A model for calculating volumes of trains as flows given demand and capacity restriction

TL;DR

This paper introduces a multi-layer, volume-based train flow model that simplifies complex scheduling by focusing on train volumes over time, aiding transportation demand planning.

Contribution

The novel multi-layer model efficiently calculates train volumes from demand requirements, reducing complexity compared to detailed scheduling approaches.

Findings

Model effectively handles transportation demand requirements.

Volume-based approach simplifies complex scheduling tasks.

Two practical examples demonstrate model applicability.

Abstract

This report presents a novel approach to calculate volumes of trains from a set of requirements describing the transportation demands. The model presented is based on a multi commodity network flow model. The model comprises three different layers: the demand level in which the requirements on the transports are presented, the route layer which describes the routes possible to implement the demands and the flow layer in which the resulting flows of train volumes are calculated and distributed over discrete time periods. This structure corresponds well to other industrial planning processes where different products or services that are to be accomplished are first decomposed by methods into different layers of tasks, by e.g. a work breakdown structure (WBS). Resources are then allocated to the tasks as well as scheduled in time. The most important feature of the proposed model is that it is volume based, i.e. volume of trains are handled instead of scheduling individual trains. Scheduling a timetable is a very complex task, and by concentrating on the volumes of trains over time rather than the detailed scheduling of them, the complexity is greatly reduced which is a large computational advantage. The disadvantage is that the representation of capacity in terms of volumes of trains with different properties becomes crucial. The report discusses these advantages and disadvantages as well as gives two examples of the use of the model.