Combining Optimization and Simulation to Improve Railway Timetable Robustness

• The Train Timetabling Problem (TTP) is the problem of finding the timetable that utilizes the infrastructure as efficient as possible, while satisfying market demands and operational constraints. As reliability is important to passengers it is important that timetables are robust. In this paper we propose a method that combines optimization and simulation to find the timetable that minimizes the travel times and maximizes the expected punctuality. The core method consists of iteratively re-optimizing a bi-objective mixed integer sequencing timetable model, where both planned travel time and simulated delays are taken into account. Each generated timetable is validated and re-evaluated using the micro-simulation tool RailSys. The advantage of the method is that it captures both the uncertainty of a timetable at the planning stage and the validity of the generated timetable. The method is evaluated on a unidirectional track section of the Western Main Line in Sweden and shows promising results for future research.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Transportteknik och logistik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Transport Systems and Logistics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Railway timetabling

Robustness

Optimization

Simulation

Punctuality

Transportvetenskap

Transport Science

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)