Train Schedule Optimization in Public Rail Transport

Attractive train schedules are quite important for the success of public rail transport. We consider schedules which are repeated after some fixed time period. Periodicity is a well accepted, convenient attribute of all major railroad systems. Since trains share the public railroad network, we have to handle many conflicting demands. Increasing competition from transportation alternatives as well as the politically motivated process of deregulation forces railroad companies to reduce cost and resource utilization. In this situation, better decision tools are quite welcome. Here, we discuss models and corresponding methods for cost optimal train scheduling in real world railroad networks.