Optimal Slot Control Model of Container Sea-Rail Intermodal Transport based on Revenue Management

摘要

Slot control problem of container sea-rail intermodal transport is important for a Multimodal Transport Operator (MTO) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the system. In this paper, a two-stage slot control optimization model for multi Origin-Destination-Fare (ODF) container sea-rail intermodal transport is established based on revenue management. Features of freight organization and customer segmentation of container sea-rail intermodal transport are taken into account in this two-stage model. The model in the first stage solves slot control for contract customers and empty containers, and the model in the second stage solves slot control for general and urgent customers. Considering the relative certainty of demand in the first stage and the uncertainty characteristic of demand in the second one, the method of deterministic linear programming (DLP) and stochastic linear programming (SLP) are employed to transform and solve the models respectively. An example is also presented in this study to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the models and algorithms.