Optimal Train Platforming with Shunting Operations for Multidirectional Passenger Stations: A Case Study of Guangzhou Station

Abstract

Busy, complex railway stations that serve as origin and termination points for a significant proportion of trains are essential to regional railway networks. Resolving conflicts between arrival–departure operations and shunting operations of cross-line trains and originating or terminating passenger trains in the throat area is important for safety in these multidirectional stations. The main task of this paper is to study the train platforming problem, and we consider the integration of track and route allocation with shunting route allocation on the basis of the traditional TTP problem, so as to formulate a strong anti-interference track allocation plan for busy, complex railway stations. Therefore, in view of the complex characteristics of train operation in busy, complex railway stations, we extensively examine the technical operational characteristics of various trains in multidirectional stations, which are the key constraints of the model, and establish a mixed-integer linear programming model. This model aims to balance the buffer time for track occupation and optimize the routing and scheduling of trains in stations. Furthermore, an improved genetic algorithm is proposed to effectively implement the developed model. In the case study of Guangzhou Station, the occupation analysis after the optimization of the method in this paper indicates that the shunting operations significantly interfere with arrival–departure operations in throat areas. The optimization of buffer times and track utilization times resulted in notable reductions of 30.55% and 77.82%, respectively, in quadratic differences. These outcomes provide empirical evidence supporting the feasibility of the proposed model and algorithm for addressing train platforming problems, particularly in complex, multidirectional, and heavily trafficked railway stations.