Rail Related Research at IIT Madras Dr. T. T. Narendran Professor, Operations Management, Department of Management Studies Indian Institute of Technology

Rail Related Research at IIT Madras

Dr. T. T. Narendran

Professor, Operations Management,

Department of Management Studies

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Chennai 600 036

Phone: 044 22578436

Fax : 044 22578699

E-mail: [email protected]

Prof.T.T.Narendran, Dr.Ram Gopalan, T.Godwin, Vinay Kumar Rai, N.Vadhirajan, and Ravi Shankar Mundoli

Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras

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Presentation Outline

Previous Research Work• Marshalling operation in a yard• Optimal scheduling of trains• Locomotive assignment for passenger trains• Train planning problemOn-Going Research• Freight train scheduling• Locomotive assignment for freight trains• Strategic locomotive capacity planning• Strategic fleet sizing for freight train operationFuture Research Plans• Locomotive and crew assignment for freight trains• Rail infrastructure planning for freight trains

Prof.T.T.Narendran and Ravi Shankar MundoliDepartment of Management Studies, IIT Madras

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Marshalling Operation in a Yard

A wagon spends two-thirds of its time in a marshalling yard

Wagon detention time represents blocked capital

Prof.T.T.Narendran and Ravi Shankar MundoliDepartment of Management Studies, IIT Madras

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Marshalling Operation in a Yard (Contd.)

• Sort-By-Train

• Triangular Sorting

Sorting Methods

Research Contribution• We compared two sorting methods for Tondiarpet Marshalling Yard (TNPM) using simulation.

• We found that triangular sorting method outperformed the current system (sort-by-train).

Prof.T.T.Narendran and Anand Raja GopalDepartment of Management Studies, IIT Madras

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Optimal Scheduling of Trains

Scope

•Freight and Passenger Trains

• Determine Maximum Line Capacity of a Section

• Policies for Introduction of Freight Trains into a Section

• Study of the Effect of the above on the Punctuality of Passenger Trains

Prof.T.T.Narendran and Anand Raja GopalDepartment of Management Studies, IIT Madras

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Optimal Scheduling of Trains (Contd.)

Methodology

• Estimation of Maximum Line Capacity

• Analogy with JIT – ‘Pull System’

• Computer Simulation

Findings

• Maximum Capacity much above average number of Trains Operated

• Possible to Introduce more Freight Trains

Prof.T.T.Narendran and N.VadhirajanDepartment of Management Studies, IIT Madras

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Locomotive Assignment for Passenger Trains

6:30 14:00

16:3019:00

20:00

12:00

14:3020:30

23:00

5:00

7:00

2:00

6610

6073

6582

6603

6622

6650 A Locomotive should not travel for more than 3500 kms or more than a week without maintenance

Prof.T.T.Narendran and N.VadhirajanDepartment of Management Studies, IIT Madras

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Locomotive Assignment for Passenger Trains (Contd.)

Objective

Minimize the number of locomotives used for passenger trains

Research Contribution• We have developed a heuristic for locomotive assignment (creating locomotive links) for passenger trains

• We found that the solution given by the heuristic gave a reduction in the number of locomotives currently being by the Railways for the passenger trains

Prof.T.T.Narendran and Vinay Kumar RaiDepartment of Management Studies, IIT Madras

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Train Planning Problem

Passenger Trains

Freight Trains

PUT

POI

TRT

VGA

Prof.T.T.Narendran and Vinay Kumar RaiDepartment of Management Studies, IIT Madras

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Train Planning Problem (Contd.)

MotivationTrain planning in Railways is generally done manually which is very cumbersome and takes lot of time

Contribution

We have developed a software for train planning for controlling train movements and creating running time chart

Prof.T.T.Narendran, Dr.Ram Gopalan, and T.GodwinDepartment of Management Studies, IIT Madras

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Freight Train Scheduling

Passenger Trains with Fixed Schedule

Unscheduled Freight Trains

Freight trains should be scheduled in such a manner that it does not interfere with the movements of passenger trains


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Freight Train Scheduling (Contd.)

Speed Restrictions

• Maximum Speed of Freight Trains

• Sectional Speed Limits

Blocking Systems

• Absolute Blocking System

• Following Train System


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Freight Train Scheduling (Contd.)

No-Wait ConstraintA freight train whose length is more than the length of the siding (loop-line) at a station has a no-wait constraint at that station

Routing Criteria

Shortest Time Route

Shortest Distance Route


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Freight Train Scheduling (Contd.)Research ContributionWe have developed a heuristic that finds the route, schedule, and the velocity profile for freight trains, so that the movements can be completed in the shortest possible time

Features of Heuristic• No-Wait Constraint

• Speed Restrictions at Block Sections

• Outputs Arrival/Departure Times at Stations

• Outputs Velocity Profile

• Absolute Blocking System

• Following Train System

• Shortest Time Route

• Shortest Distance Route


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Locomotive Assignment for Freight Trains

Locomotive Deadheading

Coupling Delay

Coupling Delay


Research ObjectiveAssign locomotives to freight rakes that minimizes locomotive deadheading and coupling delay, and find minimum time path for freight trains and deadheading locomotives in a passenger rail network.


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Locomotive Assignment for Freight Trains (Contd.)

Yard

J4

J1 J2

J3

Freight Train Originating from a yard needs locomotive till the end of the division

Type 1

Type 2

Freight Train Originating from a yard needs locomotive till the end of the division and through the next division

Type 3Freight Train coming from another division terminates at the yard

Type 4

Freight Train coming from another division needs a locomotive to bring it to the yard

Type 5

Freight Train passing through the division uncouples the locomotive at the end of the division Type 6Freight Train passing through the division takes the coupled locomotive to the next division Type 7Freight Train passing through the division needs a locomotive to hand it over to the next division and the locomotive gets uncoupled at the end of the division

Type 8

Freight Train passing through the division needs a locomotive and the locomotive goes with the freight train to the next division


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Research ContributionWe have developed a two phase heuristic for assigning locomotives to freight trains and then scheduling them in a passenger rail network

Locomotive Assignment Phase• Locomotive link for each locomotive is found

• Gives non-dominant locomotive assignment solutions.


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Selecting a Locomotive Assignment Solution• The non-dominant locomotive assignment solutions are ranked based on decision maker’s preferences

• The decision maker chooses a locomotive assignment based on the ranking and other priorities

Train Scheduling Phase• Deadheading locomotives are also treated as freight trains

• Shortest time route, arrival/departure times at stations, and velocity profile is found for every freight train/deadheading locomotive


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Strategic Locomotive Capacity Planning for Freight Trains

Research ObjectiveFor a freight traffic flow, determine the locomotive fleet size and their operating policy to satisfy customers at a desired service level while minimizing system cost.


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Strategic Locomotive Capacity Planning for Freight Trains (Contd.)Modeling Locomotive Capacity Planning


Locomotive Maintenance

Congestion caused by Passenger and Freight Trains


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Strategic Locomotive Capacity Planning for Freight Trains (Contd.)Research Contribution• We have developed a simulation model for locomotive capacity planning based on the traffic flow data for Southern Railway network.

• We investigated various strategic alternatives and the non-dominated strategic alternatives were ranked based on decision maker’s preference.

• We identified the best locomotive fleet size and operating policy for customer focused performance measures and system focused performance measures.


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Strategic Fleet Sizing for Freight Train Operation



Rake DeadheadingRake Deadheading

Freight TrainResearch ObjectiveDetermine freight rake fleet size, locomotive fleet size, empty rake deadheading policy, and locomotive deadheading policy to minimize system cost while providing a desired level of customer service


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Strategic Fleet Sizing for Freight Train Operation

Model Development

Rake Availability for Freight Loading

Rake Deadheading

Locomotive Assignment


Locomotive Maintenance

Congestion caused by Passenger and Freight Trains


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Strategic Fleet Sizing for Freight Train Operation (Contd.)

Research Contribution

• We are developing a simulation model for strategic fleet sizing based on traffic flow data of Southern Railway network

• We are going to study the effect of freight traffic increase and passenger traffic congestion level variation on freight train operation


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Locomotive and Crew Assignment for Freight Trains

Research Objective

Assign locomotives and crews to freight train that minimizes locomotive deadheading, crew deadheading, and coupling delay.

Crew Deadheading

Coupling DelayLocomotive Deadheading

Permitted Crew Working Time


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Rail Infrastructure Planning for Freight Trains

Research ObjectiveDevelop a simulation model for designing a rail network for freight trains to accommodate more freight and passenger trains in the existing rail network.

Passenger and Freight Trains Sharing the Same Track

Dedicated Tracks for Passenger and Freight Trains


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Thank You

Documents

Rail Related Research at IIT Madras Dr. T. T. Narendran Professor, Operations Management, Department of Management Studies Indian Institute of Technology