Mathematical Justification of the Optimal Option for Accelerated Cargo Transportation Organization

Abstract

Today, among the main requirements of customers to the conditions of cargo transportation by rail is a shortened delivery time. In this regard, one of the most promising and sought-after areas of improvement in rail transportation is the organization of accelerated freight delivery services that can compete with road transportation both in terms of delivery speed and transportation cost, and in terms of departure regularity. However, the formation of an accelerated train requires a large batch of cargo, which is quite difficult to collect at a single departure station, and the accumulation of cargo for several days reduces the demand for accelerated delivery due to the irregularity of the train. To solve this problem, it is proposed to have stop-offs on the way of the train, replenishing the train with cars that require expedited delivery. In this case, the task is to choose the number of stops and the number of cars, comparing the income from the service and the cost of the stop, to maximize profits. This paper presents a mathematical model made by the authors, which describes the proposed method of transportation organization and provides comparing income and expenses components formed when implementing a train service with stop-offs on the way for the transfer of rolling stock, as well as the analysis of the studies carried out with its application.