level of utilisation of sections along a rail route

Modelos de simulação para analisar os níveis correntes de utilização de seções ao longo de uma rota ferroviária

Abstracts

Publication Dates

History