Responsive and agile freight pathing opportunities

Relevant RTS critical priority(ies):
Optimised train operations; Data driven

An estimated 20 per cent of freight movements on the network are planned at short notice, with operators making requests to Network Rail to run trains on specific routes at specific times. Also, a sizeable proportion of freight train schedules in the Working Timetable currently go unused or are cancelled. The process for managing last-minute changes to paths used by freight trains is currently manual, with controllers making complex decisions under significant time pressures.

A new solution to make last-minute changes to freight paths smoother and more efficient. 3Squared’s Path Planner supports the Very Short Term Planning (VSTP) needs of freight operators by analysing schedule utilisation to identify unused paths on the network, and improving the way that requests are handled. This reduces the overhead associated with creating a timed schedule and provides greater confidence that the request will be approved, since evidence of path availability is submitted alongside the operator’s request to Network Rail.

Path Planner is one of three projects awarded funding through RSSB’s Dynamic Train Planning innovation competition. It has been successfully piloted with Rail Operations Group, Freightliner and Network Rail. 3Squared also engaged the wider freight operator community on the solution, including the addition of new functionality.