TRAIN dispatching on busy suburban lines is complex, as many factors must be taken into account at the same time. Even without major disruptions, small delays can easily occur, especially during peak hours, for example, due to increased dwell times at a station caused by heavy passenger flow. As trains run at short headways, delays can propagate and impact many trains with a snowball effect. This makes it difficult to provide a high-quality service for commuters. During operation, dynamic dispatching decisions must be taken which include adjustments to train schedules and services, timetables, rerouting, and junction rescheduling.
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