Article ID: | iaor19992441 |
Country: | United Kingdom |
Volume: | 32A |
Issue: | 4 |
Start Page Number: | 279 |
End Page Number: | 295 |
Publication Date: | May 1998 |
Journal: | Transportation Research. Part A, Policy and Practice |
Authors: | Harker Patrick T., Hallowell Susan F. |
In previous work, the authors developed an analytical line delay model for analyzing rail line-haul operations, and validated the model as a predictive tool. This paper examines the application of the model as a prescriptive tool for the generation of train schedules. A unique feature of the model is that it incorporates dynamic meet/pass priorities in order to approximate an optimal meet/pass planning process. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to examine the application of the model for adjusting real-world schedules to improve on-time performance and reduce delay. This empirical work represents the first attempt to investigate the impacts of the scheduling methodology on on-time line-haul performance. The problems are based on historical data from a major North American railroad.