A Schedule-Based Model for Passenger-Oriented Train Planning With Operating Cost and Capacity Constraints

In the planning stage, train operators design timetables to serve passenger trips and a train circulation plan to support these timetables. These designs consider not only operating costs but also passenger convenience. In this study, we developed an optimization model for a new problem that focuses on timetabling and train-unit scheduling while also considering passenger itinerary choices in a schedule-based train system. This optimization model minimizes passenger travel costs within the constraints of a limited budget available for operating costs. The model is solved by an iterative heuristic that simulates the interaction between train operations and passenger itinerary choices. The heuristic solves the timetabling and train-unit scheduling problem using a decomposition approach to increase computational efficiency, while passenger loading is solved by a user-equilibrium passenger assignment model. An example based on the high-speed railway network in southern China was used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model and method.