A topology-based method is proposed for optimizing the restoration sequence of damaged components in a disrupted rail freight network. Formulated as a demand-weighted average of reciprocal shortest path lengths, network efficiency is used as an indicator of overall connectivity for origin–destination (OD) pairs having freight demand. With the fixed demand matrix, a given network configuration, and a given disruption scenario, the cumulative loss of network efficiency during the restoration process is computed for each evaluated restoration sequence, using network efficiency values in intermediate network states as well as the duration of each restoration phase (i.e., restoration plus access time). This cumulative loss is treated as a measure of post-disruption network resilience, and is minimized with a simple genetic algorithm (GA) that finds the corresponding optimized restoration sequence, which also determines the optimized restoration schedule. The proposed method is demonstrated in a synthesized numerical case of a small network and a disruption scenario. The GA can find the globally optimal restoration sequence relatively fast, with its effectiveness further verified through exhaustive enumeration for three additional disruption scenarios. Sensitivity analysis results indicate that higher topological centrality and freight throughput of damaged nodes or disruption-induced isolation of some nodes are responsible for higher minimized loss of cumulative efficiency. The optimized restoration sequence tends to prioritize nodes and adjacent links with relatively high freight throughput in normal operation.


    Access

    Download

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Topological Approach for Optimizing Railroad Freight Network Restoration after Disruptions


    Additional title:

    Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2022-06-06




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Freight Railroad Service Network Design

    Chouman, Mervat / Crainic, Teodor Gabriel | Springer Verlag | 2020


    RAILROAD FREIGHT CAR

    BLACK KEN / BATCHELOR JAMES / FORBES JAMES W et al. | European Patent Office | 2020

    Free access

    Freight Railroad Security

    Pandolfi, Roland D. Jr. | Wiley | 2015


    Railroad freight rates

    Galofre, A.J. | Engineering Index Backfile | 1943