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A two-stage approach to the depot shunting driver assignment problem with workload balance considerations

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  • Jiaxi Wang
  • Manfred Gronalt
  • Yan Sun

Abstract

Due to its environmentally sustainable and energy-saving characteristics, railway transportation nowadays plays a fundamental role in delivering passengers and goods. Emerged in the area of transportation planning, the crew (workforce) sizing problem and the crew scheduling problem have been attached great importance by the railway industry and the scientific community. In this paper, we aim to solve the two problems by proposing a novel two-stage optimization approach in the context of the electric multiple units (EMU) depot shunting driver assignment problem. Given a predefined depot shunting schedule, the first stage of the approach focuses on determining an optimal size of shunting drivers. While the second stage is formulated as a bi-objective optimization model, in which we comprehensively consider the objectives of minimizing the total walking distance and maximizing the workload balance. Then we combine the normalized normal constraint method with a modified Pareto filter algorithm to obtain Pareto solutions for the bi-objective optimization problem. Furthermore, we conduct a series of numerical experiments to demonstrate the proposed approach. Based on the computational results, the regression analysis yield a driver size predictor and the sensitivity analysis give some interesting insights that are useful for decision makers.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiaxi Wang & Manfred Gronalt & Yan Sun, 2017. "A two-stage approach to the depot shunting driver assignment problem with workload balance considerations," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-23, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0181165
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181165
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. George J. Beaujon & Mark A. Turnquist, 1991. "A Model for Fleet Sizing and Vehicle Allocation," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(1), pages 19-45, February.
    2. Leo G. Kroon & Ramon M. Lentink & Alexander Schrijver, 2008. "Shunting of Passenger Train Units: An Integrated Approach," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 42(4), pages 436-449, November.
    3. Verbeek, Peter J., 1991. "Decision support systems -- An application in strategic manpower planning of airline pilots," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 55(3), pages 368-381, December.
    4. Richard Freling & Ramon M. Lentink & Leo G. Kroon & Dennis Huisman, 2005. "Shunting of Passenger Train Units in a Railway Station," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 39(2), pages 261-272, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kai Kang & Wei Pu & Yanfang Ma & Xiaoyu Wang, 2018. "Bi-objective inventory allocation planning problem with supplier selection and carbon trading under uncertainty," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(11), pages 1-25, November.
    2. Martha-Selene Casas-Ramírez & José-Fernando Camacho-Vallejo & Rosa G. González-Ramírez & José-Antonio Marmolejo-Saucedo & José-Manuel Velarde-Cantú, 2018. "Optimizing a Biobjective Production-Distribution Planning Problem Using a GRASP," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2018, pages 1-13, February.
    3. Heil, Julia & Hoffmann, Kirsten & Buscher, Udo, 2020. "Railway crew scheduling: Models, methods and applications," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 283(2), pages 405-425.
    4. Fei Peng & Xian Fan & Puxin Wang & Mingan Sheng, 2022. "A Time-Space Network-Based Optimization Method for Scheduling Depot Drivers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, November.

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