Container route optimization in a sea-rail intermodal network

Abstract

This paper focuses on the problem of computing container routes in an intermodal transportation network which is considered as a multimodal multicommodity network flow problem (MMNFP). According to the characteristics of sea-rail intermodal networks in China, a container routing model is proposed taking into consideration the transportation costs and transfer costs as a 0-1 programming model. The genetic algorithm is implemented, coded, and computationally tested on realistic size networks with promising results. Simulation results show that the algorithm generates optimal routes for each cargo from railway stations to seaports, which provide comprehensive guidance for scientific decisions.