Improvement of efficiency in the organization of transfer trains at developed railway nodes by implementing a "flexible model"

We have studied the efficiency of organization of transfer trains at developed railroad junctions based on the criterion of total hours of railroad wagon downtime under accumulation. We have constructed discrete-event simulation models (Java SE, AnyLogic) of the organization of transfer trains in line with a "rigid schedule" and under accumulation to the standard for trains. The models take into consideration the stochastic nature of wagon arrivals to the accumulation points and meeting the established norm for the mass of trains. It is considered at modeling that track development of railroad stations and intranodal passages is rational and does not significantly affect delay in the motion of transfer trains. The transfer trains schedule is rational and rhythmic. The throughput capacity of open tracks at a node and the processing capability of subsystems at railroad stations are sufficient. We have experimentally compared the efficiency of four models of the organization of transfer trains, including a "flexible model", which combines dispatch upon accumulation to the standard of a train and a "rigid schedule" at the same time. It was established that the minimal hours of wagon accumulation are achieved when transfer trains are organized via a combined variant: a simultaneous dispatch in line with a "rigid schedule" and at accumulation to the standard. Organization of transfer trains in line with a "rigid schedule" requires the organization of additional trains, otherwise there is an increase in the queue of wagons at accumulation points. When increasing the number of daily trains by 10‒11 %, the process of forming and dispatching becomes sufficiently reliable and efficient. The specified recommendations would make it possible to improve the typical process of operation of railroad junctions in terms of dispatcher control over the formation, dispatch, and passing of transfer trains during intranodal traffic