A Decision Support System for a developing country railway

A Decision Support System for evaluating investment proposals for a developing country railway is discussed. The reasons why such a system is considered necessary are first given. The operating characteristics of the railway lines represented, and the investment alternatives which can be considered for them, are then enumerated. The mode of operation of the Decision Support System is then described, followed by descriptions of its interface, and of the models underpinning it. Some of the models raise issues of interest to transport planning methodology, and these are discussed in detail. The paper finishes with an illustration of the way the Decision Support System can be used.