Comparison Analysis between Route-locking-sectional-releasing and Route-locking-route-releasing Formulations for the Train Platforming Problem in Busy Complex Rail Passenger Stations

China Abstract In this paper, route-locking-route-releasing (RR) interlocking formulation and route-locking-sectional-releasing (RS) interlocking formulation for the train platforming problem (TPP) in busy complex stations are discussed quantitatively. Firstly, considering different operations of various train types conducted in complex passenger stations, a microscopic simulation of train movements in the interlocking area within the station layout is proposed, which aims at calculation of claiming and releasing time instants of station resources in track-circuited formulation for TPP. Then, job shop scheduling models are built on basis of train priorities, and with proposed dispatching rules and a rule-based meta-heuristic algorithm, realistic size problems can be solved in acceptable time. Finally, good quality solutions gained by the RR model and RS model within limited computation time under various dispatching rules are compared. The result shows that good quality solutions original form RS model are statistically better than those from RR model after certain computing time when the track changing strategy is used in complex stations with partially coincident and interconnected