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Improved Empty Freight Car Distribution

Author

Listed:
  • Kaj Holmberg

    (Department of Mathematics, Linköping University, S-58183 Linköping, Sweden)

  • Martin Joborn

    (Department of Mathematics, Linköping University, S-58183 Linköping, Sweden)

  • Jan T. Lundgren

    (Department of Mathematics, Linköping University, S-58183 Linköping, Sweden)

Abstract

In this paper we consider the problem of distributing empty freight cars in a railway company. We describe and analyze the current planning process, identify the shortcomings of the process, and stress the importance of a reliable distribution process for satisfying customer demand and reducing capital costs. We show how the process can be improved using an optimization model which includes capacity constraints on the trains and adheres explicitly to the arrival and departure times of the trains. The optimization model can be characterized as a multicommodity network flow model with integer requirements. 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaj Holmberg & Martin Joborn & Jan T. Lundgren, 1998. "Improved Empty Freight Car Distribution," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 32(2), pages 163-173, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ortrsc:v:32:y:1998:i:2:p:163-173
    DOI: 10.1287/trsc.32.2.163
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Haghani, Ali E., 1989. "Formulation and solution of a combined train routing and makeup, and empty car distribution model," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 23(6), pages 433-452, December.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kaj Holmberg & Di Yuan, 2003. "A Multicommodity Network-Flow Problem with Side Constraints on Paths Solved by Column Generation," INFORMS Journal on Computing, INFORMS, vol. 15(1), pages 42-57, February.
    2. Bojovic, Nebojsa J., 2002. "A general system theory approach to rail freight car fleet sizing," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 136(1), pages 136-172, January.
    3. Topaloglu, H., 2006. "A parallelizable dynamic fleet management model with random travel times," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 175(2), pages 782-805, December.
    4. Michael F. Gorman & Dharma Acharya & David Sellers, 2010. "CSX Railway Uses OR to Cash In on Optimized Equipment Distribution," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 40(1), pages 5-16, February.
    5. Belgacem Bouzaiene-Ayari & Clark Cheng & Sourav Das & Ricardo Fiorillo & Warren B. Powell, 2016. "From Single Commodity to Multiattribute Models for Locomotive Optimization: A Comparison of Optimal Integer Programming and Approximate Dynamic Programming," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 50(2), pages 366-389, May.
    6. Kirschstein, Thomas, 2018. "Rail transportation planning in the chemical industry," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 142-160.
    7. G Lulli & U Pietropaoli & N Ricciardi, 2011. "Service network design for freight railway transportation: the Italian case," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 62(12), pages 2107-2119, December.
    8. Behrens, Kristian & Picard, Pierre M., 2011. "Transportation, freight rates, and economic geography," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(2), pages 280-291.
    9. Mahmoudi, Monirehalsadat & Parviziomran, Irandokht, 2020. "Reusable packaging in supply chains: A review of environmental and economic impacts, logistics system designs, and operations management," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    10. Yu, Ming-Miin & Chen, Li-Hsueh, 2016. "Centralized resource allocation with emission resistance in a two-stage production system: Evidence from a Taiwan’s container shipping company," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 650-671.
    11. Li, Jing-An & Leung, Stephen C.H. & Wu, Yue & Liu, Ke, 2007. "Allocation of empty containers between multi-ports," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 182(1), pages 400-412, October.
    12. Martin Joborn & Teodor Gabriel Crainic & Michel Gendreau & Kaj Holmberg & Jan T. Lundgren, 2004. "Economies of Scale in Empty Freight Car Distribution in Scheduled Railways," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 38(2), pages 121-134, May.
    13. Huseyin Topaloglu & Warren B. Powell, 2007. "Sensitivity Analysis of a Dynamic Fleet Management Model Using Approximate Dynamic Programming," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 55(2), pages 319-331, April.
    14. Huseyin Topaloglu & Warren B. Powell, 2006. "Dynamic-Programming Approximations for Stochastic Time-Staged Integer Multicommodity-Flow Problems," INFORMS Journal on Computing, INFORMS, vol. 18(1), pages 31-42, February.
    15. Ruhollah Heydari & Emanuel Melachrinoudis, 2017. "A path-based capacitated network flow model for empty railcar distribution," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 253(2), pages 773-798, June.

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