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An analytical approach to calculate the capacity of a railway system

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  • Mussone, Lorenzo
  • Wolfler Calvo, Roberto

Abstract

Railway capacity is a concept that is not easily defined or quantified. Difficulties include the numerous interrelated factors present in the already complex structure of the railway layout. In this paper capacity is defined as the maximum number of trains that can traverse the entire railway in a given period of time, subject to management constraints (such as junction capacity, track capacity, line capacity and interference probability between trains). The proposed method is based on defining and solving an optimization problem which aims at finding out the capacity value of a railway system. It is not based on timetables and moreover it can indirectly take into account priorities between trains and possible delays; it is able to give the time occupation percentage in each component for each train category. It has been applied to a real-life case study showing the range of its validity and the possibility of application for any generic railway scheme.

Suggested Citation

  • Mussone, Lorenzo & Wolfler Calvo, Roberto, 2013. "An analytical approach to calculate the capacity of a railway system," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 228(1), pages 11-23.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:228:y:2013:i:1:p:11-23
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2012.12.027
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Line Blander Reinhardt & David Pisinger & Richard Lusby, 2018. "Railway capacity and expansion analysis using time discretized paths," Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, Springer, vol. 30(4), pages 712-739, December.
    2. Jovanović, Predrag & Pavlović, Norbert & Belošević, Ivan & Milinković, Sanjin, 2020. "Graph coloring-based approach for railway station design analysis and capacity determination," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 287(1), pages 348-360.
    3. Francesco Rotoli & Elena Navajas Cawood & Antonio Soria, 2016. "Capacity assessment of railway infrastructure: Tools, methodologies and policy relevance in the EU context," JRC Research Reports JRC100509, Joint Research Centre.
    4. Sparing, Daniel & Goverde, Rob M.P., 2017. "A cycle time optimization model for generating stable periodic railway timetables," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 198-223.
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    6. Ortega Riejos, Francisco A. & Barrena, Eva & Canca Ortiz, J. David & Laporte, Gilbert, 2016. "Analyzing the theoretical capacity of railway networks with a radial-backbone topology," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 83-92.
    7. Li, Feng & Gao, Ziyou & Wang, David Z.W. & Liu, Ronghui & Tang, Tao & Wu, Jianjun & Yang, Lixing, 2017. "A subjective capacity evaluation model for single-track railway system with δ-balanced traffic and λ-tolerance level," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 43-66.
    8. Burdett, RL, 2016. "Optimisation models for expanding a railway's theoretical capacity," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 251(3), pages 783-797.
    9. Masoud Yaghini & Mohammadreza Sarmadi & Nariman Nikoo & Mohsen Momeni, 2014. "Capacity Consumption Analysis Using Heuristic Solution Method for Under Construction Railway Routes," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 317-333, December.
    10. Burdett, Robert L., 2015. "Multi-objective models and techniques for analysing the absolute capacity of railway networks," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 245(2), pages 489-505.

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