Author(s)

D.F. Brooke

Abstract

Train planners still use the same tools of their trade as their forebears did in the time of Stephenson and Brunei: the train graph, the equipment/crew schedule and the crew roster. So far, the Information Technology revolution has been unable to better these at reasonable cost. This is now about to change with the use of integrated computer systems running on cheap open systems. In the UK an integrated set of Train Planning computer systems have been developed using a client/server architecture which cover the whole train planning process from development of the train plan to equipment and crew scheduling through to assignment of personnel to crew schedules. The timetables can also simulated to ascertain robustness of the timetable. These systems are in use in the UK railways and also in the USA and Hong Kong. 1. I

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