Container retrieval and wagon assignment planning at container rail terminals

Abstract

Efficient use of handling equipment at container terminals is important for improving operational efficiency amidst the increasing intermodal traffic and environmental concerns. This paper discusses a complex planning problem of container retrieval from storage yard and their assignment on wagons on the rail-side of terminals. The complexity of this planning problem increases further when double-stack container trains are loaded. For the first time in the literature, we discuss the terminal operator’s objective of minimizing cranes’ handling time while considering double-stack train loading operations. To achieve this objective, we minimize container retrieval time from the storage yard, relocation time of obstructing containers, loading time on wagons, and rail-side unproductive double-handling of containers. We propose heuristic algorithms that provide an efficient retrieval and loading plan while considering multifarious requirements of rail-side and yard-side operations. Our numerical experiments based on real-life loading of container trains show that the proposed retrieval and loading policy can decrease the cranes’ handling time by an average of 11.79% compared to the commonly used policy.