In this paper a new approach to a traffic planning process is presented. A new railway line planning tool is being developed inside a more complex system that encloses simulation and train control tools as well. Genetic Algorithms (GAs) are used in this tool in order to lessen the time perturbations obtained by a previous algorithm when a number of train units are retired from the line to increase the time interval between circulations. The way these units are removed from the line is mainly affected by two factors: the number of available retiring points in the line and how fast this interval between train units is increased.In the case that the interval between trains is reduced, no major problem is presented as adding train units to the line quickly decreases the interval between circulations. On the contrary, during the interval when trains can be retired as the increasing of time passing between trains in the stations, significant perturbation in the schedule of trains are produced and as is shown in the paper, GAs are able to handle the problem in a more efficient way than linear programming models or heuristic algorithms.

Nowadays a trend focused on developing new tools in order to ease the decision making process in traffic central post facilities is clearly demanded by railway administrations. Also, hardware and software technical improvement allows new and more complex control and planning systems to be developed.In this paper a new tool developed for railway planning and traffic regulation is presented. Intelligent planning and traffic regulation is carried out with the help of a simulation tool that provides very valuable information to the planning and regulating tools of the way the railway line will react to the control orders. This simulator gives information of both mechanical and electrical behaviour of the system so electrical consumption can be taken into consideration in order to obtain an operational plan.The way the line planning is carried out can be described this way: First, planning tool gets the operator inputs to the tool that are mainly the starting position of the train units in the line, the interval between circulations throughout the day or the departure time of the train. Then the planning tool calculates the optimal theoretical schedule and the routing list for each station in the line according to the inputs, conditions and restrictions of the line. This theoretical planning is tested using the simulator and if it fulfils line operational requirements is stored as a valid plan. Finally, a traffic regulation tool is in charge of executing the theoretical plan. This tool compares the theoretical plan with the result of the operation of the railway line, calculates the deviation from the theoretical plan (conflict detection) and sends orders to the traffic control system trying to lessen the deviations from the theoretical plan (conflict resolution). If deviations can't be reduced, a new planning taking into consideration the actual state of the line is obtained in order to operate the line while a degraded situation is taking place. Then, once the degraded situation is overridden, the first theoretical plan is recovered if possible.

For the last four years as reported in ICONE 13 Paper 13-50638, the ASME Board of Nuclear Codes and Standards (BNCS) has been leading an effort to identify code changes necessary to support the future nuclear plants of the world. In that paper the authors identified the results of meetings with NSSS suppliers, government regulators, engineers/constructors, and owner operators to ascertain the status of their future designs and what modifications are necessary so the right rules and materials are in ASME Nuclear Codes and Standards.