Conference article

We propose a method to describe capacity utilization for railway infrastructure that applies blocking time theory to managing train runs. Different from traditional capacity evaluation, infrastructure capacity utilization description shows detailed information on infrastructure utilization hidden in timetabling data instead of sheer number of trains that can be operated, or capacity consumed. Using a function system defined upon necessary operational inputs for timetabling in blocking time theory, we can obtain the feasibility condition for operating consecutive trains. Thus, the method to identify critical block section can be deduced from the feasibility condition. Structural indication determines the capacity utilization of consecutive train paths, which can be further integrated into a bi-directional graph to model infrastructure capacity utilization description followed by infrastructure time allocation. Consumed capacity of railway infrastructure by operating train runs can be formulated. Besides, a general procedure is proposed to analyse the sensitivity of consumed capacity to operational inputs. An experimental case study is conducted to demonstrate the application of this method in analysing the impact of speed and recovery time.

Blocking time theory, Capacity analysis, Infrastructure capacity utilization description, Timetabling data