Train network simulator for support of network wide planning of infrastructure and timetables

Abstract

The Dutch rail network system is among the world's most heavily loaded and highly interconnected train networks. The networkwide timetable changes every year because of an everchanging market demand of freight and commuter transport. Furthermore, the network is constantly expanded in the form of new infrastructure, in order to cope with the increasing market demand. This turbulent environment makes the task of deciding where to develop new railway infrastructure, and how and where to allocate network capacity to train operating companies, very complex. Up until now, the network wide planning of infrastructure and timetables was a very static task, whereas the outside work--the train network in reality--is very dynamic. Two years ago, the development of a new train network simulator, the Simulation Model of Networks (SIMONE), by the Dutch rail capacity manager Railned and the Dutch consulting firm Incontrol was started. The goal was to incorporate the dynamics of everyday reality into the planning process. SIMONE is a decision support tool for networkwide planning of infrastructure and timetables. This paper describes the use of SIMONE.