Automatic conflict detection and advanced decision support for optimal usage of railway infrastructure Purpose and concepts

摘要

This paper describes conflict detection and advanced decision support in the control of route setting operations, leading to optimal usage of railway infrastructure. Such a system is currently in development at the Netherlands Railways. By accurately forecasting train movements, conflicts can be detected in advance. A decision support module gives a what-if scenario, presenting alternative options to solve the selected conflict. Available measures are weighed by the system, using a cost function, and presented to the operator sorted on overall quality. Using Operations Research Techniques a generic system is obtained, giving reliable evaluations of the problem in short response times.