A path-based capacitated network flow model for empty railcar distribution

Heydari, Ruhollah; Melachrinoudis, Emanuel

doi:10.1007/s10479-016-2259-4

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Rail car fleet sizing models are also highly related to the studies that consider distribution problem of empty rail cars [12][13][14][15]. White and Bomberault [12] provided one of the earliest studies of the empty car distribution problem using a network-flow model.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Data-Driven Study on the Sustainable Log Movements: Impact of Rail Car Fleet Size on Freight Storage and Car Idling

Lautala

Zhang

2020

Sustainability

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Rail car availability and the challenges associated with the seasonal dynamics of log movements have received growing attentions in the Lake Superior region of the US, as a portion of rail car fleet is close to reaching the end of its service life. This paper proposes a data-driven study on the rail car peaking issue to explore the fleet of rail cars dedicated to being used for log movements in the region, and to evaluate how the number of cars affects both the storage need at the sidings and the time the cars are idled. This study is based on the actual log scale data collected from a group of forest companies in cooperation with the Lake State Shippers Association (LSSA). The results of our analysis revealed that moving the current log volumes in the region would require approximately 400–600 dedicated and shared log cars in ideal conditions, depending on the specific month. While the higher fleet size could move the logs as they arrive to the siding, the lower end would nearly eliminate the idling of rail cars and enable stable volumes throughout the year. However, this would require short-term storage and additional handling of logs at the siding, both elements that increase the costs for shippers. Another interesting observation was the fact that the reduction of a single day in the loading/unloading process (2.5 to 1.5 days) would eliminate almost 100 cars (20%) of the fleet without reduction in throughput.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The model seeks to reduce transportation costs and improve delivery time and customer satisfaction. More recently, Heydari and Melachrinoudis [15] developed the empty railcar distribution model considering the block and capacity of trains.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Data-Driven Study on the Sustainable Log Movements: Impact of Rail Car Fleet Size on Freight Storage and Car Idling

Lautala

Zhang

2020

Sustainability

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“…Gorman et al [20] discussed the practice of optimizing the allocation of empty freight railcars for shippers by BNSF and CSX, two major U.S. freight companies. Heydari et al [21] proposed a new solution to the problem of empty railcars distribution, which not only meets the needs of customers, but also takes into account the practical technical and business needs. Jiang et al [22] proposed an integrated scheduling coordination model, which aimed to maximize the production connection time (PCT) and production delivery time (PDT).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Time-Space Network Model Based on a Train Diagram for Predicting and Controlling the Traffic Congestion in a Station Caused by an Emergency

2019

Symmetry

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Timely predicting and controlling the traffic congestion in a station caused by an emergency is an important task in railway emergency management. However, traffic forecasting in an emergency is subject to a dynamic service network, with uncertainty surrounding elements such as the capacity of the transport network, schedules, and plans. Accurate traffic forecasting is difficult. This paper proposes a practical time-space network model based on a train diagram for predicting and controlling the traffic congestion in a station caused by an emergency. Based on the train diagram, we constructed a symmetric time-space network for the first time by considering the transition of the railcar state. On this basis, an improved A* algorithm based on the railcar flow route was proposed to generate feasible path sets and a dynamic railcar flow distribution model was built to simulate the railcar flow distribution process in an emergency. In our numerical studies, these output results of our proposed model can be used to control traffic congestion.

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“…at the Federal Railway of Switzerland, whose daily distribution makes up 12,000 empty cars of 70 types. Article [3] also proposes a mathematical model for the distribution of empty cars with regards to technical parameters of the railway network, such as the throughput of railway stations and plots, as well as the business interests of rolling stock owners. Article [4] proposes a mathematical model with regards to requirements of clients as well as priority of order performance in accordance with their urgency.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solution of the Problem of Empty Car Distribution between Stations and Planning of Way-Freight Train Route Using Genetic Algorithms

Prokhorov¹,

Калашнікова²,

Rybalchenko³

et al. 2018

IJET

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In this paper we consider the problem of distributing empty freight cars in a railway polygon. We show how the process can be improved using an optimization model. The optimization model can be characterized as a combination of minimum-cost flow problem with vehicle routing problem. In general, problem of empty railroad car distribution between stations and definition of way-freight train route is presented as integer combinatorial optimization problem. Computational tests show that the model can be solved in acceptable time for real size problems, and indicate that the model generates distribution plans that can improve the quality of the planning process.

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A path-based capacitated network flow model for empty railcar distribution

Cited by 10 publications

References 17 publications

Data-Driven Study on the Sustainable Log Movements: Impact of Rail Car Fleet Size on Freight Storage and Car Idling

Data-Driven Study on the Sustainable Log Movements: Impact of Rail Car Fleet Size on Freight Storage and Car Idling

A Time-Space Network Model Based on a Train Diagram for Predicting and Controlling the Traffic Congestion in a Station Caused by an Emergency

Solution of the Problem of Empty Car Distribution between Stations and Planning of Way-Freight Train Route Using Genetic Algorithms

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