Patent ID: 8332086

Claim:
A method for building departure trains in a switchyard having a switch, said method comprising: a. providing a data processing entity including a CPU and a machine readable storage encoded with software for execution by the CPU, the data processing entity: i. computing for railcars yet to be switched by the switch and having respective destinations outside the switch yard, respective approximate times indicating when the railcars are expected to be available for pickup by a departure train; ii. associating the railcars to respective departure trains, the departure trains being characterized by respective estimated departure times (EDTs) and destinations, the associating including: 1. comparing the respective approximate times with the EDTs of the departure trains; 2. selecting for each railcar a departure train on the basis of the comparing and that also has a destination that corresponds with the destination of the railcar; 3. generating for at least one of the departure trains a departure train build plan identifying railcars associated to the at least one departure train; b. building a departure train at least in part on the basis of the departure train build plan.