IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/inm/orinte/v53y2023i4p295-306.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Rationalized Timetabling Using a Simulation Tool: A Paradigm Shift in Indian Railways

Author

Listed:
  • K. P. Anoop

    (Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India)

  • A. Madhukumar Reddy

    (Railway Board, Rail Bhavan, New Delhi 110001, India)

  • Mandeep Singh Bhatia

    (Railway Board, Rail Bhavan, New Delhi 110001, India)

  • Amit Kumar Jain

    (Centre for Railway Information Systems, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, India)

  • R. Gopalakrishnan

    (Centre for Railway Information Systems, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, India)

  • Merajus Salekin

    (Centre for Railway Information Systems, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, India)

  • Samay Pritam Singh

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India)

  • R. V. Satwik

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India)

  • Sudarshan Pulapadi

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India)

  • Chandrashekhar Bobade

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India)

  • I. Sidhartha Kumar

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India)

  • Shivasubramanian Gopalakrishnan

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India)

  • Kumar Appaiah

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India)

  • Narayan Rangaraj

    (Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India)

  • Madhu N. Belur

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India)

Abstract

During the year 2020, Indian Railways undertook an extensive timetabling exercise for its entire network. The timetable for its six principal routes known as the golden quadrilateral + diagonals (GQD) was generated using a rail traffic simulation tool. The simulation tool and the methodology had to be customized to handle the complex technical requirements of the GQD network, which spans more than 9,000 km. Challenges related to using and integrating data into the simulator also had to be addressed. This was the first time that a simulation software tool of this kind was used for timetabling in Indian Railways, and hence, there were uncertainties regarding the timely delivery, which gave rise to additional challenges to the overall effort. This paper focuses on these challenges and the managerial and human aspects of this massive timetabling exercise. It also explains how this project leverages the benefits of combining top-down and bottom-up approaches in timetabling and how it sets a new paradigm for network-wide timetabling in Indian Railways.

Suggested Citation

  • K. P. Anoop & A. Madhukumar Reddy & Mandeep Singh Bhatia & Amit Kumar Jain & R. Gopalakrishnan & Merajus Salekin & Samay Pritam Singh & R. V. Satwik & Sudarshan Pulapadi & Chandrashekhar Bobade & I. S, 2023. "Rationalized Timetabling Using a Simulation Tool: A Paradigm Shift in Indian Railways," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 53(4), pages 295-306, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:53:y:2023:i:4:p:295-306
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.2023.1158
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/inte.2023.1158
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1287/inte.2023.1158?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Leo Kroon & Dennis Huisman & Erwin Abbink & Pieter-Jan Fioole & Matteo Fischetti & Gábor Maróti & Alexander Schrijver & Adri Steenbeek & Roelof Ybema, 2009. "The New Dutch Timetable: The OR Revolution," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 39(1), pages 6-17, February.
    2. Ralf Borndörfer & Torsten Klug & Thomas Schlechte & Armin Fügenschuh & Thilo Schang & Hanno Schülldorf, 2016. "The Freight Train Routing Problem for Congested Railway Networks with Mixed Traffic," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 50(2), pages 408-423, May.
    3. Xiaoming Xu & Keping Li & Lixing Yang & Ziyou Gao, 2019. "An efficient train scheduling algorithm on a single-track railway system," Journal of Scheduling, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 85-105, February.
    4. Higgins, A. & Kozan, E. & Ferreira, L., 1996. "Optimal scheduling of trains on a single line track," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 147-161, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhang, Yongxiang & Peng, Qiyuan & Yao, Yu & Zhang, Xin & Zhou, Xuesong, 2019. "Solving cyclic train timetabling problem through model reformulation: Extended time-space network construct and Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers methods," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 344-379.
    2. Mina Aliakbari & Joseph Geunes, 2022. "Multiple Train Repositioning Operations in a Railyard Network," SN Operations Research Forum, Springer, vol. 3(4), pages 1-31, December.
    3. Albrecht, Amie & Howlett, Phil & Pudney, Peter & Vu, Xuan & Zhou, Peng, 2016. "The key principles of optimal train control—Part 1: Formulation of the model, strategies of optimal type, evolutionary lines, location of optimal switching points," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 482-508.
    4. Limsawasd, Charinee & Athigakunagorn, Nathee & Khathawatcharakun, Phattadon & Boonmee, Atiwat, 2022. "Skip-Stop Strategy Patterns optimization to enhance mass transit operation under physical distancing policy due to COVID-19 pandemic outbreak," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 225-238.
    5. Gianmarco Garrisi & Cristina Cervelló-Pastor, 2019. "Train-Scheduling Optimization Model for Railway Networks with Multiplatform Stations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-25, December.
    6. Laurent Daudet & Frédéric Meunier, 2020. "Minimizing the waiting time for a one-way shuttle service," Journal of Scheduling, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 95-115, February.
    7. Li, Feng & Gao, Ziyou & Li, Keping & Yang, Lixing, 2008. "Efficient scheduling of railway traffic based on global information of train," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 42(10), pages 1008-1030, December.
    8. Michael F. Gorman & John-Paul Clarke & Amir Hossein Gharehgozli & Michael Hewitt & René de Koster & Debjit Roy, 2014. "State of the Practice: A Review of the Application of OR/MS in Freight Transportation," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 44(6), pages 535-554, December.
    9. Mei, Qihuang & Li, Jianbin & Ursavas, Evrim & Zhu, Stuart X. & Luo, Xiaomeng, 2021. "Freight transportation planning in platform service supply chain considering carbon emissions," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    10. Andrea D'Ariano & Francesco Corman & Dario Pacciarelli & Marco Pranzo, 2008. "Reordering and Local Rerouting Strategies to Manage Train Traffic in Real Time," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 42(4), pages 405-419, November.
    11. Twan Dollevoet & Dennis Huisman & Marie Schmidt & Anita Schöbel, 2012. "Delay Management with Rerouting of Passengers," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 46(1), pages 74-89, February.
    12. Peter C. Verhoef & Martin Heijnsbroek & Joost Bosma, 2017. "Developing A Service Improvement System for the National Dutch Railways," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 47(6), pages 489-504, December.
    13. Rolf N. Van Lieshout, 2021. "Integrated Periodic Timetabling and Vehicle Circulation Scheduling," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 55(3), pages 768-790, May.
    14. Polinder, G.-J. & Schmidt, M.E. & Huisman, D., 2020. "Timetabling for strategic passenger railway planning," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2020-001-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    15. Li, Feng & Sheu, Jiuh-Biing & Gao, Zi-You, 2014. "Deadlock analysis, prevention and train optimal travel mechanism in single-track railway system," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 385-414.
    16. Hartleb, Johann & Schmidt, Marie, 2022. "Railway timetabling with integrated passenger distribution," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 298(3), pages 953-966.
    17. Xiaoming Xu & Keping Li & Lixing Yang & Ziyou Gao, 2019. "An efficient train scheduling algorithm on a single-track railway system," Journal of Scheduling, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 85-105, February.
    18. Chang, Yu-Hern & Yeh, Chung-Hsing & Shen, Ching-Cheng, 2000. "A multiobjective model for passenger train services planning: application to Taiwan's high-speed rail line," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 91-106, February.
    19. Sato, Keisuke & Fukumura, Naoto, 2012. "Real-time freight locomotive rescheduling and uncovered train detection during disruption," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 221(3), pages 636-648.
    20. Hassini, Elkafi & Verma, Manish, 2016. "Disruption risk management in railroad networks: An optimization-based methodology and a case studyAuthor-Name: Azad, Nader," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 70-88.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:53:y:2023:i:4:p:295-306. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Asher (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/inforea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.