Title: A multi-objective cargo train scheduling model: a mathematical approach

Authors: J. Razmi, M.S. Amalnik, B. Ostadi

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11365/4563, Tehran, Iran. ' Faculty of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11365/4563, Tehran, Iran. ' Faculty of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11365/4563, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: Scheduling of railways is one of the NP-Hard problems which have been introduced more than two decades ago. Many mathematical models have been published for optimisation of the railways. However, none of those models can be applied to the Iranian Railway because of its specific situation regarding monorail routes, station capacity, etc. In this paper, a dynamic programming model has been introduced to schedule cargo trains based on the timetable of passenger trains that have priority in relation to cargo transportation. The objectives of this model are maximising the capacity of cargo train movement and minimising the stoppage time. It also considers several constraints including passenger train timetables, and the movement of only one train through a block at a time, etc. This model has been run in the Islamic Republic of Iran Railway Corporation and the results are presented in this paper.

Keywords: optimisation; dynamic programming; railways; cargo trains; scheduling; NP-hard; Iran.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMP.2005.008071

International Journal of Management Practice, 2005 Vol.1 No.4, pp.363 - 373

Published online: 11 Nov 2005 *

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