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Optimization of Rolling Stock Rotations

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Handbook of Optimization in the Railway Industry

Part of the book series: International Series in Operations Research & Management Science ((ISOR,volume 268))

Abstract

This chapter shows a successful approach how to model and optimize rolling stock rotations that are required for the operation of a passenger timetable. The underlying mathematical optimization problem is described in detail and solved by Rotation Optimizer for Railways (ROTOR), i.e., a complex optimization algorithm based on linear programming and combinatorial methods. ROTOR is used by DB Fernverkehr AG (DBF) in order to optimize intercity express (ICE) rotations for the European high-speed network. We focus on main modeling and solving components, i.e. a hypergraph model and a coarse-to-fine column generation approach. Finally, the chapter concludes with a complex industrial re-optimization application showing the effectiveness of the approach for real world challenges.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    A rolling stock rotation plan (as we deal with) can be seen as a rolling stock roster.

  2. 2.

    Note that the definition is different to the definition of the coarse coefficients. It is a correction of the definition in [6, 25].

  3. 3.

    In order to decrease confusion: The blue circle with the lowest y-coordinate in a natural Cartesian system of coordinates for Fig. 10.2 is meant.

  4. 4.

    We do not provide the detailed changes of departures and arrivals here. The important aspect is that the eight lines illustrated in Fig. 10.3 were directly affected by the 60 min increased driving time.

  5. 5.

    The “W” indicates that the ICE-W vehicles are equipped with “Wirbelstrombremsen”, i.e., eddy current brakes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LBW Optimization GmbH & Zuse Institute Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Markus Reuther & Thomas Schlechte

Authors
  1. Markus Reuther
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  2. Thomas Schlechte
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Correspondence to Markus Reuther .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Zuse Institute Berlin & Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Ralf Borndörfer

  2. Department of Optimization, Zuse Institute Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Torsten Klug

  3. Optrail, Rome, Italy

    Leonardo Lamorgese

  4. SINTEF DIGITAL & University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Carlo Mannino

  5. LBW Optimization GmbH & Zuse Institute Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Markus Reuther

  6. LBW Optimization GmbH & Zuse Institute Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Thomas Schlechte

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Reuther, M., Schlechte, T. (2018). Optimization of Rolling Stock Rotations. In: Borndörfer, R., Klug, T., Lamorgese, L., Mannino, C., Reuther, M., Schlechte, T. (eds) Handbook of Optimization in the Railway Industry. International Series in Operations Research & Management Science, vol 268. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72153-8_10

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