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Optimization methods for the Train Unit Shunting Problem

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  • Haahr, Jørgen Thorlund
  • Lusby, Richard M.
  • Wagenaar, Joris Camiel

Abstract

We consider the Train Unit Shunting Problem, an important planning problem for passenger railway operators. This problem entails assigning train units from shunting yards to scheduled train services in such a way that the resulting operations are without conflicts. The problem arises at every shunting yard in the railway network and involves matching train units to arriving and departing train services as well as assigning the selected matchings to appropriate shunting yard tracks. We present an extensive comparison benchmark of multiple solution approaches for this problem, some of which are novel. In particular, we develop a constraint programming formulation, a column generation approach, and a randomized greedy heuristic. We compare and benchmark these approaches with two existing methods, a mixed integer linear program and a two-stage heuristic. The benchmark contains multiple real-life instances provided by the Danish State Railways (DSB) and Netherlands Railways (NS). The results highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the considered approaches.

Suggested Citation

  • Haahr, Jørgen Thorlund & Lusby, Richard M. & Wagenaar, Joris Camiel, 2017. "Optimization methods for the Train Unit Shunting Problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 262(3), pages 981-995.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:262:y:2017:i:3:p:981-995
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2017.03.068
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Richard Freling & Ramon M. Lentink & Leo G. Kroon & Dennis Huisman, 2005. "Shunting of Passenger Train Units in a Railway Station," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 39(2), pages 261-272, May.
    2. Leo G. Kroon & Ramon M. Lentink & Alexander Schrijver, 2008. "Shunting of Passenger Train Units: An Integrated Approach," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 42(4), pages 436-449, November.
    3. Fioole, Pieter-Jan & Kroon, Leo & Maroti, Gabor & Schrijver, Alexander, 2006. "A rolling stock circulation model for combining and splitting of passenger trains," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 174(2), pages 1281-1297, October.
    4. Haahr, Jørgen & Lusby, Richard M., 2017. "Integrating rolling stock scheduling with train unit shunting," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 259(2), pages 452-468.
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    Cited by:

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    4. Yinggui Zhang & Ruihua Hu & Qiongfang Zeng & Yuhang Wang & Ya Liu & Shan Huang, 2023. "Optimal Train Platforming with Shunting Operations for Multidirectional Passenger Stations: A Case Study of Guangzhou Station," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-19, July.

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