Infrastructure Modeling and Optimization to Solve Real-time Railway Traffic Management Problems

Abstract

Rail transportation helps to reach the global climate targets because it is characterized by low emission. The passenger and freight volumes on the railway increase yearly in line with EU targets. However, delays of passenger and freight trains decrease the punctuality and the reliability of the railway sector and the development of the infrastructure is not enough to increase the average speed of trains. Delays mean cost to the passengers, railway operators, infrastructure managers, and all railway undertakers. Therefore, the reason for the most significant optimization target is to minimize delays. In this paper, a possible solution has been described to solve the real-time railway traffic management problems by applying a mixed-integer linear programming approach. For validation of the research result, one simplified case study has been presented. Based on the result, the presented solution can provide effective support to dispatchers in solving real-time traffic management problems.