This paper introduces a simulation–optimization method for addressing scheduling problems for shuttle freight trains (SFTs) in a shared railway corridor between a seaport and dry port. We use dispatching delays for scheduling the SFT trips so as to not disturb the existing scheduled regular train (SRT) paths. The method employs a multi-method microscopic simulation model and an optimization framework. A swarm-based optimization algorithm is used for finding the best dispatching delays to preserve SRT paths. The method is demonstrated for a railway corridor between the Alsancak seaport and a close-distance dry port. The railway corridor is modeled using a simulation model considering single and double railway tracks, stations, and schedules. By running the simulation–optimization, the SFT freight transport capacity and the quality of the SFT and SRT operations were compared using key performance indicators (number of completed trips and station stops, average trip delay, and average station delay) addressing the throughput and punctuality after the application of dispatching delays. The results show that, by preserving the existing SRT paths, freight transport capacity decreased by 11.1% (from 18 to 16 completed SFT trips) and 13.8% (from 36 to 31 completed SFT trips) for single and couple SFT scenarios, respectively. The methodology also decreased the average SFT station delays by 45.2% and 45.6% for the single and couple SFT scenarios comparing with the unoptimized SFT trips. However, the number of SFT station stops increased by 12.5% and 57.1% for the single and couple SFT scenarios for prioritizing the SRTs. Also after the optimization, the average SFT trip delays decreased by 30.7% and 0.58% for the single and couple SFT scenarios. This study successfully demonstrates that the proposed method can be used for scheduling the SFT trips inside a congested railway corridor and can be implemented as a capacity assessment tool for cyclic SFT service using a series of key performance indicators addressing throughput and punctuality.

中文翻译：

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使用多方法模拟优化方法调度干港穿梭货运列车服务

本文介绍了一种模拟优化方法，用于解决海港和陆港之间共享铁路走廊中穿梭货运列车 (SFT) 的调度问题。我们使用调度延迟来安排 SFT 行程，以免干扰现有的预定定期列车 (SRT) 路径。该方法采用多方法微观仿真模型和优化框架。基于群的优化算法用于寻找最佳调度延迟以保留 SRT 路径。该方法在 Alsancak 海港和近距离陆港之间的铁路走廊上进行了演示。铁路走廊使用模拟模型进行建模，该模型考虑了单条和双条铁路轨道、车站和时刻表。通过运行模拟优化，SFT 货运能力以及 SFT 和 SRT 运营的质量使用关键绩效指标（完成的行程和站点停靠次数、平均行程延误和平均站点延误）进行比较，解决应用调度延误后的吞吐量和准点率。结果表明，通过保留现有的 SRT 路径，单个和耦合 SFT 场景的货运能力分别下降了 11.1%（从 18 到 16 次完成的 SFT 行程）和 13.8%（从 36 到 31 次完成的 SFT 行程）。与未优化的 SFT 行程相比，该方法还减少了 45.2% 和 45.6% 的单和双 SFT 场景的平均 SFT 站延迟。然而，对于优先使用 SRT 的单个和双 SFT 场景，SFT 站台数量增加了 12.5% 和 57.1%。同样在优化后，单和双 SFT 场景的平均 SFT 行程延迟分别降低了 30.7% 和 0.58%。这项研究成功地表明，所提出的方法可用于在拥挤的铁路走廊内安排 SFT 行程，并可用作循环 SFT 服务的容量评估工具，使用一系列解决吞吐量和准点的关键性能指标。