Solution of Large-Scale Railway Crew Planning Problems: the Italian Experience

Caprara, Alberto; Fischetti, Matteo; Guida, Pier Luigi; Toth, Paolo; Vigo, Daniele

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-85970-0_1

Cited by 40 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Major kinds of rolling stock include locomotives with cars and train units. When trains and rolling stock schedules are given, the next step would be crew scheduling (Caprara et al, 1999;Kroon and Fischetti, 2001;Kwan, 2010;Shen et al, 2013) assigning duties to transport staff in accordance with train and rolling stock planning. Rescheduling (recovery) on the above three stages is also important for realtime disturbance and disruption management.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

A branch-and-price approach for solving the train unit scheduling problem

Lin

Kwan

2016

Transportation Research Part B: Methodological

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We propose a branch-and-price approach for solving the integer multicommodity flow model for the network-level train unit scheduling problem (TUSP). Given a train operator's fixed timetable and a fleet of train units of different types, the TUSP aims at determining an assignment plan such that each train trip in the timetable is appropriately covered by a single or coupled train units. The TUSP is challenging due to its complex nature. Our branch-and-price approach includes a branching system with multiple branching rules for satisfying real-world requirements that are difficult to realize by linear constraints, such as unit type coupling compatibility relations and locations banned for coupling/decoupling. The approach also benefits from an adaptive node selection method, a column inheritance strategy and a feature of estimated upper bounds with node reservation functions. The branch-and-price solver designed for TUSP is capable of handling instances of up to about 500 train trips. Computational experiments were conducted based on real-world problem instances from First ScotRail. The results are satisfied by rail practitioners and are generally competitive or better than the manual ones.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

A branch-and-price approach for solving the train unit scheduling problem

Lin

Kwan

2016

Transportation Research Part B: Methodological

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“…However, developments in hard-and software nowadays enable the application of such models in the railway industry as well [2,3,8,9,10,11]. A typical instance of NS Reizigers related to the planning of a single duty type (driver or conductor) on a single workday involves about 14,000 time-tabled trips to be assigned to 1,000+ duties in 29 crew depots.…”

Section: Turnimentioning

confidence: 99%

Reinventing Crew Scheduling at Netherlands Railways

Abbink¹,

Fischetti²,

Kroon³

et al. 2005

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In this paper we describe the successful application of a sophisticated Operations Research model and the corresponding solution techniques for scheduling the 6,500+ drivers and conductors of the Dutch railway operator NS Reizigers (Netherlands Railways). In 2001 the drivers and conductors were very dissatisfied with the structure of their duties, which led to nation wide strikes. However, the application of the model described in this paper led to the development of an alternative production model ('Sharing Sweet & Sour') that both satisfied the drivers and conductors, and at the same time supported an increment of the punctuality and efficiency of the railway services. The plans produced according to the alternative production model trimmed personnel costs by about $4.8million (or1.2%) per year. Moreover, it was shown that cost reductions of over $7 million per year are also achievable. conductors were very dissatisfied with the structure of their duties, which led to nation wide strikes. However, the application of the model described in this paper led to the development of an alternative production model ('Sharing Sweet&Sour') that both satisfied the drivers and conductors, and at the same time supported an increment of the punctuality and efficiency of the railway services. The plans produced according to the alternative production model trimmed personnel costs by about $4.8 million (or 1.2%) per year. Moreover, it was shown that cost reductions of over $7 million per year are also achievable.

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“…[20,21,22]) construct new shifts incrementally as their need is recognised within the process, using shortest path, dynamic programming or constraint programming methods. We have avoided this approach, as in our experience, the costs of individual shifts are not incremental and cannot be determined until the whole shift is evaluated.…”

Section: User Interfacementioning

confidence: 99%

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Wren

Fores

Kwan

et al. 2003

Journal of Scheduling

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SUMMARYA substantial part of the operating costs of public transport is attributable to drivers, whose efficient use therefore is important. The compilation of optimal work packages is difficult, being NP-hard. In practice, algorithmic advances and enhanced computing power have led to significant progress in achieving better schedules. However, differences in labour practices among modes of transport and operating companies make production of a truly general system with acceptable performance a difficult proposition. TRACS II has overcome these difficulties, being used with success by a substantial number of bus and train operators. Many theoretical aspects of the system have been published previously. This paper shows for the first time how theory and practice have been brought together, explaining the many features which have been added to the algorithmic kernel to provide a user-friendly and adaptable system designed to provide maximum flexibility in practice. We discuss the extent to which users have been involved in system development, leading to many practical successes, and we summarise some recent achievements.

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Solution of Large-Scale Railway Crew Planning Problems: the Italian Experience

Cited by 40 publications

References 9 publications

A branch-and-price approach for solving the train unit scheduling problem

A branch-and-price approach for solving the train unit scheduling problem

Reinventing Crew Scheduling at Netherlands Railways

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