ESS Collaborative Research: A Methodology for Real-Time Train Dispatching in High Density Networks

本研究针对高密度、多轨道配置、多优先级、多限速的复杂铁路网中重载列车的实时调度问题。该研究将为在城市地区日益普遍的复杂重载铁路网络中实现列车总延误最小的无死锁调度提供理论和动态控制算法。确定最优调度策略，使列车延误最小化，并确保无死锁的运行是np困难的。因此，这方面的研究主要集中在开发启发式方法和详细的模拟来规划调度策略。到目前为止，理论上的努力只解决了单线、双线和部分双线等轨道配置问题。然而，铁路系统中复杂的实体，如路口、交叉、侧线、速度限制和货物优先级需要考虑，以便将当前的理论扩展到大规模的城市轨道网络。为了满足这一需求，我们的研究将包括以下任务：(1)理论研究，重点是建立复杂物理系统的网络表示，并表征其运行背后的非线性和随机动力学，为开发有效的调度算法奠定基础；(2)开发无死锁和近最优算法，用于在复杂的一般铁路网络中运行的列车实时调度；(3)开发一种模拟方法来模拟类似南加州铁路网络的复杂铁路网络，并使用该仿真模型验证算法和理论的性能。随着全球贸易的持续增长，该国港口的货运量继续以惊人的速度增长。例如，洛杉矶港和长滩港是美国最繁忙的港口之一。与环太平洋国家的贸易蓬勃发展，两个港口的年贸易量超过1亿吨。这些港口处理的总量平均分为横贯大陆的货物和本地的货物。此外，大部分当地货物在当地设施进行包装和分类，以便运往整个非洲大陆。铁路是跨大陆运输这些货物的主要途径。预测显示，未来25年，高价值集装箱货运量将增长三倍。拟议研究的主要影响将对现实世界的城市轨道运营产生重大影响，其中许多相关的复杂性迄今为止在理论研究中被忽视。

This research addresses real-time dispatching of heavy-haul trains in a high-density complex railway network with multiple-track configurations, multiple priorities and multiple speed limits. The research will provide the theory and dynamic control algorithms for deadlock-free dispatching with minimal total train delay in complex heavy-haul rail networks that are increasingly common in urban areas. Determining the optimal dispatch policies that minimizes train delays and ensures deadlock-free operations is NP-hard. Therefore, most of the research efforts in this direction have focused on developing heuristics as well as detailed simulations to plan dispatching policies. Theoretical efforts thus far have only addressed trackage configurations like single, double, and partially double rail lines. However complicating entities in a rail system like junctions, crossovers, sidings, speed limits and goods priorities need to be considered in order to extend the current theory to large-scale urban rail networks. To address this need, our research will consist of the following tasks: (1) theoretical studies focusing on developing a network representation of this complicated physical system, and characterization of the nonlinear and stochastic dynamics underlying the operations for laying the foundations of developing effective dispatching algorithms, (2) development of deadlock-free and near-optimal algorithms for the real-time dispatching of trains operating in complex general rail networks, and (3) development of a simulation methodology to model complicated rail networks akin to Southern California rail networks, and validate the performance of algorithms and theory using this simulation model.As global trade continues to increase, cargo traffic at the nation's ports continues to increase at dramatic levels. For example, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are among the busiest ports in America. Booming trade with Pacific Rim nations has seen the annual trade in the two ports exceed 100 million tons. The total volume that these ports handle is evenly divided between transcontinental and local shipments. Furthermore, a large portion of the local shipments are packaged and sorted at local facilities for shipment across the continent. Railways form the major means to transcontinentally move these goods. Forecasts show that volume growth of high-value containerized freight is set to triple in the next 25 years. The main impact of the proposed research will have a significant bearing on real-world urban rail operations, many of whose pertinent complexities have been ignored in theoretical studies thus far.