The system of IT support for logistics in the rail transport

Piotr Kisielewski

doi:10.5604/08669546.1225465

Abstract

The paper presents the requirements, architecture and important features of a modern IT system of logistics for rail transport. The purpose of the system is to provide logistic support of transport issues relating to the work performed in the sectors of transport and maintenance of railway enterprises. In particular, special attention was paid to optimization problems of strategic and operational planning applying modern optimization algorithms. System architecture, the basic functional modules and their relationship are presented as an example of the system used by the Polish rail operators, engaged in the transport of both passenger and freight. The system is characterized by centralized architecture, divided into an application server, a database server and a terminals server. The system takes full advantage of modern mobile technologies. The study outlines basic logistics processes implemented in the system, among others,: planning of transport using background maps and a scheme of railway network, records of vehicles and employees, allocation of transport work for individual units, planning cycles of vehicles and trains, scheduling work for vehicles, train driver crews and train attendant teams, creating work schedules, short-term and long-term dispatches, verification and accounting of the work time, accounting transport and train drivers performance.

Highlights

The paper presents the requirements, architecture and important features of a modern IT system of logistics for rail transport
An extremely important element in the choice of the system is the possibility to automatically support difficult decision-making processes through the use of mathematical optimization algorithms, allowing the user to select the best solutions, e.g. in terms of the timetable design, planning cycles of the trains, task planning, scheduling and distribution of tasks for train driver crews and train attendant teams. These above-mentioned planning decisions belong to the so-called class of NP-hard problems; their effective solution without the application of modern methods of mathematical optimization is not possible (Ahuja et al.,2009; Ambroziak, 1998; Jacyna, 2009; Lam et al.,2003; Simch-Levy et al, 2014; Wilson, 2010)
The logistics system of rail transport presented is strongly related to a number of relationships with the classic ERP system of a company, as shown in the diagrams without discussing the details of these relationships

Summary

Introduction

The paper presents the requirements, architecture and important features of a modern IT system of logistics for rail transport. These systems include virtually all areas of transport rail operators activity, ranging from strategic and operational planning, through the distribution of resources, supervision of implementation, verification of performance, to accounting, reporting and statistics of transport, as shown for comparison in Fig. 2 and 3, developed by the author on the example of another systemic solution (goalsystems, 2016) Another system - IVU.rail is a software solution specially developed by IVU Traffic Technologies AG to meet the timetabling, schedule planning, staff roster planning as well as the vehicle and personnel dispatch requirements of railway traffic (ivu, 2016). Applications for tablets, smartphones and portable conductor cash registers provide, among others, fast and timely exchange of information between the dispatchers of train crews, automatic registration of working time, informing the employee about the roster and its changes This logistics system supports transport processes and operation of rolling stock in the four groups of employees of rail enterprises: - drivers (train driver crews), - conductors (train attendant teams), - back office / maintenance workers, - administration employees

Objectives

Conclusion