Patent ID: 6832204
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A computer implemented planning method for building trains in a train yard comprising a series of receiving tracks at the entry end of the train yard for receiving inbound trains to be classified and rebuilt, a bottleneck for cutting the trains into groupings of one or more railcars, a series of classification tracks for receiving the groupings of railcars, a series of departure tracks at the exit of the railyard for building outbound trains, and a bottleneck for directing railcars from the classification tracks to the departure tracks, said method comprising;determining using a computer an initial state of railcar locations in the train yard; determining using a computer an initial state of utilization of train building resources in the train yard; determining using a computer whether a train building resource is available at the train yard for use in building departure trains; determining using a computer possible uses for the available train building resource for building departure trains; determining using a computer the affect on a schedule of departure trains for each possible use of the available train building resource to generate a preferred yard schedule; and building departure trains based on the preferred schedule for the departure trains including: cutting trains in the train yard into a plurality of blocks of one or more railcars; moving each block of railcars to at least one predetermined receiving track; moving railcars from at least one predetermined receiving track to at least one predetermined classification track based upon a departure route associated with the respective railcar; and moving a block of classified railcars from at least one predetermined classification track to a predetermined departure track.