01557390

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2475-08

The North American rail network is experiencing capacity constraints because of traffic growth and increases in traffic heterogeneity. Further increases in speed and frequency of passenger service will combine with record levels of crude oil carload and intermodal traffic to demand even more network capacity. Understanding the interaction between passenger trains and this mix of freight traffic can help railroads develop effective strategies to improve network capacity and mitigate delay. Although previous research has focused on heterogeneity between two train types, actual rail lines are subject to multiple classes of trains such as passenger, priority intermodal, manifest, and bulk freight trains. To understand this environment better, this study presents a capacity evaluation process to analyze the performance of lines serving three train types. Although any combination of three train types can be considered, this study focuses on the interaction of passenger, intermodal, and bulk freight trains. The presented process can estimate the maximum train throughput for a particular corridor based on the unique characteristics and required level of service for each train type. A case study demonstrates three potential uses of the capacity evaluation process: the impact of additional passenger trains on lines with multiple types of freight trains, the sensitivity of capacity to the required level of service of each train type, and the effect of train speed heterogeneity between three types of trains. The results of this study provide better insight into the interaction of multiple train types and will aid railroads in maximizing the utility of their network.

01582672

15-4147

English

pp 63–71

2015

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309369169

Print

Figures (8) ; References (16) ; Tables (2)

Freight trains; Intermodal transportation; Level of service; Passenger trains; Railroad traffic; Railroad vehicle operations

Network capacity; Shared corridors

Freight Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment; I73: Traffic Control; I90: Vehicles

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Dec 30 2014 1:21PM

• Analyzing Financial Relationship Between Railway Industry Players in Shared Railway Systems: Train Operator’s Perspective
• Capacity of Single-Track Railway Lines with Short Sidings to Support Operation of Long Freight Trains
• Dynamic Demand Forecasting and Ticket Assignment for High-Speed Rail Revenue Management in China
• Enhancing Rail Competitiveness with Online Rail Freight Exchange
• Event-Based Model for Optimizing Shunting Yard Operations
• Getting Up to Speed: Assessing Usable Knowledge from Global High-Speed Rail Experience for the United States
• High-Speed Rail and Urban Decentralization in China
• Methods of Analyzing and Comparing Energy Efficiency of Passenger Rail Systems
• New High-Speed Rail Lines and Market Competition: Short-Term Effects on Services and Demand in Italy
• Optimal Allocation of Life-Cycle Cost, System Reliability, and Service Reliability in Passenger Rail System Design
• Sequencing and Scheduling in Railway Classification Yards