Dynamic rescheduling based on predefined track slots

For any Railway Network, increased operational performance (or reliability) is a paramount, and in terms of cost, the most effective way to find extra capacity. The PULS 90 program of the Swiss Federal Railways intends to use modern communications technology to incorporate individual train driver’s performance into the traffic control loop. In order to achieve this, the fast and comprehensive delivery of on-line “scheduling information” into each train’s driving cab will be required. However, first, the mathematical challenges of achieving almost instantaneous, dynamic slot rescheduling on a large scale must be resolved. The approach taken by the SBB infrastructure division has been to segment the network according to traffic characteristics and to then develop and deploy algorithmic approaches capable of calculating new schedules on demand