To build or not to build -- A queueing-based approach to timetable independent railway junction infrastructure dimensioning

TL;DR

This paper introduces a queueing theory-based method for calculating railway junction capacity, enabling infrastructure decision-making independent of timetables, based on layout and traffic rates.

Contribution

It presents a novel queueing model for railway junction capacity assessment that leverages infrastructure layout and traffic rates, implemented with model-checking techniques.

Findings

Provides a fast, reliable method for long-term railway junction capacity evaluation.

Enables decision-making on infrastructure upgrades like overpasses.

Addresses a gap in timetable-independent railway capacity planning.

Abstract

Many infrastructure managers have the goal to increase the capacity of their railway infrastructure due to an increasing demand. While methods for performance calculations of railway line infrastructure are already well established, the determination of railway junction capacity remains a challenge. This work utilizes the concept of queueing theory to develop a method for the capacity calculation of railway junctions, solely depending on their infrastructure layout along with arrival and service rates. The implementation of the introduced approach is based on advanced model-checking techniques. It can be used to decide which infrastructure layout to build, i.e. whether an overpass for the analysed railway junction is needed. The developed method hence addresses the need for fast and reliable timetable independent junction evaluation in the long-term railway capacity calculation landscape.