From timetabling to train regulation - a new train operation model

A new train operation model proposed here not only considers the flexibility of train regulation, or train rescheduling problem, but also the objectives of timetabling process. A genetic algorithm is applied to solve this problem efficiently. Thus no matter the problem is planning the timetable of trains, the unusual passenger flow occurrence or the incident caused delay, our model will make the train regulation as the same as the timetable construction. This will simplify the work of administration. Our model also shows that once the delay occurred, the waiting time of the passengers will be the cost to delay every train. If the delay is not large enough, the system can have some rooms for removing the influence of the delay through our model. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.